Wow. Glad I'm moving on from this.

[Anonymous]

This is a formal study done on nannies. http://www.domesticworkers.org/pdfs/HomeEconomicsEnglish.pdf

A portion of the forward:
"This report documents serious and widespread mistreatment of domestic
workers – nannies, housecleaners, and caregivers – in the United States. They
are underpaid, in many cases less than the minimum wage, and often at levels
too low to adequately care for their own families. They are almost universally
excluded from coverage by labor laws and usually work without a contract or
any kind of agreement, written or oral, with their employers. They often perform
work that is physically punishing, involving heavy lifting, long hours, and
exposure to potentially harmful cleaning products. They may be subject to
physical and verbal abuse by their employers, even enduring, in the case of live-in
immigrant workers, conditions indistinguishable from slavery."

[Anonymous]

And before you say "no, not here"...

Between June 2011 and February 2012, we surveyed 2,086 domestic workers in 14 metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and *Washington, D.C*.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a formal study done on nannies. http://www.domesticworkers.org/pdfs/HomeEconomicsEnglish.pdf

A portion of the forward:
"This report documents serious and widespread mistreatment of domestic
workers – nannies, housecleaners, and caregivers – in the United States. They
are underpaid, in many cases less than the minimum wage, and often at levels
too low to adequately care for their own families. They are almost universally
excluded from coverage by labor laws and usually work without a contract or
any kind of agreement, written or oral, with their employers. They often perform
work that is physically punishing, involving heavy lifting, long hours, and
exposure to potentially harmful cleaning products. They may be subject to
physical and verbal abuse by their employers, even enduring, in the case of live-in
immigrant workers, conditions indistinguishable from slavery."

This comes as no surprise, particularly after reading DCUM MBs and HMs.

[Anonymous]

And nannies are wondering what to get their MB's for Christmas in other threads...

[Anonymous]

When agreements exist concerning schedule, pay, and job responsibilities, they tend to break down over time. Workers are routinely expected to do more for the same pay, stretching both the hours worked and the tasks performed.

+10000

[Anonymous]

40% fear employer violence? O_O

[nannydebsays]

While there are, tragically, situations here in this country that are abusive, this report is flawed. The NDWA (National Domestic Workers Alliance) insists that domestic workers are not covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and that is completely false. With a few minimal exceptions for elder care/companion care, domestic workers DO have the right to earn at least minimum wage.

I took this survey. I do not in any way consider myself to be mistreated, although the NDWA representative that interviewed me tried to convince me that having to regularly lift a 25 lb charge was "physically punishing" work, and that in many other ways I was abused.

Again, there are horrible employers in this country who do treat their domestic employees like slaves. The NDWA should focus on informing these workers of the rights they DO HAVE, instead of ignoring those rights in favor of getting inflammatory publicity that will quickly fade from the headlines once reporters and media outlets (such as the New York Times) are forced to actually DO RESEARCH and discover that they are printing absurd falsehoods. The NYT printed a retraction after publishing this story.

If you are a nanny, educate yourself and then educate others. If you meet and befriend a nanny making less than minimum wage, tell her about the rights she has. Encourage nannies you know to refuse to take jobs that pay less than minimum wage or don't pay overtime when it's legally mandated.

Knowledge is power, and possessing that power means others can't exploit you without your permission.

[Anonymous]

I've been at the same job 6 years and every day I love going to work!! My employers are great people, treat me fairly, have never screamed at me, provide sick and vacation days, and pay me above market. There are great families out there!!!

[Anonymous]

Long hours... Check
Low pay... Check
No contract.... Check
Fear of employers... No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long hours... Check
Low pay... Check
No contract.... Check
Fear of employers... No

I was surprised at the fear of violence one, but I do think most nannies are afraid to bring up employment issues to their employer for fear of retaliation or replacement. Just look at the other threads & the "fire her"" responses. I know I tip-toe around MB and tolerate shit I won't and haven't tolerated at other "real" jobs" because there is no recourse for me here. As we have been reminded, ad nauseum, we are "at will" employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long hours... Check
Low pay... Check
No contract.... Check
Fear of employers... No

I was surprised at the fear of violence one, but I do think most nannies are afraid to bring up employment issues to their employer for fear of retaliation or replacement. Just look at the other threads & the "fire her"" responses. I know I tip-toe around MB and tolerate shit I won't and haven't tolerated at other "real" jobs" because there is no recourse for me here. As we have been reminded, ad nauseum, we are "at will" employees.

+1 I've tolerated persistent tardiness without pay/overtime, job creep, late payment, and generally ignoring the terms of our contract. In general my bosses are nice people, they are simply entitled and honestly a bit lazy. I think the wonderful respectful nanny-parent relationship that we are all in search of is truly few and far between.

[Anonymous]

Why don't nannies have equal rights for women?
Funny how the bitchin' feminists won their own rights on the job, then come home and deny the same rights to their domestic workers... who, btw, make it possible for you to enjoy YOUR career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't nannies have equal rights for women?
Funny how the bitchin' feminists won their own rights on the job, then come home and deny the same rights to their domestic workers... who, btw, make it possible for you to enjoy YOUR career.

Notice the silence...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't nannies have equal rights for women?
Funny how the bitchin' feminists won their own rights on the job, then come home and deny the same rights to their domestic workers... who, btw, make it possible for you to enjoy YOUR career.

What rights are nannies being denied? They are paid more than double minimum wage, they get many more days off and vacation and holidays than your average walmart or mcdonalds worker. They work inside in nice conditions, not hard manual labor.

I really would like to know how nannies are being mistreated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't nannies have equal rights for women?
Funny how the bitchin' feminists won their own rights on the job, then come home and deny the same rights to their domestic workers... who, btw, make it possible for you to enjoy YOUR career.

What rights are nannies being denied? They are paid more than double minimum wage, they get many more days off and vacation and holidays than your average walmart or mcdonalds worker. They work inside in nice conditions, not hard manual labor.

I really would like to know how nannies are being mistreated.

Hmm...wouldn't it be awesome if the OP of the thread had linked to an article on the very subject we're discussing?