Honoring contract?
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Anonymous
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I am a 22 year old nanny in Kansas. I wanted to get some opinions from moms and nannies about honoring contract terms.
I worked in a nanny share for a year and a half, then for one of the two families from the share for another year. We had a very informal contract written up, which, by the time we mutually agreed to part ways due to a new baby and changing job responsibilities, my MB had completely forgotten about. So that contract never really mattered, and if it had, we ended our agreement at the time the contract would have wrapped up. After that, I worked for a family that I really loved, signed a contract for a year, and then after only six weeks was given three weeks notice because they were on a waiting list for a daycare, unbeknownst to me. I was disappointed and frustrated. Even though it was written into the contract that either family or nanny could pull out by giving notice, I just really believed that a one year contract meant I'd be working for a year. The job loss put me in a difficult situation as I had not only bills to pay, but I was getting married in just weeks and paid for a lot of the wedding out-of-pocket. So, I got a part time job nannying (through an agency, signed a year long contract) along with two other PT jobs to supplement. I know that this family will probably keep me around the full year. They struggled to find a nanny they liked, and the girl they had before left after 5 months and didn't even stay for her whole three weeks notice that was outlined in their contract. I'm now looking into cosmetology school, hoping to start as soon as the summer when my husband graduates and gets a job...Which is before my contract ends. My current job, which I've had for only a couple of months, is okay... Good pay and perks, but my heart is just not in it the way it used to be, and I'm not attaching to the kids and I think my philosophy on childrearing is just not the same as that of their parents. I struggle to stay motivated, but I feel like I am obligated to stay for the full year. When I interviewed, I made a big deal about wanting a job that I knew would be there, and I knew they wanted the same from their nanny, so it tears me up that I'd even consider leaving early since they already dealt with that once. How seriously should parents and nannies take the whole "one year contract" thing? Am I naive to think that there is a obligation to fulfill that? |
Anonymous
| Very rarely a nanny contract means that you have to work there for you a year. It only means that while you work there for the next year, these are the terms that you will follow. If you don't want to follow the terms, you can quit any time. You can quit anytime for any other reason. I really doubt you have a year-long contract where you HAVE to stay for a year otherwise ___ happens. Those are very very very very rare and no family in their right mind usually signs those because you don't know how good the nanny will be or how it will work out later. |
Anonymous
| Ugh. I'd be pissed. It's hard on the kids and parents. Kind of selfish. |
Anonymous
| Give them as much notice as possible, but don't put your life on hold for them. You are an at-will employee and can quit/be fired at any time for almost any reason. If something came up in their lives that would mean ending the contract, I highly doubt they would put it on hold for you. Its just the way life works, unfortunately. |
Anonymous
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You are not obligated to stay for a year. For anyone who wants to complain about how hard it is on the kids and parents, go check out the thread on the old forum asking if switching nannies is hard on kids - virtually all the MBs insisted it wasn't at all and nannies are entirely replaceable etc. etc. (Decide what you believe, MBs!) It's inconvenient for the parents and if the nanny is close with the children and in a long-term position, I do believe it is hard on some kids, but it doesn't sound like either of those apply to your circumstances.
That said, you should give them as much notice as you can, be apologetic, explain the change in your plans in a more compelling way (i.e. not "I didn't connect with your kids"), and wait to do any of this until you are SURE you want a change. Then offer to help in any way you can - from recommending nannies if you know any to having them shadow you for a few days during the transition, etc. |
Anonymous
They're also completely unenforceable as nannies are at-will employees. |
Anonymous
| I just had to do this because of a job opportunity that I didn't want to pass up. Not another nanny job BTW. I wasn't even able to give notice. It was a really hard decision and I felt horrible about doing it but at the end of the day you need to do whats best for you and your husband. The family should have back up care and there are plenty of other nannies out there. Don't let this job be the reason you put off school. |
Anonymous
| Nothing gives you job security for a year. |
Anonymous
| You have to worry about you. Its your life. If you want something else, then go for it. Perhaps offer to stay until they find someone else. Just like the other families dropped you -- nannies are at-will employees. And Id say families are at-will employers. Not that you're being selfish, but many people can leave jobs at a moments notice if they have backup. Honestly though....cosmo school? ;\ super hard industry with so much compitition. Not trying to discourage you but just saying... |
Anonymous
OP here... thanks everybody for the opinions and encouragement. I don't know what I'll do obviously, and no decisions will be made for quite some time as right now we need the income that this job provides.
Eh, I know, but the market is less competitive in my area and we have a really good school nearby where I live. College wasn't really my thing (which isn't to say that I didn't get good grades... I had a 4.0 in high school and a 3.9 during my one semester at community college) and cosmetology gives me the opportunity to work in a field that I enjoy. Or to try at least... I always wanted to be a stay at home mom, but kids aren't on the agenda for hubby and I for a good 4 or 5 years, and I don't really want to nanny all that time. I have little formal education or experience in fields other than childcare, so if I want a break from the nanny scene I have to start somewhere. but nothing is decided for sure, anything could change. |