Asking me for extra hours then they sit at home. Rant.

[Anonymous]

I love my charge. Omg she's a ball of sunshine but working for his parents is killing me. They ask for extra hours all the time. I don't mind sometimes since I do get a lot of paid time off. They go on random last min vacations all the time. But anyway lately I'm getting annoyed. I'm supposed to work 9-5 M-F. Now she has me coming in at 8:30 every morning. They are sitting around or watching tv. Wtf? Then asking me to stay till 6 almost everyday. I don't mind being flexible and staying when they have to work. I do mind however when Daddy gets home at five then sits and plays on his iPad or watches tv till six. Not to mention ignoring my charge and telling her to "Go play with nanny." I don't get it. I'm getting burnt out. They are also starting to ask for a lot of weekends. They recently asked me for a Friday night, sat and Sun for the same weekend. Then get annoyed because I have plans. Anybody else ever have this issue?

[Anonymous]

To be blunt, you need to set boundaries. You are letting this family walk all over you. If you can't do it, just say no. If you don't set boundaries, the hour creep is going to continue.

[Anonymous]

+1 on setting boundaries. I would start declining any "babysitting" that you do for them and if they're asking you to be there from 8:30-6 talk to them and ask if they'd like to adjust your contracted hours. If they don't want to change the schedule and if they aren't paying your for the extra time (you didn't say one way or another) then just make it clear you are only available for your contacted hours.

[Anonymous]

I don't know ... is it really any of your business what the parents do while you're there? if they are burnt out at the end of a long day, that's why they have a nanny - to take care of the child. you said yourself that you get a lot of paid time off. I disagree with them expecting you to work random hours but if they ask for extra hours and pay you for them AND you agree to them? I don't think you should really be complaining

[Anonymous]

This happens to me a lot. Some of my jobs wouldn't even pay me for the extra time. I had one family who would ask me to work on a Friday night so they could go out. I would work an extra 6 hrs with no additional pay. I felt so taken advantage of. I have since learned to ask lots of questions and to bake sure in paid per hr.

[Anonymous]

Saying "no" to their request for extra hours makes them appreciate you more when you do say "yes". Say "no" to the next few requests - no explanations needed, just (with a very sorry voice), "No. I'm sorry - I can't."


You cannot control what they do while they are paying you. Take the money - who care is they are home watching TV or out working - your wage is your wage.

[Anonymous]

If they pay you and you agree to stay, then you have nothing to complain about. It doesn't matter what they are doing.

If you don't want to stay, say no. If they don't pay you for your time, say no.

Pretty simple and nothing worth whining about.

[Anonymous]

If you want to be a nanny then this is part of the job. If you want a 9-5 work in an office.

[Anonymous]

Start saying no, and maybe they will only start asking when you're really needed. I agree sort of that what they do when they're paying you is none of your business, but asking you for extra time when they're just sitting there would be annoying too. (They are paying you, right?)

Ask if they want to adjust your hours. If they don't then just start turning down the extras.

[Anonymous]

Have you told them that you are having financial difficulties lately? Maybe they are under the impression that you need the extra hours...?

If not, just let them know that you have other things you need to do on your time off and that while you love spending time playing w/your charge, you also need your time off to take care of other stuff.

They have absolutely no right to act angry over it.

You have your own life and it shouldn't revolve around this family.

If they truly think they are the center of your universe, then they must not be living in reality.

[Anonymous]

You say you get a lot of PTO due to last minute vacations. Does it work out pretty evenly? Because they are being fairly generous with you they may be expecting you to also be generous. Personally, I would prefer money in my hand to unexpected and unrequested days off.

It doesn't sound like they are asking whether you are willing to work extra hours but I respond to the directive as though it were a proper question:
- Thank you for asking me before seeking a back up sitter. I am not available this Tuesday but in the future I could have some availability. OR
- I love spending time with DC and I know it would be fun, unfortunately I have a standing commitment and am not usually available after hours. OR
- We were so lucky that I was able to do it the last couple times but I am not able to anymore. Oh, why? I have another obligation. Sorry. OR
- After giving the early morning routine a test run for the past few days I have found that it doesn't work well for me. I am not as well rested and I don't want to burn out