Limited time off in between shifts

[Anonymous]

OP, are you live in or live out? Your first post is confusing on this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't be silly. You don't need a law. Just tell them what your needs are. You're an adult, yes?

Done?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm a live out but I often have overnight shifts.

[Anonymous]

Are there no laws regarding this? I'm Canadian and pretty positive that it's illegal (in Canada, obviously) to schedule an employee to work in the morning less than 8 hours before their previous shift ended. Is there any comparable law in the states?

[Anonymous]

Op, high profile is irrelevant. You should suggest a solution, ie that a separate night sitter come if you have to work at 6 am so that you are the best nanny possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Mom just had a baby six weeks ago who is still sleeping in a bassinet next to whomever is caring for him. I am not allowed to sleep at 10pm if I'm not off work until midnight. I have been doing a lot of overnights for the family since the little one isn't sleeping through the night yet. Last night though, was very typical of a Monday where I am not off until midnight and have to start again super early in the AM. I of course spend the night when I have limited time off in between shifts, but I am really the type of person who NEEDS at least eight hours of sleep to be able to function fully the following day. =\

Not to diminish how hard this must be on you, but your poor MB. Those are some pretty brutal hours for someone with a 6 week old at home.

[Anonymous]

Can they afford additional help to relieve you?

[Anonymous]

OP here.Brutal hours for my MB? What in the world are you talking about? I've been covering the bulk of the hours with the little one-hence why I am completely exhausted.

I talk to them about it last night, and we are all
Trying to work together to come up with a solution to the problem. I'll update later today once we chat more.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Those hours ARENT so MB can work....they are so she can go out or have a break from baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Those hours ARENT so MB can work....they are so she can go out or have a break from baby.

Wait, what? Sorry, I just assumed that she was working. Those are not such unusual hours for a doctor taking call or an associate at a big law firm.

Is your MB asking you to work late so she can go out, then come early so she can sleep? That's pretty crappy. No wonder you are angry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Those hours ARENT so MB can work....they are so she can go out or have a break from baby.

Wait, what? Sorry, I just assumed that she was working. Those are not such unusual hours for a doctor taking call or an associate at a big law firm.

Is your MB asking you to work late so she can go out, then come early so she can sleep? That's pretty crappy. No wonder you are angry.

How is that crappy? MB has money to spend how she pleases, OP wants money and took this job. Everyone wins. Now OP just wants the money without doing the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:THen you need to manage this OP. Don't be a victim - be a professional.

"MB, I am unable to work until midnight and then be on duty at 6 am. I need at least 8 hours of sleep, and I also need a break. If you need me to start at 6 am I cannot work past 9 pm. If you need awake and on duty until midnight then I cannot start work the next morning until 10 am."

Excellent advice. Follow up the conversation with an email, so nothing is misunderstood. Very important.

I also agree with this.

It sounds very reasonable and I cannot imagine any parent taking offense to this.

Good luck.

I agree though if they absolutely need childcare to start at 6 a.m. I think the better option to suggest would be for them to get a babysitter for the evening hours. Maybe you could give them a list of reputable agencies that can supply professional nannies who have had references checked etc.

[Anonymous]

Wait, MB had a baby 6 weeks ago, but is staying out until midnight and leaving at 6 am to "take breaks" from the baby? That doesn't make any sense -- not least of all b/c she would be exhausted given that she clearly does 12am-6am care -- and I doubt is what is really going on. It would make more sense if MB was employing OP so that she could *sleep* during the late night/early morning periods. Is that right? If so, and assuming she is basically home during the day (or at least not committed to be elsewhere), could you agree on a several hour period in the afternoon where you could nap for 2-3 hours while she watches the children on days where you work until midnight & will start again early?

I will say that, while I am incredibly sympathetic to wanting more than 6 hours of sleep per night, I am a new-ish mom who can't afford that much care & works/commutes 10 hour days... Since DD also doesn't sleep through the nights yet (3 mo.), I subsist on 6 hours sleep max EVERY NIGHT. If this is just an occasional thing and you're getting paid for it, I honestly don't think it's an unreasonable ask... Just say no if you can't do it.

[Anonymous]

Well, but a mother who is up throughout the night to care for HER newborn is different from a nanny, who didn't make the choice to have that baby, being required to work until midnight and then be on duty 6 hours later. I'd say you could do the regular daytime, which starts at 6am (ugh) but I'd have them hire a night nanny. If by high profile you mean they also have money, then they can afford a night nurse whose sole mission in life is to do the night feedings so mothers and fathers can get a good night's sleep. Too bad more of us can't afford it, as it would be a godsend for new parents, but if they can afford it, go for it! Just shouldn't be the same person for the same reason that the MOTHER doesn't want to function on 6 hours of sleep....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, but a mother who is up throughout the night to care for HER newborn is different from a nanny, who didn't make the choice to have that baby, being required to work until midnight and then be on duty 6 hours later. I'd say you could do the regular daytime, which starts at 6am (ugh) but I'd have them hire a night nanny. If by high profile you mean they also have money, then they can afford a night nurse whose sole mission in life is to do the night feedings so mothers and fathers can get a good night's sleep. Too bad more of us can't afford it, as it would be a godsend for new parents, but if they can afford it, go for it! Just shouldn't be the same person for the same reason that the MOTHER doesn't want to function on 6 hours of sleep....

Well, yes, it's different in the sense that OP didn't make the choice to have a baby... but she made the choice to have a job that required caring for a baby during those hours AND SHE'S PAID FOR IT. If she didn't make the choice/doesn't want the job, she can either renegotiate or quit. It's that simple. My point was that lots of people subsist on 6 hours of sleep/night way more often than occasionally. Also, saying to the mother of a NB that it's impossible to subsist on 6 hours of sleep occasionally may not go over as well as some people seem to think it will.