Is it nanny's responsibility?

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine telling my employer no I can't get your dogs even though I'm getting 2 extra weeks off. Your being lazy and entitled. This should be a no brainier op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, then don't do it. But you're going to have to say, "No, I don't want to pick up your dogs at the kennel because this is not one of my contractual duties as a nanny." You can't say you're "unavailable," because they are paying you because you are available and they cancelled.

I don't believe that is the case if they told me a month and a half ago they would be out of town from x date - y date and would not be needing my services.

This is what guaranteed hours means. This is why it's different from vacation time. It also means that if they had to cut their vacation short, you would need to go back to work (or take time off, paid if you have it, unpaid if you don't).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, OP, don't do it. But I guarantee that your MB will take notice, it will change her perception of you and her willingness to be flexible with you. Relationships are about good will and give and take. You nanny family - though contractually obligated - is giving you an awesome perk by being out of town for two weeks. Unless they treat you poorly or you have some other reason that you have not laid out, the appropriate thing to do is to say, "I'm really going to enjoy this time off - thanks! I'd be happy to help you with your dogs."

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB. Are you contractually obligated? Of course not. But if you and your family are on an "I/we only do/offer exactly what is dictated by the contract" basis then you're in a bad place.

It seems to me that if you're getting an extra two weeks of paid vacation it isn't that huge a deal to do them this favor. Unless this is a rotten relationship and they're in the habit of treating you poorly I don't think this is an awful request.

Of course you can say no. If I were your employer I would fully understand that you're doing me a favor. But if you say no, in light of all the paid time off, it would definitely affect my opinion of you and how flexible I might be willing to be with you in the future.

I think these relationships go both ways. If everyone is respectful, reliable, professional, and considerate - on all sides - things work better. If all parties occasionally do small favors for the other to be nice or helpful or whatever, that is great. And sometimes people need help - they get sick and need extra time off, or a family member dies and they need unexpected leave, or something needs to be done during the day so the nanny needs to run a personal errand or two with the kids, or the boss asks you to pick up their dog.

In a good relationship you do these kinds of things because it's an investment in the long term and someday you might need a favor in return.

you are contradicting yourself. It's OK to say no but I will judge you and your mb will to and this may impact your job in the future but it's OK to say no.

It's not contradictory at all and as an MB I agree 100%. If it was me in this situation, it's ok if the nanny says no, I'm not going to fire her because of that BUT I'm definitely not going out of my way in the future for anything extra the nanny asks for and if there are other things bothering me this will just add to it.

OP, you don't HAVE to do it given dog care isn't in your contract but the best employee/employer relationships (this goes for non nanny jobs as well) are ones with give and take on both sides with mutual respect. If your NF is not like that, ie they are always late and don't pay you, they always ask you to do extra things and don't show their appreciate etc then fine, your relationship with them isn't that great already. If your NF though is flexible with you when you need it you absolutely should do this for them unless you want to ruin a good relationship.

Honestly, you don't have to do it but to an MB who has a wonderful relationship with our nanny you come across as lazy and entitled. You are getting 2 EXTRA weeks paid vacation basically but you are too lazy to do one extra thing for your NF. Be sure when you need something (maybe a good reference) your NF may not so easily provide it.

[Anonymous]

For the last time, this is not "extra vacation". She is not be given anything, nor are they doing her a favor. They signed a contract that required weekly payment whether they used the hours are not. Holding up your end of the bargain does not entitle you to extra favors. If anyone is being entitled, it is her employers.

Would any of you ask the same thing of a daycare provider, who you would also be required to pay when absent? No, because it would be ridiculous. You pay when you're gone because you agreed to it, and no one owes you anything for it.

[Anonymous]

The daycare provider would presumably be working. At the daycare. Guaranteed hours assumes you are available to work. Period.

If she doesn't want to do the dog thing, she doesn't have to, as everyone says. But, it would be a nice gesture to show that she is willing to be helpful to the family. As others have mentioned, the family would have been within their rights to ask her to come in for her regular hours if she wanted the money, and do whatever child-related tasks there were and sit around the rest of the time. They didn't, because that would be a jerky thing to do.

If I were the OP, I would do it this time, but next time they go away and leave me with "guaranteed hours," I would talk ahead of time about what that means.

[Anonymous]

My family takes 8-10 weeks off a year and pay me a minimum during those weeks, it is similar to my usual weekly paychecks. I'm very grateful and since I know the dates I can find odd jobs watching or driving other kids, cleaning, and make even more.
However, they also sometimes want to stop by and get the mail, check the plants, lights, etc. and that is fine with me. If I plan my own trip while they are away on theirs I tell them that too. I wouldn't have a problem collecting their dogs the day before they're back. Getting paid to do nothing and not commute for almost two weeks sounds great. Don't take such a short term outlook.

What's the real reason you are complaining?

[Anonymous]

OP are you getting these weeks off in addition to your pto? While I do not think it is your responsibility I do think you should put into this relationship what you want to get out of it. If you are mostly concerned with them overstepping boundaries then stick to the letter of your contract. Otherwise, it does seem like a small favor relative to the benefit of having an additional two weeks of pto.

[Anonymous]

OP, your bonus will definitely reflect what you decide on this matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, your bonus will definitely reflect what you decide on this matter.

This is not necessarily true and you know it. It very well may not make a difference at all, in that they don't appreciate it because they felt she owed them. And if they are the type of employers who would withhold a bonus over this one decision, and in spite of OPs performance on her actual job, then they are shitty employers. I don't think any MBs on this board have care of their bosses' pets taken into consideration for their bonuses. Insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your bonus will definitely reflect what you decide on this matter.

This is not necessarily true and you know it. It very well may not make a difference at all, in that they don't appreciate it because they felt she owed them. And if they are the type of employers who would withhold a bonus over this one decision, and in spite of OPs performance on her actual job, then they are shitty employers. I don't think any MBs on this board have care of their bosses' pets taken into consideration for their bonuses. Insane.

I didn't say that she wouldn't get a bonus, only that this is close to bonus time and likely to be remembered when the MB and DB discuss the amount.

[Anonymous]

You reap what you sow.

Do nothing extra and you'll get nothing extra. Show no consideration/appreciation/support and you won't receive it in return.

[Anonymous]

I don't get it. You get paid guaranteed hours so that means you get paid whether they need you or not. Week one you get paid and they don't need you at all so, score for you. Week two, they need you for 4 hours and 4 hours only. Shouldn't you be happy that you're still on the win here as they are paying you but don't need you for the other 35 or however many other hours?????

[Anonymous]

This isn't your vacation week, you can't just refuse to work and expect it not to reflect badly on your relationship. As you grow you will learn life is more of a give and take kinda experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. You get paid guaranteed hours so that means you get paid whether they need you or not. Week one you get paid and they don't need you at all so, score for you. Week two, they need you for 4 hours and 4 hours only. Shouldn't you be happy that you're still on the win here as they are paying you but don't need you for the other 35 or however many other hours?????

Nanny is paid guaranteed hours for CHILDCARE.