How do I tell the family I don’t want to work over 42.5 hours per week?
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Anonymous
| I work Monday-Friday 8:30 am- 5 pm. However, a lot of times I am asked to stay until 5:30 other times until 6:30. I typically don’t mind another half hour but working 8:30-6:30 can be mentally and physically exhausting for me and I don’t get paid over time after the 8.5 hours I work. Even if I were to get paid time and a half, I personally feel asking your nanny to stay later violates her schedule and personal life. Mainly because 9/10 times they’ll ask me right before I have to leave. Both parents have really busy work and the dad travels A LOT. how can I tell them I am not comfortable/willing to do more then half an hour after my scheduled time to leave? I don’t want to be insensitive or inflexible, but I never ask to come in later so why would they ask me to stay later? Maybe the schedule needs to be adjusted to 10 am -6:30. Any thoughts? I also feel if I keep working after 5 pm I will burn out quickly and be unhappy with the job |
Anonymous
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"I wanted to let you know that I have errands or plans after work, so if occasionally you need me to stay until 5:30 I can probably do that most days, but 5:30 is going to be a hard stop.
If you think going forward you'll frequently need me to stay late, let's discuss shifting the hours and setting a later start time in the mornings. What do you think?" |
Anonymous
| Why do you allow them to cheat you by not paying OT for the extra hours? This is illegal. As for your question, you politely tell them that going forward you are unable to stay beyond 5:30. They are abusing you and can hire someone else to come in at 5:30. |
Anonymous
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I agree it can definitely be draining! You are not alone, lol. It’s not really right for them to be asking you right at the end of your shift all the time.
I like what the pp said. They should just shift your hours if they’re going to need you to stay late regularly. Or what you could do is just say no most of the time, then maybe they’ll get the hint. I did that with the family I’m currently with. |
Anonymous
| My employers are late by a half hour two days out of five on average. It is not my favorite part of the job by any means. I hate the waiting or last minute request. So, I frequently mention in the morning that I need to leave on time that day for a variety of reasons when I feel worn out. |
Anonymous
To be honest, I think I’ll never want to stay late. 1. I’m always on time and have never asked to come in later or leave early. 2. I’ve never asked for a day off. I always make my appointments for Saturday’s because I know I have to work from 8:30-5. So for me, asking me to stay late is just a no. I feel like can’t say no though 
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Anonymous
| Have a conversation with them about two things. (1) Your expected hours. It sounds like they think they're 8:30-5:30/6. Your contract ought to have spelled out what they were. Refer them to that, and say that you can occasionally be flexible but that you can't stay late all the time because you have other commitments. Our nanny has a gym class twice a week and a softball game once a week, so those are the days we know we have to be home on time. For other days I always ask if she's ok staying later. (2) Overtime. They are REQUIRED to pay you overtime for more than 40 hours a week, regardless of whether those hours were planned or not. That should have also been in your contract. If these terms weren't in your contract, then you've learned a lesson for next time. If they are, then remind your employers what they agreed to. It's possible that you keep saying you can stay and they have no idea that it bothers you. Lack of communication is a huge problem with nannies who feel like they can't say no. If my nanny says she can stay, then I take that at face value and assume she can. If she has a problem with being asked to stay once every several weeks, then I expect her to tell me so I don't do it again. But if they don't know, then it's hard to blame them. Also, I would not suggest to move your schedule later. If they both work, I don't see how they could do without a nanny from 8:30-10. Finally, it sounds like they aren't paying you for half an hour each day? Do you get half an hour of lunch when the kids aren't there or something? I've never not paid my nanny all the way through the day even if the kids are napping, etc. It sounds like they don't want to pay OT, in which case they're cheap and you should be firm because they're just going to continue taking advantage of you. |
Anonymous
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Say you have to be gone at 5:30 every day- hard stop.
you have obligations and can't be late. If they ask, Make up something- another job, elder care, class, really none of their business. Stop being a doormat |
Anonymous
| Op here. We don’t have a contract and no I don’t have lunch breaks or breaks |
Anonymous
WHAT?!? First of all, you need a contract. That is crazy that you don't have one. I guarantee both your bosses have contracts with their employers. Second of all, you work 42.5 hours per week (at a minimum), and they don't pay you overtime for those 2.5 hours? That is illegal. You need to learn your lesson now. Draw up a contract that specifies your pay rate, your overtime rate (for any hours over 40/week), and your hours. It should also include your paid time off, sick leave, etc. I have a nanny and I would NEVER not have a contract. Do they just expect you to keep showing up every day? How do they pay you? In cash, or through a payroll service? Do they withhold your taxes? |
Anonymous
| Op here. I live in the Los Angeles area and most families I know don’t offer contracts. My mom has been a nanny for 20 years here in LA and she’s only had one contract. They were a very wealthy family. But contracts around hear are unheard off. We did agree on major holidays paid and off. Originally I was supposed to work 9-5 but then she said 8:30-5 so I never asked her for OT for theose 2.5 hours. I also asked for one week paid vacation which I would take when they travel, but they asked me to come in that week to do odd jobs around the house and they want me to drive to the airport. Now I will most def be letting them know I think we need a contact. |
Anonymous
OP, I'm from LA, although I live in DC now. None of the families I know who are still in LA would have a nanny without a contract. You didn't answer how you are paid. Are you an American citizen? Do you file a tax return? |
Anonymous
| I don’t know any nanny with a contract. And yes I didn’t answer because I don’t want to |
Anonymous
If you are working illegally, you are more likely to be taken advantage of. Of you are working legally and not having taxes withheld then you are doing yourself a disservice and being a lousy member of society. |
Anonymous
I'm the PP from above, but I second this. You've made your own bed. If you're not here legally, why on earth would they have a contract with you? You have nothing to use to get them to adhere to your schedule, so good luck with that. |