Is it nanny's responsibility?

[Anonymous]

My NF is going to be out of the country for two weeks, and as dictated by our contract, I will be paid while they are gone. On Friday as I was leaving, MB suddenly asked if I would mind picking up their dogs from the boarding place on the day they come back into town. I have a long commute (36 miles one way) and would really rather not spend my last day off ferrying their dogs around. At the same time, they're paying me for my time, so it seems like sort of a gray area. Any input would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Yes this is a gray area. Yes you need to suck it up and so it with a smile.

[Anonymous]

Is the 36 mile commute your regular commute from your house to theirs, or is it that the commute to the boarding place is significantly longer than your normal commute?

Also, is this considered your vacation? As in does your contract stipulate something to the effect that you get two weeks of vacation and employers will choose those weeks? Or is this just them continuing to pay you for guaranteed hours? If the former I would not do this at all, if the latter I'd be more open to it.

If the 36 miles is part of a much longer commute to the boarding place and this wasn't considered my vacation time, I would probably do it but ask for gas reimbursement at the IRS rate for the longer car usage. Or would ask to drive to their house, then use one of their cars to get the dogs. That way your commute is the same as if you were working normally.

[Anonymous]

It's a nanny responsibility if you make it your responsibility.
I wouldn't do it but I do not do any pet care.

[Anonymous]

I am not a nanny but if I asked you to do this, I would pay extra. They have put you in a bad spot and is u m fair to you.

[Anonymous]

I'd do it, but I love dogs and would be so super appreciative of having two weeks of paid vacation.

But if you don't want to, just tell them you're sorry but you've already made plans and won't be available to fetch the dog.

[Anonymous]

I would happily do it. But then I'm a nice person with a great NF who makes me feel like part of the family, and like you pay me guaranteed wages, so if I'm off for a whole week or two and they ask me one small favor (or even a bunch of favors) I would gladly pitch in.

I would consider it good will.

[Anonymous]

For two weeks of pay and half day of work, yes.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your relationship with them. I might do it for a family I really loved, but honestly, no this isn't your responsibility. Yes its great that they are paying you for the extra time off, but they aren't doing you a favor, they are simply following your agreement. I'm not doing my NF a favor when I do kid laundry. It's what I agreed to, you know?

If you do decide to do it, I would do so with the stipulation that in the future any tasks they ask for from you while on vacation be kid related. This shows that you are available and willing to do some work during that time, but draws a boundary for what is and is not appropriate. Your job is still childcare, whether they are on vacation or not. You don't suddenly become a house manager if that was not part of the agreement.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you for all the input, you've all brought up some valid points. This isn't considered part of my two weeks vacation (one of their choosing, one of mine), but is extra. I felt kind of cornered into doing it, as she asked me as I was walking out of the door. At the time, I though sure, no problem, but the more I think about it the less I want to do it. If it were just a quick dash down the road, then sure, but this will probably take up a good portion of my day. I am a people pleaser and am afraid they'll be upset if I say no.

[nannydebsays]

You're getting 2 extra weeks of paid vacation, and you are unwilling to drive 72 miles round trip and get their dogs from the boarders? Really?

And I don't quite understand how that would take up "a good portion" of your day. Where do you live/work that driving 72 miles, picking up/dropping off dogs takes more than 3 - 4 hours, max?

I guess I think a little give and take makes for a good work relationship. It's not like they told you they needed you to dog sit for 2+ weeks, right?

[Anonymous]

I would do it, what's the problem ?
They could have asked you to stay at their place for 2 weeks to watch the house ... so why not doing them a favor by picking up the dogs ...

[Anonymous]

nannydebsays wrote:You're getting 2 extra weeks of paid vacation, and you are unwilling to drive 72 miles round trip and get their dogs from the boarders? Really?

And I don't quite understand how that would take up "a good portion" of your day. Where do you live/work that driving 72 miles, picking up/dropping off dogs takes more than 3 - 4 hours, max?

I guess I think a little give and take makes for a good work relationship. It's not like they told you they needed you to dog sit for 2+ weeks, right?

I have to disagree with you nannydeb. Getting paid for those extra 2 weeks is part of her contract. I think the idea that she somehow owes them for something they contracted to do is a slippery slope for sure. If they were asking her to perform a task related to her job, at her usual place of work, I would think it a completely reasonable request. This is completely different, and I don't think the level of difficulty is what decides if a request is reasonably within the realm of this nanny's responsibility. If she agrees to do this, will it become a standard request? Does that mean OP is agreeing to run errands for them while they are away, and does it open the door to other non job related tasks being asked of her? Does this create the expectation that OP must do something to "earn" her guaranteed hours? It wouldn't sit right with me, and I completely understand why OP is hesitant. I don't think it makes her a bad nanny. Everyone is entitled to their boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do it, what's the problem ?
They could have asked you to stay at their place for 2 weeks to watch the house ... so why not doing them a favor by picking up the dogs ...

No they couldn't have. This is ridiculous. They signed a contract which included guaranteed hours, and she doesn't owe them anything for it. Dog taxi driver is not her job, so of course she can say no. What if the dogs make a mess in her car? What if OP has leather seats and the dogs tear them? What if she isn't used to driving with animals in the car and she gets into an accident? Her employers overstepped here.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on your relationship with this family.

If you feel they have treated you with the utmost respect overall and that you would like to do it as an act of goodwill just because you want to, then by all means do it.

I love my nanny family and would do it just because they have always treated me so kindly in the past and I would do anything to help them.

However if you only see them on strictly professional terms, then let them know you are unavailable on that day and simply cannot assist them on that day.