what to do about unpaid holidays

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I know this has been posted before, but I am hoping you can help me.

I am seeking advice about a pay issue. When I was hired 4 months ago, we agreed I would get guaranteed hours.
I do not have a written agreement with them (my first mistake). My problem is that they didn't pay me last month
on Columbus day. They told me I wasn't needed and then docked my pay. I am work part-time, two days a week.

Today mb told me I won't be needed next Monday because it's veterans day and she can take care of the children.
In all of my other PT childcare jobs guaranteed hours have been a huge thing for me. I will have to quit for this family
for this reason. I could arrange my school schedule next semester so that I could continue to work for them,
but this is going to be a deal breaker for me. My budget is very tight and I am counting on a certain level of income (1200/month) and
docking $150 really makes a huge difference for me!

Are guaranteed hours just a nice perk or standard for a 2 days/week job?

[Anonymous]

I think it varies for only 2 days a week. It is certainly more in the grey area than a FT job. That said - if you would be quitting in just a couple months over itbifbit does not change then use the holidays as a good reason to brin it up. Remind her you agreed on guaranteed hrs at the get go and that this includes holidays. Indicate that you need to be able to plan on a constant cash flow so you have always made sure your jobs are ok with guaranteed hours 52 weeks of the year. It is reasonable to need this and it is fair to give her a shot to do it rather than quitting without giving her a shot to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Did you negotiate it during the hiring process? Is it in the contract? If not than you really have nothing and all you can do is quit or try to negotiate it now. There is no real written in stone standard, it's all negotiable.

[Anonymous]

Tell them you are on a tight budget and need this amount else you will have to give notice and quit.

[Anonymous]

You don't have anything in writing but since you say you negotiated it upfront, you should have a conversation with your MB. Remind her of your original agreement, let her know that the loss of two day's pay is quite significant for you, and if she isn't willing to offer guaranteed hours or paid holidays, let her know that you'll need to give your notice.

I have a one day a week job that offers guaranteed pay, which is unusual but again, something you can negotiate upfront if it's important to you. What's standard or common or what other people would/wouldn't do is irrelevant - the two of you came to an agreement that she is not honoring. Discuss it with her.

[Anonymous]

For such a PT position, you need to negotiate a written contract that meets your needs. You didn't here, so you'll probably need to find a new job.

[Anonymous]

If you are thinking of leaving because of this, tell them. Just explain what you have explained here, that you thought it was guaranteed hours regardless of whether or not they need you, and you rely on that income, and that if they can't guarantee to pay you the same every week then you'll need to find another job. If the are agreeable, suggest putting it into writing together with any other requirements that they or you have - it's an opportunity for both sides to make sure they are happy with the arrangement.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I am also thinking about leaving because of a personality conflict with the children. The 3 year old never makes eye contact, says hello or goodbye, and never says please and thank you. Even though her parents are well-meaning and very educated, they don't encourage good manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am also thinking about leaving because of a personality conflict with the children. The 3 year old never makes eye contact, says hello or goodbye, and never says please and thank you. Even though her parents are well-meaning and very educated, they don't encourage good manners.

I feel for you when it comes to the issue of the unpaid holidays but your last comment makes me think you don't have much experience as a nanny. Have you worked with many 3 year olds? That's pretty normal behavior for a 3 year old that you only see 2 days a week and who you've only known for 4 months. I have a 3 year old DS. I have worked to make sure he is very polite and am constantly told by the people who he knows well that they are very impressed with how he says please and thank you etc. However, he NEVER says Goodmorning to the nanny and I have no idea if he says please and thank you to her either because he is definitely more reserved around her since we've only had her for 4 months. When you work with kids that age you need a lot of patience and it doesn't sound like you have that if you can call this a "personality conflict" and would quit over it. It's not that hard to teach her to say please and thank you, even if the parents aren't consistent she'll know she has to say it to you. It's not as if you are saying she has tantrums all the time or doesn't listen to anything you say.

[Anonymous]

The problem is if the parents are NOT on the same page with you, it will not work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am also thinking about leaving because of a personality conflict with the children. The 3 year old never makes eye contact, says hello or goodbye, and never says please and thank you. Even though her parents are well-meaning and very educated, they don't encourage good manners.

I feel for you when it comes to the issue of the unpaid holidays but your last comment makes me think you don't have much experience as a nanny. Have you worked with many 3 year olds? That's pretty normal behavior for a 3 year old that you only see 2 days a week and who you've only known for 4 months. I have a 3 year old DS. I have worked to make sure he is very polite and am constantly told by the people who he knows well that they are very impressed with how he says please and thank you etc. However, he NEVER says Goodmorning to the nanny and I have no idea if he says please and thank you to her either because he is definitely more reserved around her since we've only had her for 4 months. When you work with kids that age you need a lot of patience and it doesn't sound like you have that if you can call this a "personality conflict" and would quit over it. It's not that hard to teach her to say please and thank you, even if the parents aren't consistent she'll know she has to say it to you. It's not as if you are saying she has tantrums all the time or doesn't listen to anything you say.

Some people may not agree with it, but it you dread going to work everyday and you come home miserable and exhausted every night... it's not worth it! You've been there for 4 months and if things aren't changing, you should start looking for a new job that you enjoy. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am also thinking about leaving because of a personality conflict with the children. The 3 year old never makes eye contact, says hello or goodbye, and never says please and thank you. Even though her parents are well-meaning and very educated, they don't encourage good manners.

I feel for you when it comes to the issue of the unpaid holidays but your last comment makes me think you don't have much experience as a nanny. Have you worked with many 3 year olds? That's pretty normal behavior for a 3 year old that you only see 2 days a week and who you've only known for 4 months. I have a 3 year old DS. I have worked to make sure he is very polite and am constantly told by the people who he knows well that they are very impressed with how he says please and thank you etc. However, he NEVER says Goodmorning to the nanny and I have no idea if he says please and thank you to her either because he is definitely more reserved around her since we've only had her for 4 months. When you work with kids that age you need a lot of patience and it doesn't sound like you have that if you can call this a "personality conflict" and would quit over it. It's not that hard to teach her to say please and thank you, even if the parents aren't consistent she'll know she has to say it to you. It's not as if you are saying she has tantrums all the time or doesn't listen to anything you say.

Some people may not agree with it, but it you dread going to work everyday and you come home miserable and exhausted every night... it's not worth it! You've been there for 4 months and if things aren't changing, you should start looking for a new job that you enjoy. Good luck!

I'm the PP quoted here and I actually agree with you. OP, if you really dread work then you should absolutely quit. Besides that, the issue with the unpaid holidays is reason enough to quit. My point was though that a 3 year old isn't going to be a perfect polite little adult and if your reason for quitting is because she doesn't say please and thank you then I think you are in the wrong profession. I also was bothered by the fact that you called it a personality conflict with the child. That implies it's the 3 year olds fault while it's really the parents for not encouraging proper manners.

[Anonymous]

I think OP is just looking for a reason to quit. No problem, OP, just quit.

The "personality conflict" reason is a huge red flag that perhaps she's not cut out to be a nanny for small children.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I guess I've been lucky because in the past I have found families with whom I click immediately. The children have been VERY easy going and had good manners. It seems like though from this forum that the perfect combination of children and family that you adore is almost never achievable.

Parents do their best with what they’ve got. I understand pp that it’s nature to defend your young. But face it: some kids ARE more difficult than others. I want to find another child who is easy going like my prior jobs. I will be the first to say it.

[Anonymous]

MB here. For a two-day a week job I would not pay someone on holidays. I would pay them strictly for the hours they work. Only when an employee is full time do I give paid holidays.