Should I expect my employer to pay me while they are vacationing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't you read in the newspaper how horribly abused some nannies are? Have you heard of an abused office worker?

Honestly, no, I've never read all year articles in the paper about abused nannies (not that I don't agree they exist), but I'm not sure what your point is as relates to this topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually do agree that the best way to ensure that you have a happy long-term nanny is to set up a contract that will allow her life stability and guaranteed pay is one of those things that is good to include. But what's funny is that I get all irritated at the entitlement in some of those posts and feel like arguing - because some posters act like it should be an absolute requirement or that employers who don't offer it are being willfully cheap or taking advantage of their nanny or that it's somehow a human rights issue.

As we've all said, nannying is a weird combination of salaried and hourly employment - it doesn't really fit into any category, which means you can't assume that any perks/benefits are assumed by either party.

PPs have acted like nannies are the only ones in the country who don't get paid when their time is reserved. I was an employee at a big-box store and a waitress. Both of those jobs never had a set schedule (I would find out the week before and it was always completely different), and sometimes when I was scheduled, they would cancel on me for their own reasons and I simply would not get paid. Other times, they would call me in randomly when I was off because another employee cancelled or something.

Obviously, it was not a job I wanted long-term and I was unhappy, so it's definitely not a recommended way to treat an employee. But most hourly jobs are exactly like this. PP is right that some employers who have had an hourly job that isn't nannying might assume that nannying functions the same way as when they were an hourly employer. They may simply not be thinking about it any other way. So assuming they are just cheap or don't care about you isn't always true. Enlighten them politely and respectfully.

Honestly even the corporate or government world isn't all job and pay security either. I'm a Fed who is currently furloughed for 11 days and not getting paid. I realize that's not exactly the same thing as nannies not getting paid, but even the Federal government is randomly not paying their long-term employees. When I was in the private sector, there were random realignments and reorganizations, lay-offs, moving people off of assignments and projects without notice, etc. One day you would have a job or a whole team, and the next day you don't.

So while I agree with you that employers would be benefitted by providing nannies a secure job and pay and that nannies should ask for these things respectfully if they need/want them, acting like nannying is so disadvantaged compared to all these other secure, constantly paying jobs is really irritating and just plain wrong.

If your nanny was compensated even half a much as you are, she could afford some non-paid days to, especially if it was due to your financial hardship. As it is, your "average" nanny is already living hand-to-mouth due to her low wages. So if you can't afford to pay your nanny during your travels, you either can't afford your vacation, or you can't afford to have a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Get it spelled out in your contract, nannies. Otherwise, you'll be making assumptions that could backfire if your employers don't think the same way you do about guaranteed hours.

It's you who will have a little problem when you come back from the beach, to find your laid off without pay nanny, has a new paying (imagine that!) job.

Considering this economy, where there are many more qualified nannies than jobs, you might want to rethink that strategy. Negotiate the perks you want and you won't be out of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Get it spelled out in your contract, nannies. Otherwise, you'll be making assumptions that could backfire if your employers don't think the same way you do about guaranteed hours.

It's you who will have a little problem when you come back from the beach, to find your laid off without pay nanny, has a new paying (imagine that!) job.

Considering this economy, where there are many more qualified nannies than jobs, you might want to rethink that strategy. Negotiate the perks you want and you won't be out of work.

Where do we find that glut of qualified nannies? Almost everyone I know complains about the nanny she had to settle for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Get it spelled out in your contract, nannies. Otherwise, you'll be making assumptions that could backfire if your employers don't think the same way you do about guaranteed hours.

It's you who will have a little problem when you come back from the beach, to find your laid off without pay nanny, has a new paying (imagine that!) job.

Considering this economy, where there are many more qualified nannies than jobs, you might want to rethink that strategy. Negotiate the perks you want and you won't be out of work.

Where do we find that glut of qualified nannies? Almost everyone I know complains about the nanny she had to settle for.

The playgrounds will be full of those "qualified" nannies tomorrow, with their broken English.