No more OT

[Anonymous]

The parents that I currently work for told me that they can no longer pay me OT. They would like me to work for my hourly wage, which is $15/hr. I work 65 hours a week. I watch their 3 kids (ages 4, 6 and 8), do the majority of their housework and cook for the family. They basically want me to work off the books. I'm not comfortable with this at all because I know it's illegal. Time to look for another position.

[Anonymous]

Shame on them.

[Anonymous]

Time to start working ONLY 40 hrs per week. They do not have a choice as to whether they pay OT as it is manated by Federal law. You need to be assertive and tell them this is not acceptable and that you will leave if they do not pay you OT. FYI, this is a valid reason for quitting.

[Anonymous]

MB here. The economy tanking is starting to hit middle class and upper class families. Whether you care about that or not, it's going to start affecting nanny wages. I don't know if you're sympathetic to that or not, but whatever the case, I suggest you do yourself and the family a good deed and just find another position. Rather than demonize the family- it's always just better to walk away to a more suitable situation. Unless the family all of sudden turned into mean and selfish people, they are not happy about being unable to afford you. I love my nanny like family and always make sure she is paid- even before my other bills. My situation has fluctuated, but I've always put my nanny's pay first. If I had to cut her wage, it would kill me. But, I would understand if that ever happened and she needed to find another position, I would completely be in support of her. She needs to feed her family too. Sometimes I think nanny's don't get that MBs have hard times too.

[Anonymous]

It's just time to move on. Not getting the 25 hours of overtime is going to make a huge difference in your paycheck.

It's sad, but I don't know anyone who would stay and work all 65 hours for $15 an hour.

I'd ask them for a nice letter of recommendation and offer to help them interview and hire a replacement got you.

Start looking now. Give notice, whatever your contract states.

Sorry that you have to be on the hunt again but that's the reality for us nannies.

[Anonymous]

For you*

[Anonymous]

They are asking you to take a pay cut, to $12.58/hr, or $975/wk (as opposed to the $1162.50/ wk you are earning currently.) This is not an unlivable wage, but understandably, it is a big pay cut and would be hard for you to accept. Honestly, many people would have just replaced you with a new nanny at the lower rate.

So, you should tell them that you are sorry that their circumstances changed, and you thank them for the right of first refusal, but you are not interested in the lower paying job they are now offering.

I know that you are angry and disappointed, but as the MB above said, this is likely a part of a very difficult transition for them. So, try not to burn any bridges, and leave the position as gracefully as possible under the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

65 hours a week? It is time for you to start looking for a new job. No nanny should be working that many hours a week.

[Anonymous]

The economy is not tanking and OP did not indicate a decrease in their income was the reason for telling her they would not pay OT. If they were honest then they should get another nanny. Instead, they are screwing OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. The economy tanking is starting to hit middle class and upper class families. Whether you care about that or not, it's going to start affecting nanny wages. I don't know if you're sympathetic to that or not, but whatever the case, I suggest you do yourself and the family a good deed and just find another position. Rather than demonize the family- it's always just better to walk away to a more suitable situation. Unless the family all of sudden turned into mean and selfish people, they are not happy about being unable to afford you. I love my nanny like family and always make sure she is paid- even before my other bills. My situation has fluctuated, but I've always put my nanny's pay first. If I had to cut her wage, it would kill me. But, I would understand if that ever happened and she needed to find another position, I would completely be in support of her. She needs to feed her family too. Sometimes I think nanny's don't get that MBs have hard times too.

And just who do you think its been hitting for the last 5 years???? Sorry, I don't know about OP, but I'm not all that sympathetic that a few stinky rich MBs suddenly can't afford their luxuries. The lower middle class, lower class have been STRUGGLING, out of work, losing homes, etc. So you can't afford a nanny anymore, boo freakin hoo. Put your kid in daycare like the rest of us, and maybe only take one luxury vacation this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The economy is not tanking and OP did not indicate a decrease in their income was the reason for telling her they would not pay OT. If they were honest then they should get another nanny. Instead, they are screwing OP.

It absolutely is. We know many government contractors who just lost their jobs. Not sure which rock you are living under but major cut backs are here or coming and the first thing that goes for us is the nanny. That us our biggest expense. If we take a pay cut, then it trickles down. Just like when we do better we can pay better.

[Anonymous]

I echo others who have posted - who knows what they are going through. Two years ago when we had an au pair, we never heard anything about their host families cutting back in any way, and now this year, three of my au pair's friends have had families cut back because of job losses - one AP had to rematch bc the family could no longer afford her. No one is asking you to be sympathetic of families that can't afford luxuries, just simply saying that they probably don't want to do this any more than you do. Because of the sequester, many many contractors lost their jobs. We are not filthy rich by any stretch of the imagination, and both my husband and I having to take 11 furlough days is requiring us to cut back a lot too. OP, it stinks, but they simply can't afford you anymore. Be nice, give them notice that you can't take this pay cut and that you will be looking for a new job. There's not reason to be nasty about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. The economy tanking is starting to hit middle class and upper class families. Whether you care about that or not, it's going to start affecting nanny wages. I don't know if you're sympathetic to that or not, but whatever the case, I suggest you do yourself and the family a good deed and just find another position. Rather than demonize the family- it's always just better to walk away to a more suitable situation. Unless the family all of sudden turned into mean and selfish people, they are not happy about being unable to afford you. I love my nanny like family and always make sure she is paid- even before my other bills. My situation has fluctuated, but I've always put my nanny's pay first. If I had to cut her wage, it would kill me. But, I would understand if that ever happened and she needed to find another position, I would completely be in support of her. She needs to feed her family too. Sometimes I think nanny's don't get that MBs have hard times too.

And just who do you think its been hitting for the last 5 years???? Sorry, I don't know about OP, but I'm not all that sympathetic that a few stinky rich MBs suddenly can't afford their luxuries. The lower middle class, lower class have been STRUGGLING, out of work, losing homes, etc. So you can't afford a nanny anymore, boo freakin hoo. Put your kid in daycare like the rest of us, and maybe only take one luxury vacation this year.

You're an embarrassment to the nanny profession and it's no wonder people don't take childcare givers seriously. You type of people like to stereotype everyone who can afford a nanny and label them all as stuck-up, selfish, greedy, cheap bastards. Those types of employers are in the minority and most of those who can afford nannies are kind hearted, generous and fair. They work hard to get where they are. They make a generous amount of money because they spent the time and effort getting the education and career they have today and to give their children a good upbringing. Just because YOU can't afford a nanny and your child has to go to a daycare doesn't mean you can go around hating, being bitter and resentful. Jealousy is a WHAT?

PS: Many lower class parents sit on their tush all day collecting their welfare checks and EBT cards and sending their kids to a low-class daycare. It's their fault that they don't choose to strive (and don't give me that "OH they can't afford to pay for the education"). I applaud the upper-class and even middle-class for at least getting up and going to work everyday and not sucking the system drive then crying because their food stamps only get them through half the month.

[Anonymous]

PP again - "sucking the system dry" not "drive" .. Typing fast on my phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. The economy tanking is starting to hit middle class and upper class families. Whether you care about that or not, it's going to start affecting nanny wages. I don't know if you're sympathetic to that or not, but whatever the case, I suggest you do yourself and the family a good deed and just find another position. Rather than demonize the family- it's always just better to walk away to a more suitable situation. Unless the family all of sudden turned into mean and selfish people, they are not happy about being unable to afford you. I love my nanny like family and always make sure she is paid- even before my other bills. My situation has fluctuated, but I've always put my nanny's pay first. If I had to cut her wage, it would kill me. But, I would understand if that ever happened and she needed to find another position, I would completely be in support of her. She needs to feed her family too. Sometimes I think nanny's don't get that MBs have hard times too.

And just who do you think its been hitting for the last 5 years???? Sorry, I don't know about OP, but I'm not all that sympathetic that a few stinky rich MBs suddenly can't afford their luxuries. The lower middle class, lower class have been STRUGGLING, out of work, losing homes, etc. So you can't afford a nanny anymore, boo freakin hoo. Put your kid in daycare like the rest of us, and maybe only take one luxury vacation this year.

You're an embarrassment to the nanny profession and it's no wonder people don't take childcare givers seriously. You type of people like to stereotype everyone who can afford a nanny and label them all as stuck-up, selfish, greedy, cheap bastards. Those types of employers are in the minority and most of those who can afford nannies are kind hearted, generous and fair. They work hard to get where they are. They make a generous amount of money because they spent the time and effort getting the education and career they have today and to give their children a good upbringing. Just because YOU can't afford a nanny and your child has to go to a daycare doesn't mean you can go around hating, being bitter and resentful. Jealousy is a WHAT?

PS: Many lower class parents sit on their tush all day collecting their welfare checks and EBT cards and sending their kids to a low-class daycare. It's their fault that they don't choose to strive (and don't give me that "OH they can't afford to pay for the education"). I applaud the upper-class and even middle-class for at least getting up and going to work everyday and not sucking the system drive then crying because their food stamps only get them through half the month.

Spoken like a true "kind-hearted, generous, and fair" individual.