What do you ask nannys references before hiring?

[Anonymous]

I'm about to start interviewing nannies and am wondering what some standard questions you all ask when you call the nannies' previous employers. Can I ask how much they paid nanny? What benefits they offered? What are your go-to questions?

[Anonymous]

How long did they work with you?
Were they punctual and reliable?
What did you like best about them?
What surprised you most during their tenure?
If you could have changed one thing, what would it have been?

[Anonymous]

You generally extend an offer with the understanding that hiring will occur pending a reference check. You do know that you don't just ask for references from every person you interview unless you are very serious about hiring them, right?

[Anonymous]

Definitely only call the references for the 1-2 people you're interested inextending an offer to. Ask about best and worst traits, how she interacts with kids, whether she left your home tidy, whether the kids like her, how flexible she was both with scheduling and with changing her approach to discipline and schedule (naps etc), whether she was a self motivated person or had to be directed on what to do...

[Anonymous]

Are you more concerned with how much they paid the nanny and what benefits they gave her rather than how she was with their children?

You sound like a real peach.

[Anonymous]

Why does what they paid the nanny or what benefits they offered matter? Every job and family are different, and you can't really compare the pay rates without the whole picture. For example, I might charge a bit more for the exact same job that has a longer/more expensive commute.

Also, the nanny may have gained more skills, or gotten more certifications, and is looking to increase her rates, and you'll be rigid and bitter when she isn't willing to allow you to hire her at the same rate. Don't bark up that tree please.

Questions that I think are actually important would include ones that would tell you how reliable she is, how much time she took off if that is important to you, how she handled discipline and challenging days, how she handled criticism and confrontation, and other questions about things that are unique to your needs.

[Anonymous]

Why did the relationship end?
Would you rehire her? Would you recommend her to your best friend/sister?
What kind of things make this particular nanny most satisfied in her job? What seems to get under her skin?
What is her communication style - how did you and she communicate?
Did you ever have to correct her behavior and how did she handle that?
Did she ever come to you with any mistake or error she had made?
Do you still have contact with her, if so how often?

[Anonymous]

Take references with a grain of salt. The way a reference describes their nanny is often more based on the references personality than the nanny. Imagine a very outgoing and high energy MB describing a mediocre nanny, she probably won't want to say anything negative as long as they parted on good terms but she will use words like great and amazing etc. But a more quiet, calm, introverted MB can describe a great nanny with calmer language even though she may have been super duper awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you more concerned with how much they paid the nanny and what benefits they gave her rather than how she was with their children?

You sound like a real peach.

+1 And another bad MB is born.

[Anonymous]

Geeez tough crowd! Thanks so much for those of you that gave such useful input.

I'm already planning on asking questions about the nannies' relationship with the children, but want to offer a good rate comparable to her previous job so that's why I was wondering if it's ok to ask what the employers offered so that I will make sure she is happy and excited about working for us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geeez tough crowd! Thanks so much for those of you that gave such useful input.

I'm already planning on asking questions about the nannies' relationship with the children, but want to offer a good rate comparable to her previous job so that's why I was wondering if it's ok to ask what the employers offered so that I will make sure she is happy and excited about working for us!

You should have asked her her rate when you interviewed her. Sorry, you are off to a bad start. No, you cannot ask her references what they paid her.

[Anonymous]

Read my initial post please. I have not started interviewing. However, a friend recommended her nanny that they are parting with once she becomes a SAHM and told me what she pays her. When I spoke with the nanny on the phone, she told me that she was receiving a higher rate, so I wasn't sure if it's common. Obviously nannies can state whatever rate they want from me, but I wanted to see if it's ok to check.... If nanny is currently making $x for 3 kids down the street, but plans to work for me, I don't think I should pay the same amount. But it sounds like that's not ok, so I will not ask. Hence one of the the reasons I posted this. I got some great input so I'm done here!

[Anonymous]

Geeez tough crowd! Thanks so much for those of you that gave such useful input.

I'm already planning on asking questions about the nannies' relationship with the children, but want to offer a good rate comparable to her previous job so that's why I was wondering if it's ok to ask what the employers offered so that I will make sure she is happy and excited about working for us!

It's fine to ask. Many professions require a verifiable salary history. Of course, it's only truly useful if your job is similar to the job she is leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read my initial post please. I have not started interviewing. However, a friend recommended her nanny that they are parting with once she becomes a SAHM and told me what she pays her. When I spoke with the nanny on the phone, she told me that she was receiving a higher rate, so I wasn't sure if it's common. Obviously nannies can state whatever rate they want from me, but I wanted to see if it's ok to check.... If nanny is currently making $x for 3 kids down the street, but plans to work for me, I don't think I should pay the same amount. But it sounds like that's not ok, so I will not ask. Hence one of the the reasons I posted this. I got some great input so I'm done here!

The rate a nanny quotes you is based on many different factors.
Number of children, housework, whether she is responsible for pets, whether your child wears cloth diapers, whether she likes you, how high energy your child is, etc.

[Anonymous]

I accepted my current position for a lower than my rate because they live a block from my home (no commute) and I wanted to work with a newborn. I would never work for anyone else at this rate so it wouldn't matter if a future potential employer asked or not.