Nanny Cameras

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody,
I recently started working with a new family (3months) and i love it we have established great communication we text talk even Facetime! So i was surprised when i saw a camera in the living room yesterday. Ive worked with other families and they've always been open about this kind of things even showing me where they are located,so i just dont understand why they wouldnt tell me or even mention that they have cameras i have nothing to hide and i feel like they have broken our "trust" how do i bring it up? Im not annoyed that they have cameras just upset that they wouldnt tell me.

Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I think nanny cams are unfair when you don't know about them, it's almost trickery. I'm sorry hay you're in this situation. I don't know how to answer your questions when it comes to how to confront your bosses, but I want you to know that your feelings are valid.

[Anonymous]

If you have an open line of communication
then I would say, I noticed you have a camera
are you happy with the me as a nanny? Have
I given you any reason to mistrust me?
something along the lines of these kind of
questions.

[Anonymous]

Periods. They are your friend.

I don't tell my nanny about the cameras.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't work for a family that has a nanny cam. I don't have anything to hide, but trust is huge for me. Families I've worked for in the past had full trust in me. If I found a nanny cam, I would be telling them to find a new nanny as I can't work for people that don't trust me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't work for a family that has a nanny cam. I don't have anything to hide, but trust is huge for me. Families I've worked for in the past had full trust in me. If I found a nanny cam, I would be telling them to find a new nanny as I can't work for people that don't trust me.

I truly don't get this. A parent's job is to put their kids first, not the feelings of their nanny. A nanny cam, particularly one they've told you about, is one tool for making sure that their trust is well placed. Especially in the first few weeks of a job, you are largely an unknown quantity. You'd expect them to run a background check, right?

Also, as a parent, you would never have them yourself? Most nannies say they hate them, but would also recommend to a friend that they install them ...

[Anonymous]

I completely understand why parents have cameras and why they wouldn't mention it to a nanny. Sorry ladies, we as nannies don't deserve 100% blind trust after only knowing a family a few months. I even have dropcams in my apartment to watch my dog and cleaning ladies when they come. If I had a child there is no way in hell I'd just blindly trust someone 100% after three months. Trust is earned and it doesn't happen overnight. Assume you are watched at every job and you wont feel so insecure. Dont change, pick your nose or fart outside the restroom if your not comfortable. You will eventually get used to the cameras and it wont feel so awkward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't work for a family that has a nanny cam. I don't have anything to hide, but trust is huge for me. Families I've worked for in the past had full trust in me. If I found a nanny cam, I would be telling them to find a new nanny as I can't work for people that don't trust me.

The thing is, nannies - even wonderful amazing nannies - are replaceable. Children are not. Families using a nanny can are generally comfortable losing a nanny over it, either because they do not yet trust her or because they don't yet know her.

[Anonymous]

Back to the main point, guys -- she said she has no problem with cameras, just feels uncomfortable that was not told about them. I think that is a completely legitimate feeling and you should broach it just like you told it to us. I noticed you have one, I understand why you would have one but just wish you would have told me, in the future I appreciate more open communication, etc. There's nothing wrong with how you feel and nothing wrong with the parents for having a cam, they just didn't go about it the right way. Perhaps they were uncomfortable telling you about it as first time parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't work for a family that has a nanny cam. I don't have anything to hide, but trust is huge for me. Families I've worked for in the past had full trust in me. If I found a nanny cam, I would be telling them to find a new nanny as I can't work for people that don't trust me.

I truly don't get this. A parent's job is to put their kids first, not the feelings of their nanny. A nanny cam, particularly one they've told you about, is one tool for making sure that their trust is well placed. Especially in the first few weeks of a job, you are largely an unknown quantity. You'd expect them to run a background check, right?

Also, as a parent, you would never have them yourself? Most nannies say they hate them, but would also recommend to a friend that they install them ...

+1. I don't understand why you think parents should just blindly trust someone who is basically a stranger. We can call all your references and do a background check but these are our children we are talking about and in general (not just when it pertains to nannies but in life in general) trust needs to be earned. I would never hire a nanny who wasn't comfortable with cameras. We don't hide them and let every potential candidate know during their interview that we have them. I've literally never, not once, had a nanny candidate who had a problem with them. The very large majority said they completely understand and would do the same if they had children. Our last nanny was with us for 2 years until we moved. When we left she said she was glad we had cameras and to make sure we had them set up when we hired a new nanny because she wanted to make sure the children would be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to the main point, guys -- she said she has no problem with cameras, just feels uncomfortable that was not told about them. I think that is a completely legitimate feeling and you should broach it just like you told it to us. I noticed you have one, I understand why you would have one but just wish you would have told me, in the future I appreciate more open communication, etc. There's nothing wrong with how you feel and nothing wrong with the parents for having a cam, they just didn't go about it the right way. Perhaps they were uncomfortable telling you about it as first time parents

PP MB with cameras here. OP, I'm sorry we got off your topic. I'm also sorry your family installed a camera and didn't tell you. I do think that is wrong. I agree with this poster that if you have a good and open relationship with them you can say you noticed the camera and you understand why they might like one but you want to make sure it isn't because they have any concerns about you. If so you would like them to address it with you. It seems odd that they would put it there (not hidden) and not mention it to you though.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it is totally wrong that they didn't mention using the camera or exactly where they would put it. That would make it easier for you to just be "good" in front of the camera, but do whatever you want when you're in a different area of the house. One family I worked with didn't have cameras, and I almost wanted to suggest them considering they had cleaning ladies, laundry people, babysitters, tutors, etc. in and out of the house all day. The other two families I've worked for didn't tell me outright that they have them, but they aren't hidden either.

Honestly, I feel better knowing that there are cameras around. I know that I won't do anything stupid or bad to any of the kids that I watch, but I have peace of mind knowing that if something were to happen there are cameras there to prove that I am doing my job well.

[Anonymous]

Well, I don't find an issue with cameras at all. I work in a hospital and they are literally everywhere. So I do not understand why someone who is employed in a home would have any issue either. They are apart of life in America, there are cameras on the street, shopping malls, grocery stores, etc. You should expect that they are there and it's foolish to assume otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't work for a family that has a nanny cam. I don't have anything to hide, but trust is huge for me. Families I've worked for in the past had full trust in me. If I found a nanny cam, I would be telling them to find a new nanny as I can't work for people that don't trust me.

I truly don't get this. A parent's job is to put their kids first, not the feelings of their nanny. A nanny cam, particularly one they've told you about, is one tool for making sure that their trust is well placed. Especially in the first few weeks of a job, you are largely an unknown quantity. You'd expect them to run a background check, right?

Also, as a parent, you would never have them yourself? Most nannies say they hate them, but would also recommend to a friend that they install them ...

If you do not trust your nanny, then you stay home and take care of your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I don't find an issue with cameras at all. I work in a hospital and they are literally everywhere. So I do not understand why someone who is employed in a home would have any issue either. They are apart of life in America, there are cameras on the street, shopping malls, grocery stores, etc. You should expect that they are there and it's foolish to assume otherwise.

^^ This. Nobody told me upfront, but I am sure emails at work can be monitored, so I assume no privacy in that regard. Nanny cams are there because it's stupid to trust a stranger 100% in your own house.