tracking device on nanny phone

[Anonymous]

I would have no problem with this. However they need to supply the phone and I should only use it for work.

[Anonymous]

If my employers requested this then they would have to supply the phone that they are in charge of (ie charging each night, making sure it's updated, it's in a common place I can take with me each day I'm working). If they forget to charge the phone, that's on them and I wouldn't take it.

They want to know where I am while working, they need to deal with the hassle of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know where your children are at all times then stay home with them. This is a massive invasion of privacy. I would quit on the spot.

I disagree. It is not an invasion of the nanny's privacy to track her when she is working. Most places of employment have surveillance cameras and know where their employees are at all times. Why would I care at all that my employers knew where I (and their child) was when I'm working. I am not in my own home and no expectation of privacy anyplace but the bathroom and changing room (if I am live out). When I am out with my charge in the park, library, class or walking, I also have no expectation of privacy.

So, I have no problem with a phone with a tracking devise as long as my employers paid for the phone and the phone was left at "my place of business" (their home) when I am not working.

Why would I?

I think OP's issue us not with the tracking app but the parents requesting this after she has been with them long enough to establish trust (obviously not according to the parents actions) and that the app be placed on the nanny's personal phone. The former is troubling and the latter is totally unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello all,
I have a friend who is an older, lovely, trustworthy nanny. Her bosses are talking about her installing a tracking application on her phone so that they can see where the nanny and child are at all times. Thoughts? It bothers me on a gut level, especially since she's put up with a lot at that position, but remained loyal and hard working no matter what.

She should be wise and start looking for a new job with competent parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they going to pay the data charges? Those tracking apps use data unless connected to wifi and the cost can add up. I wouldn't be opposed to it while working but if I forgot to turn it off I don't feel my bosses need to know where I am. Plus if it's on her phone she could always turn it off while working or leave it at home and take them out. If someone is going to harm a child or lie where they are going they will figure out a way to hide it from their boss.

Good point. I'd use this excuse to tell the employer that you'd happily use the app, but only on a work phone they've supplied.

She could tell them employer that she has a limited data plan.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you everyone for weighing in. I've sent my friend this link. I can't say much about the situation without possibly giving away too much, but apparently this is the result of a boss repeatedly calling the nanny while she was driving somewhere and being upset when she didn't answer. The fact that a chunk of the drive happened in a zone with no cell reception doesn't seem to matter. They decided she took too long to get from point a to point b and said get the tracker. She's proven herself trustworthy over and over and this whole thing bothers me immensely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you everyone for weighing in. I've sent my friend this link. I can't say much about the situation without possibly giving away too much, but apparently this is the result of a boss repeatedly calling the nanny while she was driving somewhere and being upset when she didn't answer. The fact that a chunk of the drive happened in a zone with no cell reception doesn't seem to matter. They decided she took too long to get from point a to point b and said get the tracker. She's proven herself trustworthy over and over and this whole thing bothers me immensely.

Some people are just assholes, OP. Tell your friend to tell them that she would be happy to have a tracker on any phone they provide for her but she could not allow it on her personal phone.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like her bosses are being ridiculous. Honestly, I can't understand MB/DBs who need to call their nannies all the time. Are they just checking up on them? What do they expect them to be doing?

Furthermore, I really hate when nannies and parents are on their phones throughout the day. They should be focused on taking care of the kids, not talking with anyone on the phone. The same, in my opinion, goes for taking photos even. I know MB//DBs love to see pics from the day, but it really bothers me when I see a nanny and a kid out having fun together and it gets interrupted because the nanny gets out her phone to take some pictures. It just feels like a photo opp and staged, even when it's not.

Unless there's an emergency, why not set up pre-arranged times for the nanny to call the MB/DB instead? And instead of a tracking device, perhaps they could arrange for Bluetooth or something so she can use her phone in the car, if it's *that* important to get in touch ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Employer here and if they want a tracking device, then they need to supply the phone. Period.

Thank you! I love when employers understand that it's not the employee's responsibility to pay for all the little extras that add up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know where your children are at all times then stay home with them. This is a massive invasion of privacy. I would quit on the spot.

I disagree. It is not an invasion of the nanny's privacy to track her when she is working. Most places of employment have surveillance cameras and know where their employees are at all times. Why would I care at all that my employers knew where I (and their child) was when I'm working. I am not in my own home and no expectation of privacy anyplace but the bathroom and changing room (if I am live out). When I am out with my charge in the park, library, class or walking, I also have no expectation of privacy.

So, I have no problem with a phone with a tracking devise as long as my employers paid for the phone and the phone was left at "my place of business" (their home) when I am not working.

Why would I?

I think OP's issue us not with the tracking app but the parents requesting this after she has been with them long enough to establish trust (obviously not according to the parents actions) and that the app be placed on the nanny's personal phone. The former is troubling and the latter is totally unacceptable.

It's an invasion of the employee's privacy to require something installed which can track her outside of work hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you everyone for weighing in. I've sent my friend this link. I can't say much about the situation without possibly giving away too much, but apparently this is the result of a boss repeatedly calling the nanny while she was driving somewhere and being upset when she didn't answer. The fact that a chunk of the drive happened in a zone with no cell reception doesn't seem to matter. They decided she took too long to get from point a to point b and said get the tracker. She's proven herself trustworthy over and over and this whole thing bothers me immensely.

So it doesn't matter to them that there is no cell reception for part of the drive, and they don't factor in traffic? Wow, yeah, no trust in her. If it were me, I would quit or tell them to supply a work phone.

[Anonymous]

just put a GPS tracker in the diaper bag. works like a charm.
nanny shouldn't be lying about what they do each day anyways, right nannies?!?

[Anonymous]

Mom guilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:just put a GPS tracker in the diaper bag. works like a charm.
nanny shouldn't be lying about what they do each day anyways, right nannies?!?

OP here. This particular nanny never lies, puts up with all sorts of silliness from her NF, and is one of the nicest people I've encountered. I feel she needs to find a family that appreciates her for being such a good human.

[Anonymous]

On a phone they provide - reasonable. On hers, she pays for, not reasonable. I have a tracker on my phone as do several of my families members. We don't check it often, but in case of emergency like when our car needs towing and we need a ride its really handy - my husband found me easily though find my friends so I am a big fan. But, then again, I have nothing to hide.