Can't help feeling weirded out by camera in home.

[Anonymous]

I sit about 2-4 days a week on average for a family, and for a whole year they never had any cameras in the home. I come over after not sitting for them for two weeks and they got a security system which includes two cameras, one right outside the front door and the other in the kitchen looking towards the living room. Mb told me this on the phone before I came over and I was taken aback at first because they never mentioned getting cameras, but whatever, it's their home.

While I thought I would be okay with this, I was having a hard time. Most of the things I do with my charge are in the living room - board games, crafts, watching movies/tv. When I put on a movie for him, I went into the dining room because I was uncomfortable. Beyond having a camera, another thing bothered me. Charge was jumping on the sofa and I told him about 3-4 times to stop jumping. I get a call from Db asking if I was in the living room. I said no, dining room. He asked me to tell charge to stop jumping on the sofa or he was going to be in trouble when parents get home. By that time, charge had stopped. Am I going to have this to watch out for - parents constantly checking in and if they don't like something charge is doing to then call me about it???

Is there anything you would ask or this is probably one of thos areas in which you either suck it up or stop sitting, correct? I do understand it is their home, but I'm not cool with it if they are going to monitor like that.

[Anonymous]

Totally creepy.

[Anonymous]

I'd find a new job. There is no way I'd keep a job where the parents micromanage me via nanny cam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd find a new job. There is no way I'd keep a job where the parents micromanage me via nanny cam.

I agree. It sounds a little voyeuristic to me. Definately invasive. Let them find someone else who wants that kind of attention and frequent criticism for every little thing. It's impossible to know what their issues might be.

[Anonymous]

I'm a MB and have this in my home. I like to check in on my child when I'm away from being home. Nothing creepy about it. When I hire sitters, I ask them if they are ok with it and they all seem to be.

[Anonymous]

I personally won't work in a home where there are cameras. I hate being filmed and on camera all day and it makes me unnatural. I get why parents do it, I just don't want to be watched all day. Kind of like how I would hate paparazzi following me. It is a weird feeling to know you are being watched from a far. I get very self-conscious and don't do any of the natural fun silly stuff I would normally do and I am more careful about how I sit and how I play to make sure I am not exposing myself or embarrassing myself.

It doesn't bother some people but OP if it bothers you just look for another job.

[Anonymous]

So easy for you to say PP 10:54, your not the one being watched. Sometimes I really wish for a week, parents could experience the job of a nanny, but with someone else's child, not your on! Mainly, parents like this who want to micromanage!!

OP, did you ask, why the sudden need for the cameras? It's really kind of strange after a year. Sometimes this stems from them talking to another parent who gave them the idea!

[Anonymous]

Would there be any legal concerns if they put clips of the nanny doing something silly/stupid/embarrassing on YouTube?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Mb said there were break-ins in the neighborhood so that's why they got the security system and cameras came with.

I think I'm going to have to probably get used to it or refer a friend who would be comfortable because like a pp said, I can't be myself and instead am very conscious the whole time.

[Anonymous]

Calm down, 11:27. People in many jobs are watched, both by camera and by other people. It's a normal expectation to be monitored somehow while at work.

To the OP- it's likely the family you work for is checking on you a lot right now because the camera is new. Over time, especially once they notice that nothing very special happens while they are gone, they will back off. Try to be patient (if you like them and want to keep the job) and deal with issues as they come up in a calm manner. For example, I think you should definitely tell the MB and DB that the calling in about the couch jumping was undermining you and made you uncomfortable. If they don't lighten up, or understand and change their behavior in a few months, I'd probably leave the job. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calm down, 11:27. People in many jobs are watched, both by camera and by other people. It's a normal expectation to be monitored somehow while at work.

To the OP- it's likely the family you work for is checking on you a lot right now because the camera is new. Over time, especially once they notice that nothing very special happens while they are gone, they will back off. Try to be patient (if you like them and want to keep the job) and deal with issues as they come up in a calm manner. For example, I think you should definitely tell the MB and DB that the calling in about the couch jumping was undermining you and made you uncomfortable. If they don't lighten up, or understand and change their behavior in a few months, I'd probably leave the job. Good luck.

Often times when people are monitored or on camera in other jobs, the focus of the monitoring isn't solely on one person. It is security watching a building full of people or CCTV catching everyone walking by. It isn't a camera aimed at your cubicle or following you around watching no one but you. Also in most cases the person on the other end watching through security cameras doesn't know you personally, they aren't tracking your every move and have little if any connection to you. Being nanny-camed is a much more intimate type of recording than most.

Maybe there are other jobs where your personal employer has a camera focused on you and solely on you all day, I just can't think of any off hand.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. It's one thing being watched as you service clients or shuffle sensitive papers or count cash. None compares with being watched as you care for a child all day, except in the bathroom?

[Anonymous]

You have no idea what you're talking about, 15:33.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have no idea what you're talking about, 15:33.

What makes you think you know what you're talking about, 17:20?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a MB and have this in my home. I like to check in on my child when I'm away from being home. Nothing creepy about it. When I hire sitters, I ask them if they are ok with it and they all seem to be.

But do you make phone calls to the nanny/sitter like the DB did to the OP? It's one thing to have the cameras there, but another to then start to micromanage the nanny with the use of these.