I'm a Nanny getting annoyed about non paid hours

[Anonymous]

Hi there
I've been a nanny for over 10 years and it really starting to bother me when I take on new jobs, they hire me M-Fr, I'm available for them every M-Ft, then they cancel work and don't pay for it. What's the best way to deal with this?

I just quit one job because of that after I complained and it didn't change.
I told the parents of the new job that I don't like that.
Either hire and pay me for M-Ft, so just say from the beginning
There might be cancelations and I won't take the job.
I'm not a gold digger, but I live here alone without family and need to pay my bills.
How do you go about this?
The new job now canceled for two weeks for 2 days because her mom is in town, and of course they didn't pay me for that.
I could swear months ago she texted me saying she would pay me for this hours anyways.
So I complained yesterday and feel screwed bc I couldn't schedule other work thinking
I'm getting paid even tough the mom is here.
So annoying
Too bad I don't have that text anymore
Thank you

[Anonymous]

Get guaranteed hrs put into your contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get guaranteed hrs put into your contract.

This. Don't rely on text messages. Type up a work agreement before you start working with people, and make sure you are all in agreement.

Or, start going through an agency that will do some of that negotiation work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get guaranteed hrs put into your contract.

This. Don't rely on text messages. Type up a work agreement before you start working with people, and make sure you are all in agreement.

Or, start going through an agency that will do some of that negotiation work for you.

+1. It is the only way, OP.

[Anonymous]

In the exact same situation. I don't think it will go down well if I speak to my MB so am just going to look for another job. Having a contract in place for all jobs is the only way forward.

[Anonymous]

When I interview with prospective families I talk about guaranteed hours and what it actually means.

I've never had people agree to guaranteed hours and then refuse to pay.

[Anonymous]

How have you been putting up with this for a decade?!

1) Phone interview: you chat with them and charm them.
2) In-person: You discuss the job.
3) Follow-up: you thank them for meeting with you and express an interest in moving forward
4) Contract creation: you write up a work agreement listing the hours and duties as they described, your rate, sick days, vacation time, guaranteed hours, OT pay, and anything else relevant
5) Confirmation: They call and say they'd love to work with you. You reply. "Great. I took the liberty of creating a work agreement listing the things we discussed at the interview. I'll email that now so that you can look it over and work out the details. I am so excited to work with you and Larla, Blah blah blah..."
6) Contract Negotiations: They come back with any changes they'd like to make and everyone mutually agrees on and signs the final draft.
Note: until the final draft is signed by both parties, you do NOT end your job search.
7) Start your job and work successfully because everyone has a clear idea of what to expect.

[Anonymous]

The first time it happened, you should have spoken up and told them to pay you or you were walking. Nobody takes advantage of you unless you let them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first time it happened, you should have spoken up and told them to pay you or you were walking. Nobody takes advantage of you unless you let them!

People say stuff like this without realizing the position it puts the nanny in. If you walk off every job the second there's a disagreement, it will add up to a lot of unexplained gaps in your resume. And few nannies can afford to go without pay for the several weeks it may take to find a new family, plus job hunting under pressure makes you more likely to take a less-than-perfect job and end up in the same place. Much better to negotiate every detail clearly and confidently up front than to rely on "speaking up" several months in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How have you been putting up with this for a decade?!

1) Phone interview: you chat with them and charm them.
2) In-person: You discuss the job.
3) Follow-up: you thank them for meeting with you and express an interest in moving forward
4) Contract creation: you write up a work agreement listing the hours and duties as they described, your rate, sick days, vacation time, guaranteed hours, OT pay, and anything else relevant
5) Confirmation: They call and say they'd love to work with you. You reply. "Great. I took the liberty of creating a work agreement listing the things we discussed at the interview. I'll email that now so that you can look it over and work out the details. I am so excited to work with you and Larla, Blah blah blah..."
6) Contract Negotiations: They come back with any changes they'd like to make and everyone mutually agrees on and signs the final draft.
Note: until the final draft is signed by both parties, you do NOT end your job search.
7) Start your job and work successfully because everyone has a clear idea of what to expect.

EXCELLENT advice. Especially the part about you do NOT end your interviewing/search until your written agreement is signed by ALL parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first time it happened, you should have spoken up and told them to pay you or you were walking. Nobody takes advantage of you unless you let them!

Geez.
Blame the victim here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first time it happened, you should have spoken up and told them to pay you or you were walking. Nobody takes advantage of you unless you let them!

People say stuff like this without realizing the position it puts the nanny in. If you walk off every job the second there's a disagreement, it will add up to a lot of unexplained gaps in your resume. And few nannies can afford to go without pay for the several weeks it may take to find a new family, plus job hunting under pressure makes you more likely to take a less-than-perfect job and end up in the same place. Much better to negotiate every detail clearly and confidently up front than to rely on "speaking up" several months in.

Being cheated in your pay check is a valid reason for quitting and drawing unemployment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first time it happened, you should have spoken up and told them to pay you or you were walking. Nobody takes advantage of you unless you let them!

People say stuff like this without realizing the position it puts the nanny in. If you walk off every job the second there's a disagreement, it will add up to a lot of unexplained gaps in your resume. And few nannies can afford to go without pay for the several weeks it may take to find a new family, plus job hunting under pressure makes you more likely to take a less-than-perfect job and end up in the same place. Much better to negotiate every detail clearly and confidently up front than to rely on "speaking up" several months in.

Being cheated in your pay check is a valid reason for quitting and drawing unemployment.

That doesn't help with repeat gaps in employement on your resume and unemployment rarely covers all of your bills. My point is not that this is something to ignore. My point is that educating nannies in how to negotiate up front is better than giving advice that is unpractical for many people.

[Anonymous]

Before you take a job, you tell them you need guaranteed house. That means if they hire you for every Monday 8-5, then they pay you 52 weeks a year whether they need you or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before you take a job, you tell them you need guaranteed house. That means if they hire you for every Monday 8-5, then they pay you 52 weeks a year whether they need you or not.

This.