Leaving NF

[Anonymous]

I decided that in September I would need to find a new job because the children schedule was changing. I let my nanny family know at the end of February. The mom was so glad I'd stay till school year started. We picked a end date and all. A month passes and I get a phone call from the dad saying they found a nanny to replace me and I had two weeks. I had been with this family 3 years and had been so flexible to their every need. I felt so hurt. They gave me one week pay and said see you later. Should I be hurt? The kids wanna keep seeing me but I wish to have nothing to do with parents that go behind my back and do this

[Anonymous]

No. They found someone who they thought would be a good fit, and jumped on it. You would do the same with a new family.

[Anonymous]

Of course you should feel hurt. However you also should know no one gives a shit about us nannies. You made a mistake telling them way to early. You were nice, they are not. Life goes on. Learn from your mistake.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm sorry OP but you made a big mistake. I never give more than 4 weeks notice, and even then I never expect to be able to actually work all of those 4 weeks. Once a parent learns that their nanny's future plans do not completely revolve around their family, they find a new nanny.

This comes up on this forum time and time and time again. If there are two things we nannies must never do they are: 1) give a long notice period if we are quitting, or 2) tell MB that we are preggers at any point before it is glaringly obvious. Committing one of these "atrocities" will result in a nanny losing her job faster then the speed of light.

It's super screwed up in a fundamental way. You did everything you could to look after their best interests (by giving them more than enough time to find a new nanny to replace you). And they did everything they could to look out for their own best interests while simultaneously screwing you over. It sounds like they at least gave you two weeks notice and one week of salary as severance; consider yourself lucky that you got that.

It's a shame that your relationship with their children is forever marred, but now you can go find a new family with great kids to bond with, and hopefully this time you can try to screen for parents who aren't such colossal A-holes. Might want to consider adding something into your next nanny contract about "minimum of one months notice, or two weeks notice plus two weeks severance."

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

So sorry for you OP. This sucks.

I think this family probably thought it was in their best interest to find a nanny NOW rather than later who can work along w/the new schedule in the Fall. They probably wanted to just get the whole nanny search done + over w/so they found someone sooner than they thought they would.

This is completely inconsiderate and thoughtless of them to do this to you. What selfish people they are!! :0

Or perhaps they were put off when you told them that you were going to leave due to the new schedule. They would have no right to since you did nothing wrong, but some parents get all weird once they learn their nanny is leaving for whatever reason.

Lastly, did anything happen within the last month that would lead you to believe that perhaps they were not satisfied w/your overall job performance?

[Anonymous]

Why give 6 months notice ? I think 2 months is sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Nothing happen in last month got them to do this to me! This first time I've left a family instead of the kids out growing care. I work part time for two families and the other family was disgusted by what this family did to me. They were so grateful that I gave them any kinda notice.

Also the DB who let me go said I gave you two weeks so if you really wanted to find a new job you could quit your other nannying job! Like I would turn around And do that to my other family. How sick!

[Anonymous]

We learn the hard way, don't we?
Two weeks maximum, only if you can afford to be fired on the spot. Most parents are ruthless like this.

[Anonymous]

What do you expect? They should pass on all the good nannies just because you want to keep working for a bit longer? By September all the good nannies will be gone and you will be left with the leftovers who couldn't find a job.

[Anonymous]

I agree you never should have given them so much advanced notice.

Remember the kids are not the parents and your relationship was with the kids. Please don't just abandon the kids because their parents are a**holes. Try to maintain a relationship with the kids.

[Anonymous]

6 months notice was too much. A parent's first responsibility is to their kids and the best interests of the family.

If they stumbled upon someone great then of course they're going to solve their problem at your expense, just as a nanny would if given 6 months notice but finding a great next position that started sooner.

It's human nature, it's predictable, and you shouldn't have given so long.

Congrats on the new job.

[Anonymous]

I honestly thought I was doing right thing giving notice so they could find someone and I could train them. What was wrong is they told Me they were not looking. They left me high and dry. I accepted a full time job in September and am having hard time finding parents that just want someone around for 4 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why give 6 months notice ? I think 2 months is sufficient.

Two weeks and no more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly thought I was doing right thing giving notice so they could find someone and I could train them. What was wrong is they told Me they were not looking. They left me high and dry. I accepted a full time job in September and am having hard time finding parents that just want someone around for 4 months.

You could train them?!?! Your a nanny not a surgeon! What kind of training would they need????

[Anonymous]

Gosh you guys are terrible! She thought she was doing the right thing!

Lots of families have their old nanny help train the new one. That's not uncommon. So stop leaving nasty comments.