Federal employees with nannies - what will you do with a furlough? RSS feed

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ultimately I ended up not being furloughed. But I mentioned the possibility to our nanny, and believe me, if I had to lose $1500/month, I would definitely have to furlough the nanny the days I am furloughed (I am guessing once per week or once every 2 weeks). Her pay cut would be a fraction of what we'd be losing - like a big chunk of our mortgage payment. It would be catastrophic. I totally understand the plight of others being furloughed without large savings.


I would struggle to pay my bills if I lost 2-4 days of work per month. The total amount of money she'd be out may be less, but she almost certainly has a lower cost of living than you do too. OP, I was on your side all the way up until this statement right here, but now I think you come across kind of snobby.

Happy you were not furloughed, however, for everyone's sake.


I'm sorry, but you just don't know us - nanny and I and our situation. If you did you would feel differently. And unlike a lot of snotty moms on here, we aren't rich. We dont have $200K HHI. We ate rice and beans tonite.


I didn't say you WERE snobby, I said that statement made you SOUND snobby. And again, I'm happy for everyone's sake that you weren't furloughed.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
How much do you and your husband make compared to the nanny? She probably makes $40,000 and together you make mid-six figures and you have no qualms about reducing her salary by 1/5 a week! If you do this, I hope she finds another job and soon. You are beneath contempt and I am not a nanny.


Really?

Last I knew, I respected our nanny enough to trust if she didn't think she could make a living in her chosen profession...she would choose another profession.

Imagine that. I trust our nanny. Clearly. you don't.


Profession? This is a joke. Professionals are not hourly employees.

Really? Who told you that? I know lots of professions who are hourly employees. You're just being silly, aren't you?


Lawyers have an hourly rate but are not hourly employees. Doctors, engineers, teachers, dentists, architects, are professional as they have specific academic requirements to receive a diploma and must take state examinations that license them to practice their profession. Anyone can be a nanny.



Agreed. Nannies are professionals in the sense that they get paid to provide a service. In this sense, grocery store clerks and janitors are also professionals. However, nannies are not "bona fide professionals" (true professionals) within the meaning of the labor laws. This is why they must be W2 employees and must be paid for every hour worked. In the eyes of the law, nanny work simply does not involve enough creativity or knowledge to qualify the nanny as a professional. Nannies are presumed to work to the standards and specifications of the employer, without exercising independent judgment or discretion as to significant matters.

Until this changes, nannies will never get the respect of teachers and other early childhood workers. They just are not learned or creative professionals in the same sense. And nannies will continue to feel frustrated that they don't get the respect from parents that they feel they deserve, while parents will continue to feel frustrated by the fact that there is no quality control in the nanny field, as a direct result of the fact that anyone, with any level of skill and training, can call herself a nanny.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
How much do you and your husband make compared to the nanny? She probably makes $40,000 and together you make mid-six figures and you have no qualms about reducing her salary by 1/5 a week! If you do this, I hope she finds another job and soon. You are beneath contempt and I am not a nanny.


Really?

Last I knew, I respected our nanny enough to trust if she didn't think she could make a living in her chosen profession...she would choose another profession.

Imagine that. I trust our nanny. Clearly. you don't.


Profession? This is a joke. Professionals are not hourly employees.

Really? Who told you that? I know lots of professions who are hourly employees. You're just being silly, aren't you?


Lawyers have an hourly rate but are not hourly employees. Doctors, engineers, teachers, dentists, architects, are professional as they have specific academic requirements to receive a diploma and must take state examinations that license them to practice their profession. Anyone can be a nanny.



Agreed. Nannies are professionals in the sense that they get paid to provide a service. In this sense, grocery store clerks and janitors are also professionals. However, nannies are not "bona fide professionals" (true professionals) within the meaning of the labor laws. This is why they must be W2 employees and must be paid for every hour worked. In the eyes of the law, nanny work simply does not involve enough creativity or knowledge to qualify the nanny as a professional. Nannies are presumed to work to the standards and specifications of the employer, without exercising independent judgment or discretion as to significant matters.

Until this changes, nannies will never get the respect of teachers and other early childhood workers. They just are not learned or creative professionals in the same sense. And nannies will continue to feel frustrated that they don't get the respect from parents that they feel they deserve, while parents will continue to feel frustrated by the fact that there is no quality control in the nanny field, as a direct result of the fact that anyone, with any level of skill and training, can call herself a nanny.


Parents don't want that, though, they'd have to pay more!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
How much do you and your husband make compared to the nanny? She probably makes $40,000 and together you make mid-six figures and you have no qualms about reducing her salary by 1/5 a week! If you do this, I hope she finds another job and soon. You are beneath contempt and I am not a nanny.


Really?

Last I knew, I respected our nanny enough to trust if she didn't think she could make a living in her chosen profession...she would choose another profession.

Imagine that. I trust our nanny. Clearly. you don't.


Profession? This is a joke. Professionals are not hourly employees.

Really? Who told you that? I know lots of professions who are hourly employees. You're just being silly, aren't you?


Lawyers have an hourly rate but are not hourly employees. Doctors, engineers, teachers, dentists, architects, are professional as they have specific academic requirements to receive a diploma and must take state examinations that license them to practice their profession. Anyone can be a nanny.



Agreed. Nannies are professionals in the sense that they get paid to provide a service. In this sense, grocery store clerks and janitors are also professionals. However, nannies are not "bona fide professionals" (true professionals) within the meaning of the labor laws. This is why they must be W2 employees and must be paid for every hour worked. In the eyes of the law, nanny work simply does not involve enough creativity or knowledge to qualify the nanny as a professional. Nannies are presumed to work to the standards and specifications of the employer, without exercising independent judgment or discretion as to significant matters.

Until this changes, nannies will never get the respect of teachers and other early childhood workers. They just are not learned or creative professionals in the same sense. And nannies will continue to feel frustrated that they don't get the respect from parents that they feel they deserve, while parents will continue to feel frustrated by the fact that there is no quality control in the nanny field, as a direct result of the fact that anyone, with any level of skill and training, can call herself a nanny.


Parents don't want that, though, they'd have to pay more!



Not necessarily true. What we'd probably see is a two-tiered system of childcare, with licensed professional nannies earning on one payscale and unlicensed paraprofessionals earning on a lower pay scale. They'd be performing many of the same tasks, but the licensed professional would probably bring a greater body of theoretical knowledge about child development and more creative teaching ideas to the work. Parents could choose which option makes the most sense for them based on budget and goals, much as a law firm can choose whether to hire a lawyer or a paralegal and a medical practice can choose a doctor or a physician assistant or nurse.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
How much do you and your husband make compared to the nanny? She probably makes $40,000 and together you make mid-six figures and you have no qualms about reducing her salary by 1/5 a week! If you do this, I hope she finds another job and soon. You are beneath contempt and I am not a nanny.


Really?

Last I knew, I respected our nanny enough to trust if she didn't think she could make a living in her chosen profession...she would choose another profession.

Imagine that. I trust our nanny. Clearly. you don't.


Profession? This is a joke. Professionals are not hourly employees.

Really? Who told you that? I know lots of professions who are hourly employees. You're just being silly, aren't you?


Lawyers have an hourly rate but are not hourly employees. Doctors, engineers, teachers, dentists, architects, are professional as they have specific academic requirements to receive a diploma and must take state examinations that license them to practice their profession. Anyone can be a nanny.



Agreed. Nannies are professionals in the sense that they get paid to provide a service. In this sense, grocery store clerks and janitors are also professionals. However, nannies are not "bona fide professionals" (true professionals) within the meaning of the labor laws. This is why they must be W2 employees and must be paid for every hour worked. In the eyes of the law, nanny work simply does not involve enough creativity or knowledge to qualify the nanny as a professional. Nannies are presumed to work to the standards and specifications of the employer, without exercising independent judgment or discretion as to significant matters.

Until this changes, nannies will never get the respect of teachers and other early childhood workers. They just are not learned or creative professionals in the same sense. And nannies will continue to feel frustrated that they don't get the respect from parents that they feel they deserve, while parents will continue to feel frustrated by the fact that there is no quality control in the nanny field, as a direct result of the fact that anyone, with any level of skill and training, can call herself a nanny.


Parents don't want that, though, they'd have to pay more!



Not necessarily true. What we'd probably see is a two-tiered system of childcare, with licensed professional nannies earning on one payscale and unlicensed paraprofessionals earning on a lower pay scale. They'd be performing many of the same tasks, but the licensed professional would probably bring a greater body of theoretical knowledge about child development and more creative teaching ideas to the work. Parents could choose which option makes the most sense for them based on budget and goals, much as a law firm can choose whether to hire a lawyer or a paralegal and a medical practice can choose a doctor or a physician assistant or nurse.


I get what you're saying, but do you really believe parents want to have to choose between licensed and unlicensed nannies? Those who can't/aren't willing to pay enough for the licensed professionals would NEVER want to admit that (to themselves or their family/friends).
Anonymous
We've already got a version of that with higher-cost legal nannies, and lower-cost, under-the-table nannies. Parents select what they can afford and are willing to pay for.

Yes, I think the market would sort itself out. They could make non-licensed nannies call themselves "babysitters" or something.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:We've already got a version of that with higher-cost legal nannies, and lower-cost, under-the-table nannies. Parents select what they can afford and are willing to pay for.

Yes, I think the market would sort itself out. They could make non-licensed nannies call themselves "babysitters" or something.


Not necessary to force a title change. There needs to be an entrance standard and certification/licensure process, just as there is with every other profession. That is why the current system with different nannies pricing themselves differently does not work. Nannies simply set a price. Sometimes the market works these things out during the hiring process, but parents often don't know whether or not the cost is justified until the nanny is already on the job. Hiring and firing as a means of quality control is inefficient for everyone, and unfair to the nanny who is decent but gets fired because she is not as good as the parents expect at a given price point. Many legal nannies just aren't worth the price they are seeking, because they are basically just full-time babysitters instead of early childhood development specialists.
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