Split schedule: would you take this job?

[Anonymous]

We have a nanny candidate who lives six minutes from us. We were planning to have a parent drop off our kids at preschool and have the nanny start at about 11, with an end time around 5:30. We're thinking of switching preschools which means the parent drop off plan no longer works. Here's what we're thinking: Nanny arrives around 7-7:30 a.m., drops off kids at nearby (10 min) preschool at 8:30, off the clock as of 9:00. Back on the clock at about 11:30-11:45 to go retrieve kids at 12. Continues working until somewhere around 5:00-6:00. Will work full day on school holidays (likely will have vacation during winter and spring breaks). During summer, nanny starts at about 8, off somewhere between 4-6, Fridays either off all day or off at least all afternoon. Either way, about 35-40 guaranteed hours, with potential to work more if desired. She is looking for hours in the 35-45 range, but not more.

Keeping in mind that she lives six minutes away from us: would you take this job? I myself would have found something like this appealing if it was close to home. But I'm curious what others think.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny candidate who lives six minutes from us. We were planning to have a parent drop off our kids at preschool and have the nanny start at about 11, with an end time around 5:30. We're thinking of switching preschools which means the parent drop off plan no longer works. Here's what we're thinking: Nanny arrives around 7-7:30 a.m., drops off kids at nearby (10 min) preschool at 8:30, off the clock as of 9:00. Back on the clock at about 11:30-11:45 to go retrieve kids at 12. Continues working until somewhere around 5:00-6:00. Will work full day on school holidays (likely will have vacation during winter and spring breaks). During summer, nanny starts at about 8, off somewhere between 4-6, Fridays either off all day or off at least all afternoon. Either way, about 35-40 guaranteed hours, with potential to work more if desired. She is looking for hours in the 35-45 range, but not more.

Keeping in mind that she lives six minutes away from us: would you take this job? I myself would have found something like this appealing if it was close to home. But I'm curious what others think.

Thank you!

No. I would not take a job with a 2 hour unpaid break.

[Anonymous]

Why not? I would LOVE a 2 hour break during my work day. I'd have no problem putting in some easy a.m. hours and then doing my errands when the stores opened. Where I live, I would be able to get done just about anything other than a specialty errand. Haircut mid day, dentist, whatever. Or the gym. THE GYM!!!

But I get it. It's not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

What are you going to do when one of your kids is sick and nanny can't suddenly be available on short notice all day (because she can't cancel her dentist or hair appt, as mentioned above)?

Few qualified candidates would find this appealing, unless the hourly wage was very high, AND you offered great benefits (paid vacation, sick days, other perks). Honestly it feels like a cheap way to cut out OT pay (which most nannies in the DC area get), but for the right overall compensation package, you might find a good nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do when one of your kids is sick and nanny can't suddenly be available on short notice all day (because she can't cancel her dentist or hair appt, as mentioned above)?

Few qualified candidates would find this appealing, unless the hourly wage was very high, AND you offered great benefits (paid vacation, sick days, other perks). Honestly it feels like a cheap way to cut out OT pay (which most nannies in the DC area get), but for the right overall compensation package, you might find a good nanny.

Most employers try to avoid OT for employees. And in general- an employer trying to avoid OT is not cheap, just resourceful.
However- this particular set up is cheap. This on the clock then off the clock then back on the clock is just not smart.
Op, find a carpool that will take your kids to preschool.
You might find someone to take the job- but they will bail when they find consolidated hours.

[Anonymous]

No, I tired a split schedule with a weekend job and it was horrible and I lived only about five minutes away from the family. I just ended up wasting that time and got nothing substantive done. It made for a terrible long day for no reward. I gave notice after one month.

Your nanny could serve you better if she did grocery shopping and cooking for the child during this two hour window as well as the child's laundry, ironing and cleaning her room. There are so many things with my full-time charge that I would love to do (deep clean his room, clean his closet) that I can never do when he is with me. As his naps get shorter and shorter I get less done. I am looking forward to his preschool starting in the fall so I can use that time to get things done for him.

[Anonymous]

No. No decent nanny wil do it. A break is fine but during the day, not in the morning. Pay her 50-75% of those 2-3 hours or find morning and afternoon nanny

[Anonymous]

OP, depends on your nanny if she would like the split schedule. Maybe you can give her some chores to complete during that time and get paid the whole day. You can present these options and see what she prefers.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a nanny and would love a break like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a nanny and would love a break like this.

Try it for awhile and see how much you like it. I am the weekend nanny above with the split shift and i thought I would love it - I was wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a nanny and would love a break like this.

Try it for awhile and see how much you like it. I am the weekend nanny above with the split shift and i thought I would love it - I was wrong.

I don't even know what this is supposed to mean. You can take the kids and do errands. I'm tied to a desk and....can;t.

[Anonymous]

There are too many things that are variable in this schedule to make it appealing. With traffic, those two hours off will disappear FAST

[Anonymous]

2 hrs is barely enough to go to the gym. Once toy check in, change, work out, maybe hit the pool or sauna, your time is done and you still have to shower and change and go get the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 hrs is barely enough to go to the gym. Once toy check in, change, work out, maybe hit the pool or sauna, your time is done and you still have to shower and change and go get the kids.

She would be actually have 3.5 hours from 8:30am to noon. So commuting back and forth 1 hour still leaves a solid 2.5 hours at gym

[Anonymous]

OP here. For additional context around timing: preschool is at most 15 minutes from home, in bad traffic. Staff meets kids at door for drop off/pick up. Gym that she belongs to is half way between our house and the preschool. Her house is 15 minutes from the preschool. Time between drop off and pick up is 3.5 hrs so at minimum, on a bad day, there are at least 2.5 hrs available to her to do whatever she wants.