Over Achiever or opportunist?

[Anonymous]

We recently hired a nanny on trial for our 10 month old baby. The deal is after a few weeks, if we like her, we will go into a 1-year contract. We previously paid our nannies $15/hr, some were terrible and some were good except something went wrong (calling in frequently, dropping the baby). So this time, we offered $18/hr, 40 hours a week. We went over in detail what she needed to do during the day as far as light housekeeping. All of them pertained to the baby and we made that clear. Frankly she's been coming in every morning and doing everything. Our bed, scrubbing the bath tub and toilet, picking up after mine and my husbands mess. We never asked her to do these things but went along with it and took on anything we could get to if she hadn't before us. I don't work but have my own agenda. I don't want to clean on her schedule when I have other things going on. I'll clean my mess at my own leisure (and we're not very messy).

Anyways, she asked for a raise on her second week of working with us. She now wants $20.50/hr for cleaning up after us. This is for one baby in the Dupont Circle area. We live in a one bedroom apartment and there isn't really that much to clean. Another concern I have is that she is not focusing on the baby enough and wants to do other things (like clean), so does that make her a good candidate as his nanny? She has about 10 yrs experience and no college education. I feel like we are being taken advantage of since we are fortunate young adults. Does anyone else think so?


Also, how does the lunch hour work? She works 8 hours straight (10am-6pm) and eats when she pleases. I'd like to start working again soon and that will require a 9.5 hour work day for her. If someone has a nanny contract sample they could send me I would greatly appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

No. She does not need a raise for what she is required to do and its wildly inappropriate to ask for one after such a short time.

[Anonymous]

Does your nanny know you're going to be switching her to 9.5 hour days? And will you be paying overtime? You hired her for 40 hrs a week.

[Anonymous]

Yes she does know that. We told her that we need a nanny so I can go back to work and that I haven't been able to because we haven't found a reliable nanny.

[Anonymous]

I think the problem is that she see's how much we spend and how well off we are and wants to squeeze it out of us. I truly believe that $18/hr plus $20 a week for metro fare, plus health insurance contributions, etc. is generous for one child. No special needs and he is so well behaved! I don't like the way she approached the topic too. Via What's App after I asked her to take my son to a music class. It's absurd.

[Anonymous]

It's very inappropriate to ask for such a raise (a large raise) so soon. You should pass on her as a candidate.

[Anonymous]

Tell her to stop doing the extra cleaning, and that the rate is what it is. Then see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Are you paying overtime?

[Anonymous]

When she works more than 40 hours a week we will be paying overtime. Yes. I don't need her for more than 40 hrs a week right now bc I'm a stay at home mom. The idea is to have her take my place so I can start working again.

[Anonymous]

You are right. She is soaking you, and she's more interested in housekeeping than nannying. If you want her to also do the housekeeping, then I would counter with $25/hr for whatever you think is a reasonable number of hours during the week to get that job done (8?), and $18 the rest of the time. Make it crystal clear that overtime hours will be nanny hours only.

I probably wouldn't get into this with her, though. I would move on.

[Anonymous]

You seem like a handeful.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, the way you're acting through thread, I can see you're probably over the top in person. 1. You're seeking a housekeeper and a nanny. 2. Her only concern should ONLY be the baby. 3. If you all were so "clean" cleaning would have never been apart of the job. I'd suggest tell her no cleaning is required unless cleaning baby bottles etc for $18/hour or give her $20.05/hour if you do want all the cleaning apart of the job. It isn't her fault that you all are well off, at $20/hour, it's a good rate but for DC, what can you really do with $39k/year BEFORE taxes ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently hired a nanny on trial for our 10 month old baby. The deal is after a few weeks, if we like her, we will go into a 1-year contract. We previously paid our nannies $15/hr, some were terrible and some were good except something went wrong (calling in frequently, dropping the baby). So this time, we offered $18/hr, 40 hours a week. We went over in detail what she needed to do during the day as far as light housekeeping. All of them pertained to the baby and we made that clear. Frankly she's been coming in every morning and doing everything. Our bed, scrubbing the bath tub and toilet, picking up after mine and my husbands mess. We never asked her to do these things but went along with it and took on anything we could get to if she hadn't before us. I don't work but have my own agenda. I don't want to clean on her schedule when I have other things going on. I'll clean my mess at my own leisure (and we're not very messy).

Anyways, she asked for a raise on her second week of working with us. She now wants $20.50/hr for cleaning up after us. This is for one baby in the Dupont Circle area. We live in a one bedroom apartment and there isn't really that much to clean. Another concern I have is that she is not focusing on the baby enough and wants to do other things (like clean), so does that make her a good candidate as his nanny? She has about 10 yrs experience and no college education. I feel like we are being taken advantage of since we are fortunate young adults. Does anyone else think so?


Also, how does the lunch hour work? She works 8 hours straight (10am-6pm) and eats when she pleases. I'd like to start working again soon and that will require a 9.5 hour work day for her. If someone has a nanny contract sample they could send me I would greatly appreciate it.

...how do you have several previous nannies and your child is only 10 month old?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how long it really takes to clean a one bedroom but I would tell you you are not in a position to give her a raise, you appreciate everything as it makes your life easier, but you'd prefer light cleaning and leave things like the bathroom to you. Her standards may be different than yours. If you are home, you should see how much she is spending with the baby vs. cleaning. If she's doing it during nap, I'd encourage her to take a break. For one child that is a reasonable rate.

[Anonymous]

Your baby is only 10 months... How many nannies have you hired?? Maybe you're the problem.