Nannies breaking/damaging items in your home

[Anonymous]

OP here. I am actually a nanny, but I see how the post came across as from an employer's point of view. Glad to see the responses. I've felt bad recently for breaking a few things at work and ruining a sweater that shouldn't have been washed. Wasn't sure if I should offer to replace, but I don't know how much it would cost. Thanks all.

[Anonymous]

Close hands,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about nannies accidentally breaking or damaging something while on duty? Such as a broken wine glass when unloading the dishwasher or ruining a piece of clothing in the laundry. Should nanny offer to replace or reimburse for these items? Is this just a part of having someone working in your home?

Broken things happen, laundering things incorrectly does not. But it shouldn't happen continuously, then you have a careless or accident-prone person on your hands.
Everytime Gma and Gpa come over appliances start breaking and things are put away in all sorts of places. We had to really make them ask before using things in the house, in order to get proper instructions.
As for sensitive laundry, pull them out and do it themselves.

Our nanny is also terrible at understanding energy efficiency. All our bills have skyrocketed since she got there - doing rinky dink loads of laundry, leaving lights on, still not understanding how the dryer works, running dishwasher half empty despite being told otherwise. Nothing major, just really question her judgment and if she even cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am actually a nanny, but I see how the post came across as from an employer's point of view. Glad to see the responses. I've felt bad recently for breaking a few things at work and ruining a sweater that shouldn't have been washed. Wasn't sure if I should offer to replace, but I don't know how much it would cost. Thanks all.

Sweaters should never go into a laundry machine. Even on delicate. I'd feel bad about that one. And depending on how I broke things (sloppy with a chair or cord hitting something versus something slipping), I'd feel bad as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am actually a nanny, but I see how the post came across as from an employer's point of view. Glad to see the responses. I've felt bad recently for breaking a few things at work and ruining a sweater that shouldn't have been washed. Wasn't sure if I should offer to replace, but I don't know how much it would cost. Thanks all.

Just apologize for your mistake and tell her you'll read the clothes labels better of anything non-cotton going into the laundry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

nannydebsays wrote:If I damage or break something, I offer to replace it. No employer has ever accepted that offer.

This. I would expect her to offer to replace the item and me to decline the offer. That's what happens if a friend breaks something in my home.

But I live in the Midwest, and we are overly polite here.

I live in California and do the same. Guess that makes us both nice people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am actually a nanny, but I see how the post came across as from an employer's point of view. Glad to see the responses. I've felt bad recently for breaking a few things at work and ruining a sweater that shouldn't have been washed. Wasn't sure if I should offer to replace, but I don't know how much it would cost. Thanks all.

Ok. I take it back. You are not a bitch.

Things break. My children do more damage than a nanny ever could. I'd be thankful you were unloading my dishwasher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am actually a nanny, but I see how the post came across as from an employer's point of view. Glad to see the responses. I've felt bad recently for breaking a few things at work and ruining a sweater that shouldn't have been washed. Wasn't sure if I should offer to replace, but I don't know how much it would cost. Thanks all.

Ok. I take it back. You are not a bitch.

Things break. My children do more damage than a nanny ever could. I'd be thankful you were unloading my dishwasher.

Is she also not a clown?

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I didn't even realize the sweater was in the laundry. Just washed the clothes in 12 yo's hamper - she put it in there. Not used to checking because usually all kids clothes are washable right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks guys. I didn't even realize the sweater was in the laundry. Just washed the clothes in 12 yo's hamper - she put it in there. Not used to checking because usually all kids clothes are washable right?

My almost 12 yr old has a couple of shirts and sweaters that need to be turned inside out before being washed. Also, it's fine for her sweaters to go in the wash but not in the dryer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks guys. I didn't even realize the sweater was in the laundry. Just washed the clothes in 12 yo's hamper - she put it in there. Not used to checking because usually all kids clothes are washable right?

My almost 12 yr old has a couple of shirts and sweaters that need to be turned inside out before being washed. Also, it's fine for her sweaters to go in the wash but not in the dryer.

Wash them in cold in a large lingerie bag. It keeps them from being stretched out too much. However, they might lose color over time.

[Anonymous]

Who knows what kids put in the hamper! Or what kid out what in whose hamper!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am actually a nanny, but I see how the post came across as from an employer's point of view. Glad to see the responses. I've felt bad recently for breaking a few things at work and ruining a sweater that shouldn't have been washed. Wasn't sure if I should offer to replace, but I don't know how much it would cost. Thanks all.

Ok. I take it back. You are not a bitch.

Things break. My children do more damage than a nanny ever could. I'd be thankful you were unloading my dishwasher.

Is she also not a clown?

Nope, not a clown or a clown question. As a employer I'm shocked at how petty some of these parents are. Some people have no business employing people. None.

[Anonymous]

Our babysitter broke our garage door… thoughts? It’s going to be thousands of dollars to replace. Obviously she doesn’t have that kind of money but we don’t really have that kind of money either but we have no choice it won’t function. She closed the door on our car which also has damage…and it happened because she didn’t follow my directions about parking the car-which she knows and has done so many times before but didn’t this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our babysitter broke our garage door… thoughts? It’s going to be thousands of dollars to replace. Obviously she doesn’t have that kind of money but we don’t really have that kind of money either but we have no choice it won’t function. She closed the door on our car which also has damage…and it happened because she didn’t follow my directions about parking the car-which she knows and has done so many times before but didn’t this time.

You have homeowners insurance for this sort of accident. No, you cannot ask your babysitter for one penny - it’s illegal.