How much flexibility can you reasonably expect from your nanny?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Husband here of OP. We are not talking about springing anything. When we made arrangements over a month ago, we discussed flexibility. Didn't seem to be a problem.

Now when discussing an actual instance about a month away, we were met with confusion. I guess from reading the initial responses we are way off base but we did think it reasonable that the nanny may be willing to work slightly longer days the following week if needed. Not looking for a one to one of hours exchange just some understanding that life does not work on a perfect, structured schedule.

Oh well, you live and learn.

So you thought it was reasonable to expect your employee to work over the time you requested of her when you set the schedule because you changed the schedule you set? How does that begin to seem fair to you?

[Anonymous]

Another nanny here.

Flexibility to me means staying extra hours here and there, but those hours are paid extra in addition to my guaranteed hours.
So for example, when my NF is on vacation one week and next week there is no school, I will be paid for 2 full weeks + extra hours during the day (I work a split shift - before and after school)
So in other words, I get paid the same amount 52 weeks a year + any extra hours (extra pay) they request. I'm available 99% of the time they request, so that's my flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Op, I understand where the misunderstanding came from. However, picture it from the nanny's POV. One week you have her work 20 hRs and tell her next week she has to work 50 to make up for it. Nanny had made plans months ago for something after work. SO now she has to cancel her plans or tell you no and risk getting fired. Not fair to the nanny unless this is explicitly discussed upon signing a contract. Most people think flexibility means there are some days you may be late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I are first time working parents, and we've recently hired a nanny to care for our ten week old son. We both have schedules that can vary a fair amount from week to week, but have committed to paying our nanny $20 an hour for at least 35 hours every week. Our question is whether it is at all reasonable to expect some flexibility on weeks that we don't even come close to using her services for 35 hours, and yet still pay her the full $700. For example, we are going out of town Wednesday-Friday one week, so she'll only be looking after our son Monday and Tuesday of that week. As per our agreement, we are still going to pay her for a full 35 hour work week despite the fact that she will only be working for 14 hours that week. Would it then be completely unreasonable to ask her to "make up" a small portion of those unworked hours the next week, so that she perhaps works 40 hours that next week for the same base rate given that she was paid for 26 hours she didn't have to work the week before? Any advice would be very appreciated.

Double your wages and you'll get the flexibility you want.

[Anonymous]

Sorry everyone is being so harsh, OP. It is totally understandable that you find this all confusng. You cannot bank hours. Nannies are hourly em

[Anonymous]

Sorry everyone is being so harsh, OP. It is totally understandable that you find this all confusng. You cannot bank hours. Nannies are hourly employees. Guaranteed means that you will pay for her availability whether or not you need her and it is a standard perk in the nanny industry. If you really don't want to pay, then you can stop offering guaranteed hours, but then you end up having to piece together childcare from whichever nanny or sitter is available, rather than one person who knows your kid guaranteeing her availability.

Now that said, I think it's reasonable when families ask nannies to use these free days off to undertake a child-related project, such as preparing some purees to freeze, or rotating out kids' clothes/toys--anything she might regularly to as part of her job but would be able to accomplish more quickly without children underfoot. This frees her up to focus exclusively on the kids when you return.

[Anonymous]

Np and mb here: on mon/tues night when you are in town, can you ask jenny to stay late so you and spouse can have a date night? Still won't get all hours in--but that is what I would do.

[Anonymous]

Jenny = nanny. Thx autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Np and mb here: on mon/tues night when you are in town, can you ask jenny to stay late so you and spouse can have a date night? Still won't get all hours in--but that is what I would do.

But they can't expect the nanny to be available. They can ask and not put pressure on her to say yes. Nanny may have other plans at night after work.

[Anonymous]

Find a nanny without personal commitments beyond her nanny job, and you'll see a very well compensated nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Np and mb here: on mon/tues night when you are in town, can you ask jenny to stay late so you and spouse can have a date night? Still won't get all hours in--but that is what I would do.

I would do this...if they pay me for my time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Np and mb here: on mon/tues night when you are in town, can you ask jenny to stay late so you and spouse can have a date night? Still won't get all hours in--but that is what I would do.

I would do this...if they pay me for my time.

+1. I wouldn't do this for free.

[Anonymous]

MB here. OP(s) - anything can be reasonable if it is clearly understood and agreed to by all parties when you start the relationship. It doesn't sound like you fully knew what you'd be needing/wanting, and/or the nanny didn't fully understand the offer and expectations.

You need to carefully think through exactly what your needs are, and then work out with your nanny what is reasonable to her and what she is willing to do. You should have done this before hiring, as now it probably feels like you're changing the terms on her.

Also, try to always keep her perspective in mind. Is the extent of the "flexibility" you're asking of her fair? Is it reasonable to expect her to be able to vary her schedule in significant ways from week to week? Is she in a position in life where that is no big deal, or where it presents a real challenge to her? ETc...

Your hourly rate is very good - so that should help. But who really wants a job that's always fluctuating in hours and requirements? That's tough to work around.

Perhaps you could figure out some maximum amount of "swing' hours or something. "In weeks where nanny is only needed to work 30 hours or less, she will work up to an additional 5 hours the following week (for a total of no more than 40 hours in any working week) during regularly contracted hours." Something like that might give you more flexibility but not in a way that assumes your nanny has to put other commitments or activities on hold for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. OP(s) - anything can be reasonable if it is clearly understood and agreed to by all parties when you start the relationship. It doesn't sound like you fully knew what you'd be needing/wanting, and/or the nanny didn't fully understand the offer and expectations.

You need to carefully think through exactly what your needs are, and then work out with your nanny what is reasonable to her and what she is willing to do. You should have done this before hiring, as now it probably feels like you're changing the terms on her.

Also, try to always keep her perspective in mind. Is the extent of the "flexibility" you're asking of her fair? Is it reasonable to expect her to be able to vary her schedule in significant ways from week to week? Is she in a position in life where that is no big deal, or where it presents a real challenge to her? ETc...

Your hourly rate is very good - so that should help. But who really wants a job that's always fluctuating in hours and requirements? That's tough to work around.

Perhaps you could figure out some maximum amount of "swing' hours or something. "In weeks where nanny is only needed to work 30 hours or less, she will work up to an additional 5 hours the following week (for a total of no more than 40 hours in any working week) during regularly contracted hours." Something like that might give you more flexibility but not in a way that assumes your nanny has to put other commitments or activities on hold for you.

You're quite the master at trying to sugar coat OP's desire to take unfair advantage of the nanny. You get what you pay for, just like in any job. OP's hourly pay rate is not anything special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Husband here of OP. We are not talking about springing anything. When we made arrangements over a month ago, we discussed flexibility. Didn't seem to be a problem.

Now when discussing an actual instance about a month away, we were met with confusion. I guess from reading the initial responses we are way off base but we did think it reasonable that the nanny may be willing to work slightly longer days the following week if needed. Not looking for a one to one of hours exchange just some understanding that life does not work on a perfect, structured schedule.

Oh well, you live and learn.

OP and husband, the thing is, nannies are hourly employees and must be paid for every hour worked. You cannot have her work extra hours unpaid, even if she worked less hours the previous week. That is not a choice that you have under the law. What is your choice is whether or not to guarantee hours, however not doing so at this point will almost certainly lose you this nanny. Flexibility when it comes to hiring a nanny means that she has some flexibility in the hours she can be available (ie. she doesn't need to pick up a kid after work, work another job, etc.). Flexibility does NOT mean that you get carte blanche to amend her schedule or demand her availability any time you please.

+100 from a MB. You cannot bank hours, and your idea of flexibility (OP and husband) is not the norm. Flexibility does not mean she owes you hours that she has previously made available to you.