A or B help me decided

[Anonymous]

I've been looking for new employment for about a month. Now all of a sudden I have 2 choices. I need to give the agency my final decision by next Friday, end of business.

A- one newborn. One small pet. Parents work outside of the home 95% of the time. No other full time staff (1 day a week house cleaner and gardener).
Hours are 40 guaranteed but may be 50 with OT on rare occasions.
Chilled, laid back first time parents. Easy to talk to, etc
Guaranteed 1200/wk

B- 2 older Infants (but under a year). 2 larger dogs. Parents are in and out of the house, work from home most days. Travel a lot through out the week. Travel with family would be 40 to 60% of the year. Fully staffed home 24/7. Hours would be 60 hours a week when not traveling including 3 weekends a month, more when traveling. Parents are relaxed, but "rich" (if that makes sense. )
Guaranteed 2100/wk

Which would you choose?

[Anonymous]

I would definitely choose Family A.

Reason being is that you only are responsible for ONE child, caring for two young ones would be a tough job.

Plus Family A only has one pet and the parents would be working outside the home a large majority of the time.

If you choose Family B, you will have both the parents in the home as well as their staff. It won't take long before you are going to be hugely bothered by such a dynamic.

Working for parents who work from home is torture. Add to that an already established on-site staff and you will never be alone. You will always be "on" and it can get tiring.

Plus, you would be traveling a ton which isn't something I would want to do as a nanny.

Please keep us posted on what option you end up selecting.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I don't know which is right for you, but I would definitely choose Family 2.

I like working a lot, so 2 older infants and 60 hours per week would be fine with me, and I don't mind weekends. I love traveling, and traveling 40-60% would be fine with me. If the home is fully staffed, there is zero chance that there will be tasks asked which would be a housekeeper's job. I don't mind having a parent in and out, as long as they aren't disruptive to the daily routine (and then punitive when I can't keep the kids on schedule), nor do I mind nanny cams or other employees. The only issue would be if MB or DB wanted me to inform on another employee.

In the case of Family 2, I would ask why they are hiring you now. Did they have a previous nanny, and if so, why did she leave? If not, the MB may be wanting to be very involved in the first few weeks, and that would make me reconsider.

[Anonymous]

These are such different jobs! I would think about what I want my life to look like outside of work, and pick the job that allows that to happen. Job 1 isn't as much money as job 2, but you'll have a lot more time to enjoy it. Job 2 sounds more exciting.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean $1200 and $2100 a pay period?

[Anonymous]

Some people can handle parents involvement as well as multiple children around the same age. The first responder obviously cannot. I would say that it depends on your personal life. While I would feel perfectly comfortable with family #2, I would not like those hours due to my home life.

Also, PP, I assume that OP meant what she said and that her pay period is weekly.

[Anonymous]

Family 1. Family 2 sounds like a LOT! 60 hours a week AND 3 weekends a month? That's way too much, not to mention so many ppl in and out. Kids probably won't even nap. That sounds like a burn out job. Just my opinion!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Family 1. Family 2 sounds like a LOT! 60 hours a week AND 3 weekends a month? That's way too much, not to mention so many ppl in and out. Kids probably won't even nap. That sounds like a burn out job. Just my opinion!

I've worked in homes that have full time staff in addition to me. I've never had a problem having the kids nap. In fact, housekeepers love when the nanny takes the time to let them know that there is no reason to watch the clock and do certain jobs during certain hours. Kids can sleep through dishwashers, sirens, vacuuming, rug cleaning, knife sharpening and loud kids/animals. The only time it's ever been an issue is when I came in with a 9+ month old who had always had silence and darkness.

[Anonymous]

I would pick the second family.
It seems fast paced, but it could be rewarding.
I love traveling too!!

[Anonymous]

Do you need the extra income? If not then I would go with the first family. I have worked for a couple families who worked from home and both times it was a nightmare. I felt like someone was always looking over my shoulder and it became problematic when the babies got older and started going through separation anxiety. I also prefer one child because I bond better with one and it's much easier to do activities and field trips. I also have had some horrible experiences traveling with families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know which is right for you, but I would definitely choose Family 2.

I like working a lot, so 2 older infants and 60 hours per week would be fine with me, and I don't mind weekends. I love traveling, and traveling 40-60% would be fine with me. If the home is fully staffed, there is zero chance that there will be tasks asked which would be a housekeeper's job. I don't mind having a parent in and out, as long as they aren't disruptive to the daily routine (and then punitive when I can't keep the kids on schedule), nor do I mind nanny cams or other employees. The only issue would be if MB or DB wanted me to inform on another employee.

In the case of Family 2, I would ask why they are hiring you now. Did they have a previous nanny, and if so, why did she leave? If not, the MB may be wanting to be very involved in the first few weeks, and that would make me reconsider.

You've obviously never worked in a staffed home. It's not fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know which is right for you, but I would definitely choose Family 2.

I like working a lot, so 2 older infants and 60 hours per week would be fine with me, and I don't mind weekends. I love traveling, and traveling 40-60% would be fine with me. If the home is fully staffed, there is zero chance that there will be tasks asked which would be a housekeeper's job. I don't mind having a parent in and out, as long as they aren't disruptive to the daily routine (and then punitive when I can't keep the kids on schedule), nor do I mind nanny cams or other employees. The only issue would be if MB or DB wanted me to inform on another employee.

In the case of Family 2, I would ask why they are hiring you now. Did they have a previous nanny, and if so, why did she leave? If not, the MB may be wanting to be very involved in the first few weeks, and that would make me reconsider.

You've obviously never worked in a staffed home. It's not fun.

12.36 and 18.55 here. Yes, I have. I like it, you might not. In a staffed home, I'm able to concentrate completely on the kids. There's no question about being asked to do a (supposedly) one-time load of laundry for the parents for the party that evening, cook a separate dinner for the parents because they're so stressed and rushed, take care of the 4 big dogs, etc.

[Anonymous]

I would choose A unless I really needed the extra money for some reason. Is the vacation time offered the same for both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know which is right for you, but I would definitely choose Family 2.

I like working a lot, so 2 older infants and 60 hours per week would be fine with me, and I don't mind weekends. I love traveling, and traveling 40-60% would be fine with me. If the home is fully staffed, there is zero chance that there will be tasks asked which would be a housekeeper's job. I don't mind having a parent in and out, as long as they aren't disruptive to the daily routine (and then punitive when I can't keep the kids on schedule), nor do I mind nanny cams or other employees. The only issue would be if MB or DB wanted me to inform on another employee.

In the case of Family 2, I would ask why they are hiring you now. Did they have a previous nanny, and if so, why did she leave? If not, the MB may be wanting to be very involved in the first few weeks, and that would make me reconsider.

You've obviously never worked in a staffed home. It's not fun.

12.36 and 18.55 here. Yes, I have. I like it, you might not. In a staffed home, I'm able to concentrate completely on the kids. There's no question about being asked to do a (supposedly) one-time load of laundry for the parents for the party that evening, cook a separate dinner for the parents because they're so stressed and rushed, take care of the 4 big dogs, etc.

If only you realized that doesn't happen in non-staffed homes either. Anyone can be a bad employer and ask someone to do things outside of their scope, staffed home or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know which is right for you, but I would definitely choose Family 2.

I like working a lot, so 2 older infants and 60 hours per week would be fine with me, and I don't mind weekends. I love traveling, and traveling 40-60% would be fine with me. If the home is fully staffed, there is zero chance that there will be tasks asked which would be a housekeeper's job. I don't mind having a parent in and out, as long as they aren't disruptive to the daily routine (and then punitive when I can't keep the kids on schedule), nor do I mind nanny cams or other employees. The only issue would be if MB or DB wanted me to inform on another employee.

In the case of Family 2, I would ask why they are hiring you now. Did they have a previous nanny, and if so, why did she leave? If not, the MB may be wanting to be very involved in the first few weeks, and that would make me reconsider.

You've obviously never worked in a staffed home. It's not fun.

12.36 and 18.55 here. Yes, I have. I like it, you might not. In a staffed home, I'm able to concentrate completely on the kids. There's no question about being asked to do a (supposedly) one-time load of laundry for the parents for the party that evening, cook a separate dinner for the parents because they're so stressed and rushed, take care of the 4 big dogs, etc.

If only you realized that doesn't happen in non-staffed homes either. Anyone can be a bad employer and ask someone to do things outside of their scope, staffed home or not.

I make sure the parents know that I don't like job creep. But my experience is that parents never ask in a staffed home, but they sometimes do when the nanny is the only employee. I've worked in staffed homes and not, and I'm only speaking from my experience. I prefer staffed, others may not.