Should we look for a new nanny/sitter?

[Anonymous]

We’ve had our nanny for 5 years and really love her, but given the current circumstances she just may not make sense for our family anymore. First off, her hours are 8-5 and given that DH and I are working from home at least through the end of the year, we really need someone from like 10-4. I don’t think it’s right to cut her salary, but am not sure it makes sense to pay her the same rate to work 3 hours less per day for the next 6+ months. While she is happy to help with other tasks, she doesn’t drive so she can’t run errands, and she has offered to do some light cleaning but she is not a good cleaner. The other big piece is that our older child is in 3rd grade and needs help with schoolwork which unfortunately our nanny can’t really provide.

That said, DH and I typically work long hours out of the home so when things go back to more of a normal we will need FT childcare again so we are covered for summers, sick days, other school days off etc. What I am thinking would maybe be ideal is someone who is a hybrid house cleaner slash nanny and could go back and forth between the two as needed - but I know that is hard to find.

Alternately, maybe we just get a fun college aged sitter for now to help for 5-6 hours per day since that’s really all we need.

Anyone else finding that their existing childcare isn’t as ideal anymore as your needs have changed? What would others do in this situation?

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of people who just wanted a warm body and didn’t care if their nanny spoke and read English fluently, are scrambling. Many families only want to pay low wages and now they are learning why you need to actually pay a decent wage for a decent nanny.

For you, I think you also need to make a change. If your many can’t help with DL, then she no longer fits the job.

[Anonymous]

Let her go because she can then find a much better job and you will find no one who will work 25 hours a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let her go because she can then find a much better job and you will find no one who will work 25 hours a week.

Why so snarky? Would your company keep paying you forever for a 45hr per week job if you only actually need to work 35 hours per week now? There are plenty of college sitters who will work that amount. And we are looking to still employ someone full time if they can do more like clean, grocery shop, cook and help with distance learning, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go because she can then find a much better job and you will find no one who will work 25 hours a week.

Why so snarky? Would your company keep paying you forever for a 45hr per week job if you only actually need to work 35 hours per week now? There are plenty of college sitters who will work that amount. And we are looking to still employ someone full time if they can do more like clean, grocery shop, cook and help with distance learning, etc.

It will be hard to find someone who will clean and do DL. Drop the cleaning requirement and you may find someone who is willing to drive, make the kids simple meals and manage DL/homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go because she can then find a much better job and you will find no one who will work 25 hours a week.

Why so snarky? Would your company keep paying you forever for a 45hr per week job if you only actually need to work 35 hours per week now? There are plenty of college sitters who will work that amount. And we are looking to still employ someone full time if they can do more like clean, grocery shop, cook and help with distance learning, etc.

It will be hard to find someone who will clean and do DL. Drop the cleaning requirement and you may find someone who is willing to drive, make the kids simple meals and manage DL/homework.

Agree, keep babysitting and housekeeping duties separate and you will get way better candidates

[Anonymous]

Most college kids won't be available from 10-4 every day due to their online classes. Also, during finals or other busy times, other commitments tend to take priority. Also, most part-time positions pay more, so you could end up paying something comparable to full-time. I know a few families who have been looking for weeks now to find the right childcare arrangement. Good nannies are really in demand now. You could always advertise your post, see what kinds of responses you get, and then decide.

[Anonymous]

Not driving would be an absolute dealbreaker for our family. It sounds like she’s better suited for a family with infants or toddlers.

[Anonymous]

Your nanny will get another job immediately in this current climate. No nanny job lasts forever and everyone knows that - especially your nanny.

Give her a great reference, very generous severance and talk to your kids together and come up with a schedule of when nanny can babysit or visit. Remember your kids love her and shouldn’t be forgotten in this.

Steer your nanny toward a newborn or very wealthy family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go because she can then find a much better job and you will find no one who will work 25 hours a week.

Why so snarky? Would your company keep paying you forever for a 45hr per week job if you only actually need to work 35 hours per week now? There are plenty of college sitters who will work that amount. And we are looking to still employ someone full time if they can do more like clean, grocery shop, cook and help with distance learning, etc.

In an office, labor laws are applicable and If I was only hiring someone part time to do their original job, I would still be giving pro rated fringe benefits and would not expect cleaning, cooking, washing your dirty clothes.

[Anonymous]

OP how much participation do you need from the nanny in terms of DL? Need to factor that in before housekeeping duties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let her go because she can then find a much better job and you will find no one who will work 25 hours a week.

Why so snarky? Would your company keep paying you forever for a 45hr per week job if you only actually need to work 35 hours per week now? There are plenty of college sitters who will work that amount. And we are looking to still employ someone full time if they can do more like clean, grocery shop, cook and help with distance learning, etc.

If they knew it would be difficult to find someone to fill the part-time job? Possibly for a few months. If they knew the job would ramp back up in a year? Definitely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Your nanny will get another job immediately in this current climate. No nanny job lasts forever and everyone knows that - especially your nanny.

Give her a great reference, very generous severance and talk to your kids together and come up with a schedule of when nanny can babysit or visit. Remember your kids love her and shouldn’t be forgotten in this.

Steer your nanny toward a newborn or very wealthy family.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had our nanny for 5 years and really love her, but given the current circumstances she just may not make sense for our family anymore. First off, her hours are 8-5 and given that DH and I are working from home at least through the end of the year, we really need someone from like 10-4. I don’t think it’s right to cut her salary, but am not sure it makes sense to pay her the same rate to work 3 hours less per day for the next 6+ months. While she is happy to help with other tasks, she doesn’t drive so she can’t run errands, and she has offered to do some light cleaning but she is not a good cleaner. The other big piece is that our older child is in 3rd grade and needs help with schoolwork which unfortunately our nanny can’t really provide.

That said, DH and I typically work long hours out of the home so when things go back to more of a normal we will need FT childcare again so we are covered for summers, sick days, other school days off etc. What I am thinking would maybe be ideal is someone who is a hybrid house cleaner slash nanny and could go back and forth between the two as needed - but I know that is hard to find.

Alternately, maybe we just get a fun college aged sitter for now to help for 5-6 hours per day since that’s really all we need.

Anyone else finding that their existing childcare isn’t as ideal anymore as your needs have changed? What would others do in this situation?

Given that she's been with you for 5 years, I'd try to keep her by offering her two choices. You used 45 hours before and now only need 30. Offer her pay equivalent to 40 hours (and use the $ saved to get cleaners). Nanny might not mind less pay for less hours since she won't have to look for a new family or risk having a gap of no income if the new start date doesn't line up. If total income is more important to nanny, see if you can help her get part time care. For example, there might be famines that need that 8-10am slot. I telework but my daycare reopened. So I will now have to get my 4 year old ready in the morning (eat get dressed) then do a drop off which takes 30 minutes total of driving round-trip just to do drop off and come back to start telework. This kind of very short PT help is hard to find if one is looking for a long term person, so if your nanny offers that on Nextdoor or similar, I'd bet she'll find a family that will take the morning hours. If you post the ad praising the nanny (of course with the nanny's permission) rather than just telling her to do it herself, you'll get even more responses from families.

I understand that paying for 45 hours plus the OT rates for tjose 5 hours you dont even use doesn't make sense. But during this extra stressful times, i think dependable care, someone you trust and someone your child likes is pretty valuable beyond just the $ it costs.

[Anonymous]

I'm PP. If you want someone to help your 3rd grader with DL beyond just making sure she logs in at the proper time, comes back from breaks to recognize in/ refocus at the proper times, you're now looking for either a college student or a pod teacher or a retired person type. If your nanny doesn't drive, I'm assuming she's not an American who grew up here (nanny could hypothetically be a life long New Yorker, but then why would she nanny in DMV). Maybe your nanny is an immigrant and now you need a governess type but one who will also clean and run errands. You basically need someone like yourself, versatile. It's a hard combo to get without paying a lot. I'd frankly drop the DL requirement. Btw you know there are a ton of places now offering DL supervision? In you're in Fairfax County, SACC has a program. Dance places, taekwondo places, indoor gym places, even my daycare opened up one classroom to take on the older siblings that need DL supervision.