MB asked me to work a few hours on Thanksgiving!!

[Anonymous]

Very irritated. She didn't mention time and a half or anything and normally i wouldn't of been expected to work. I have my own family holiday plans. How do I tell her this politely without losing "points"??

[Anonymous]

Just say you are leaving first thing in the morning to go to some relatives house, or say you are hosting and have to cook all day. But really just tell her the truth- you made plans! What a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Just say you will be out of town. That's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Tell her you can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just say you are leaving first thing in the morning to go to some relatives house, or say you are hosting and have to cook all day. But really just tell her the truth- you made plans! What a jerk.

Agreed. Alternatively if you are willing to to work, but only if it means holiday pay, you could probably say something along the lines of "Hi MB, I do already have plans later in the day, but I would be able to come in for a few hours from 9-12. My holiday rate is $xx/hr. Let me know if that all works for you. If not have a happy Thanksgiving!"

But no shame if you don't want to go in at all either.

[Anonymous]

Say, "Sorry, but I already have plans to prepare food and be with family. I hope you have a great thanksgiving!"

[Anonymous]

I asked my nanny to work too. So what? I have almost 40 people coming over, and 4 children to mind while getting the house ready. An extra set of hands will be very useful. If she had said she couldn't do it, I'd just have asked if she had any nanny friends who were looking for some extra money leading up to the holiday season. I wouldn't be angry at her if she said she couldn't because she already has plans. No need to get all riled up on either side.

[Anonymous]

What a MB (mom bitch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked my nanny to work too. So what? I have almost 40 people coming over, and 4 children to mind while getting the house ready. An extra set of hands will be very useful. If she had said she couldn't do it, I'd just have asked if she had any nanny friends who were looking for some extra money leading up to the holiday season. I wouldn't be angry at her if she said she couldn't because she already has plans. No need to get all riled up on either side.

What you and other MBs don't seem to realize is that, while you think it's no big deal to ask for extra help on Thanksgiving or 4th of July or any other semi-big holiday, it puts us nannies in a very difficult and uncomfortable position. We feel bad saying no and feel like, even if you don't say it, you will somehow be mad or irritated. It is also annoying when we have few days off (and really need them!) and they are imposed upon. Just skip asking the nanny altogether, assume she would rather have the time off than the extra money, and ask an alternate caregiver if you really need the help.
For people who take care of other for a living, few things are as cut and dry as they would seem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very irritated. She didn't mention time and a half or anything and normally i wouldn't of been expected to work. I have my own family holiday plans. How do I tell her this politely without losing "points"??

You politely tell her you will not be able to do it.

This is not an issue. View it as any other time you are asked to work on your time off.

To the posters getting their panties in a bunch, get over yourselves. You are acting as if MB is demanding the nanny work that day. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

[Anonymous]

Funny people all over getting all bent out of shape about stores being open Thursday (for early black friday shopping) but some of the MB on here could care less about their nanny working!
Sad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked my nanny to work too. So what? I have almost 40 people coming over, and 4 children to mind while getting the house ready. An extra set of hands will be very useful. If she had said she couldn't do it, I'd just have asked if she had any nanny friends who were looking for some extra money leading up to the holiday season. I wouldn't be angry at her if she said she couldn't because she already has plans. No need to get all riled up on either side.

What you and other MBs don't seem to realize is that, while you think it's no big deal to ask for extra help on Thanksgiving or 4th of July or any other semi-big holiday, it puts us nannies in a very difficult and uncomfortable position. We feel bad saying no and feel like, even if you don't say it, you will somehow be mad or irritated. It is also annoying when we have few days off (and really need them!) and they are imposed upon. Just skip asking the nanny altogether, assume she would rather have the time off than the extra money, and ask an alternate caregiver if you really need the help.
For people who take care of other for a living, few things are as cut and dry as they would seem.

Based on my past experiences, I'm going to disagree with you. For nannies who are not from this country and/or do not have family to spend holidays with, or who are trying to save money for whatever reason, they jump at the offer of more hours. If you feel bad saying no, then that's on you. I've gotten where I am in part because I'm not afraid to ask for what I need/want. Many times I've asked people to work on holidays and seen their faces light up at the idea of extra money. I am never angry when someone says no to something they didn't initially agree to. People are entitled to make plans, even if those plans are sitting around in pjs and watching Bravo TV marathons alone. But sometimes, they'd like to ditch that plan and be around others, or earn more.

[Anonymous]

This isn't that different than a nanny trying to change her schedule, or change the terms of her contract. You all act like that is something unforgivable and a firing offense. Don't "ask" your nanny to work a holiday, unless you are one hundred percent sure she would jump at the money, or that she has the cajones to tell you no.

To the MB who said she is cooking for 40 people and "needs" the extra help, ask yourself how poor people manage it, and let your nanny have her day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't that different than a nanny trying to change her schedule, or change the terms of her contract. You all act like that is something unforgivable and a firing offense. Don't "ask" your nanny to work a holiday, unless you are one hundred percent sure she would jump at the money, or that she has the cajones to tell you no.

To the MB who said she is cooking for 40 people and "needs" the extra help, ask yourself how poor people manage it, and let your nanny have her day off.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't that different than a nanny trying to change her schedule, or change the terms of her contract. You all act like that is something unforgivable and a firing offense. Don't "ask" your nanny to work a holiday, unless you are one hundred percent sure she would jump at the money, or that she has the cajones to tell you no.

To the MB who said she is cooking for 40 people and "needs" the extra help, ask yourself how poor people manage it, and let your nanny have her day off.

I work hard to make sure I don't HAVE to live like a poor person.