nanny/sitter job extras

[Anonymous]

What extras do you have your nanny do? I started working for a family and each day a new task gets added, along with taking care of 3 kids and 2 dogs, laundry, dishes and cooking (normal stuff), they are having me groom and bathe dogs, train them, clean all carpet and stairs with a rented carpet cleaner, wash their cars regularly, garden, hang shelves and fix doors and windows that are broken, organize their closets and home offices..I feel overwhelmed and taken advantage of. Is this normal?? Some days I am doing so many chores I don't have time to help kids with homework or test studying (what I was originally hired for). Does everyone have their nanny/sitter do these things or is this an unusual situation? Thanks so much in advance.

[Anonymous]

I think pretty much everyone will agree that's insane.

[Anonymous]

This is crazy. If you're a nanny and were hired as a nanny you should be doing nanny related things - all to do with kids, not organise home offices and fix broken windows.

Unless you're compensated really well and adore the children, start looking for a new job asap. If the family is using you this much a conversation with them about boundaries is unlikely to fix your situation.

[Anonymous]

It is not normal but unfortunately some employers just don't care. They think of you as being a person who works X amount of hrs and can do the honey do list. I had one lady when I was interviewing tell me it doesn't matter what your duties are when I'm paying you you do as I say . "If I want you to scrum the floors all day with a tooth brush you do it" I didn't take that job.

[Anonymous]

MB here. We put into our contract exactly what we have our manny do on a regular basis. Part of that is that we may ask him to run up to half a dozen errands per week. We have him accept deliveries, and put away groceries that are delivered.

Other than that, the only thing I can think of that we'll ask him to do that we forgot to put in the contract is when we have big toys delivered that need assembly, asking him to put them together during nap time.

I think you should make a chart, OP, listing all the tasks you do that are in your contract that you agreed to, and all the tasks outside of your contract that they're asking you to do of late. Then explain nicely but firmly that the reason you agreed to the items in the left column was because you could accomplish them while still caring for the children. The things in the right column impact your ability to care for the children AND accomplish the things in the left column.

They honestly may not realize how many things they're asking you to do. Also, every time they see you, are you sitting down doing nothing? If that's what they see they may think you've got plenty of time. Make sure they realize how busy you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. We put into our contract exactly what we have our manny do on a regular basis. Part of that is that we may ask him to run up to half a dozen errands per week. We have him accept deliveries, and put away groceries that are delivered.

Other than that, the only thing I can think of that we'll ask him to do that we forgot to put in the contract is when we have big toys delivered that need assembly, asking him to put them together during nap time.

I think you should make a chart, OP, listing all the tasks you do that are in your contract that you agreed to, and all the tasks outside of your contract that they're asking you to do of late. Then explain nicely but firmly that the reason you agreed to the items in the left column was because you could accomplish them while still caring for the children. The things in the right column impact your ability to care for the children AND accomplish the things in the left column.

They honestly may not realize how many things they're asking you to do. Also, every time they see you, are you sitting down doing nothing? If that's what they see they may think you've got plenty of time. Make sure they realize how busy you are.

I'd go one step further and price out how much adding these extras would cost them. Get estimates from cleaning services, personal assistants etc then show them and explain that you are a nanny and if they want so many of these extra tasks, they need to give you more hours and pay accordingly. If they get upset, give them your two weeks.

They are taking advantage of you.

[Anonymous]

The parents AND the nanny are nuts.

[Anonymous]

You are severely being taken advantage of. Put your foot down and tell them you are not doing that crap anymore, and either they stop, or pay you a crapload more if you decide to keep doing all of that stuff or walk away. You are not a nanny to these people.

[Anonymous]

Wow, that is great you are so handy with power tools. Somehow I don't by that you are doing all that as a "nanny."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is great you are so handy with power tools. Somehow I don't by that you are doing all that as a "nanny."

You're right. Most people here don't know what a nanny is.

[Anonymous]

OP
Sounds like the kids are all school age right ? How many hours do you work that the kids are not there?

This is way more than normal but it is less common to have a FT nanny for school age kids so it is hard to answer you without knowing more about your hours and kid ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP
Sounds like the kids are all school age right ? How many hours do you work that the kids are not there?

This is way more than normal but it is less common to have a FT nanny for school age kids so it is hard to answer you without knowing more about your hours and kid ages.

What makes you think all three kids are in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is great you are so handy with power tools. Somehow I don't by that you are doing all that as a "nanny."

You're right. Most people here don't know what a nanny is.

I think the nanny should help out with household chores but putting together a child's large toy is a bit much. A nanny is replacing a stay at home mom, so many of those duties should carry over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is great you are so handy with power tools. Somehow I don't by that you are doing all that as a "nanny."

You're right. Most people here don't know what a nanny is.

I think the nanny should help out with household chores but putting together a child's large toy is a bit much. A nanny is replacing a stay at home mom, so many of those duties should carry over.

I somewhat agree with your sentiment, but that's not what a nanny is. Nannies aren't supposed to replace the parents, in spite of the fact that many of them do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP
Sounds like the kids are all school age right ? How many hours do you work that the kids are not there?

This is way more than normal but it is less common to have a FT nanny for school age kids so it is hard to answer you without knowing more about your hours and kid ages.

What makes you think all three kids are in school?

I'm not the PP you quoted but OP said she was originally hired to help the children with homework and studying for tests, that would imply they are in school but I guess it's possible there is a younger one who isn't.