Mom watches cameras CONSTANTLY
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Anonymous
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I've worked for a family for 4 months now and they have a 7 month old baby boy who I watch everyday. When I was first hired, they asked if I was comfortable with nanny cams, and MB stressed to me that she wouldn't be watching them often, just to check in and see the baby occasionally throughout her work day. I said that that was fine, and that having cameras for that purpose only (and of course to look back if there were an emergency) was okay with me. I hinted that I wasn't comfortable with being watched all day, and she made it clear that wasn't what she was going to do.
Fast forward a few months. She's a SAHM, and anytime I go into her office to chat with her, I see that she is watching the camera on one of her monitors with the volume all the way up. She does her work on one monitor, and on the other, she ALWAYS has the cameras on with the volume up. She comes running anytime he cries, and comments on things she saw throughout the day. Nothing critical, but things like "I saw DS crawling today with you!" And "Looks like he's pretty cranky, go ahead and put him down for a nap." I really like MB, she's really friendly and has been nothing but nice to me, but it makes me anxious knowing I'm being watched all day and that she can hear everything I'm saying. I don't have anything to hide, but this really annoys me because she doesn't seem to trust me, and also it's just not fun being watched all day. I feel scrutinized and like I can't do my job correctly. How could I bring this up to MB? Clearly it's her right to watch the cameras whenever she wants, but I really feel like this is way too much. I've proven myself to be nothing but trustworthy. |
Anonymous
| Every work place will b like that my dear.....cameras watching your every move. I wouldn't say quit your job because of this because this. Just suck it up and keep on keeping. Once she has complete trust in you she may do away with her gadgets. |
Anonymous
| She's not watching you, she's watching her baby. She misses him. |
Anonymous
| The woman has a mental condition, OP. We don't need to diagnose her here, but suffice it to say: Get out asap. Do not, repeat: do NOT tell her it's because she's nuts. Trust me. |
Anonymous
This is likely true. If you are really uncomfortable with it, you need to have a frank conversation with her. It will probably make her sad, but she may get it if you tell her. |
Anonymous
Actually, "my dear," many workplaces do not have constant surveillance and zero of my nanny positions have had anything like what OP describes. One of he perks of nannying in a private home is being able to select a family that values autonomy and privacy, which OP thought she had donr. To OP: I suggest asking what you can do to help her trust you. Basically you want to put her in the position of having to explain why she needs these cameras constantly on. Either she will realize she is being crazy and tone it down or she won't and you will know where you stand. |
Anonymous
Actually, Dear, most workplaces have them if you look up from businesses, to restaurants and other professional jobs. Anywhere you go, there are probably cameras. Its life now. Its about the child's safety and if there is something you need to keep private, you should not be caring for aa child. |
Anonymous
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She probably trusts you as much as she can trust anyone who's not herself or her husband.
I'm not a very trusting person and definitely checked the nanny cams a LOT the first year we had a nanny. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
Just a hunch, but I doubt OP's employer trusts herself or her husband with the baby. She's insecure and paranoid, and needs a good therapist. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Guys, like I said- I'm fine with there being cameras there. They would protect me in the case of something happening to the baby, like an injury that wasn't my fault. I'm glad they're there for that reason, and I was under the impression that they would be there only for that reason, and the occasional check-in. My problem is that this mom watches the cameras ALL day. The camera screen is open on her computer all day, on full volume. And she works from home. She's in the same house as us! Why does she need to watch us every minute I'm there, and comment on everything? I just want to do my own job, and use my own judgement. Does anyone else understand this or am I crazy? |
Anonymous
We understand it, but you can't make it happen. All you can do is talk to her about it, and then decide what you'll do if she doesn't stop doing it. |
Anonymous
| Personally I'd be planning outings 8hrs a day |
Anonymous
| You need to decide whether this is a dealbreaker. If not, suck it up. If so, you then need to decide whether your relationship is such that you want to have ONE conversation about it in the hope that she tones it down, and if she doesn't then you quit. I would quit. |
Anonymous
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Yes, I fully agree this is overkill tenfold.
The entire job sounds hellish to me! You have a mother who works from home all day along w/being watched during your entire shift. What type of person could work in such a regulated & micro-managed environment??! Not many. How annoying for her to have a direct monitor in her face all day, watching you your entire shift as well as her constant interference regarding her baby. It sounds as if you have zero autonomy in this position. Are you allowed to leave the house for a majority of the day? If so, I would do this every single day. If not, then I highly suggest giving notice. No one can perform efficiently in their job w/their bosses eye on them every single second. Good luck. |