nanny's priorities

[Anonymous]

Nanny has had 3 full days, 2 half day schedule for over 1.5 years due to (a) not wanting 50 hours any longer, (b) kids are in part or fully day school now, and (c) we need to flexibility to sometimes move the T/W/Th full days to Monday or Friday for days off of school or work travel.

Today she announced she wants to take a class Mondays until 9 or 9:30 so all the Mondays we have down for needing her full-day just won't work.

I told her that is not our agreement, it is a bad idea. She counted with well, she can miss 3 classes. I said this is a bad idea, you know our agreement and we already have more than 3 mondays of full day childcare this Fall. On and on.

This is the same nanny that orders us to be home by 5pm since she signed up for a new 5:30pm class or yoga. We again, say we cannot leave work early for this non-emergency stuff. Similarly we cannot get to work 90 minutes late Mondays we need a nanny.

So sick of this bad attitude.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you need a new nanny who is willing to provide last minute schedule changes.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like she may already have a better job offer.

[Anonymous]

This should be posted in the Nanny Forums.

Sounds like you guys are no longer a match.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This should be posted in the Nanny Forums.

Sounds like you guys are no longer a match.

Whoa! I am in nanny forums. Sorry, OP!

[Anonymous]

You know the answer. Why haven’t you replaced her yet?

[Anonymous]

She sounds difficult to work with and yes, wrong priorities.

If she no shows for a Monday you need her, that would be the end for me. But arguing about taking some class during her hours would also end it for me. No time for that unreliability and bad attitude.

[Anonymous]

Is the yoga class outside of her normal hours, as the class is? Are you paying her above top dollar to be flexible in her schedule? Sometimes my bosses would like to add hours to my schedule, but that is based on my availability, not their demands. It sounds like you are demanding that she keep a completely open schedule so that you can switch her hours around without any increase in salary. That would certainly not work for me. I value my job and love the family I work for, but I am not owned by them.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like it's time to quietly begin the search to find a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

What are her hours?

It sounds like you need someone with more flexibility. She's entitled to a life and to be able to schedule things with out worrying that you will make last minute requests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the yoga class outside of her normal hours, as the class is? Are you paying her above top dollar to be flexible in her schedule? Sometimes my bosses would like to add hours to my schedule, but that is based on my availability, not their demands. It sounds like you are demanding that she keep a completely open schedule so that you can switch her hours around without any increase in salary. That would certainly not work for me. I value my job and love the family I work for, but I am not owned by them.

No, her classes are within her normal hours. She arrives at 7:30am on full days, we get home at 6pm. So telling us to "get home at 5pm so she can have fun at a yoga class" or that she "free ups at 9am and can get here at 9:30am on Mondays" is like passive aggressive quitting.

We pay to retain her time and flex the 3 full days as needed. she is paid $900/week gross and $800/week net for 40 hours a week where one kid is in school 3 hours/morning and the other is in school 8.5 hours/day and only requires a pickup at 4:30pm. She is in her 50s and does not want 50 hours any longer, she hated working 5 full days, that's why we did the 3 and 2 schedule with flex. This is common for our age group, we know many families that email the nanny a week or weekend before with her hours for the week. And they always change due to doctor shifts, travel, kids off, etc.

If her decisions affect her ability to do her job (ie show up on time when needed), she will not be paid and will be given warning. If a second time, she will be fired, we will do after care until we find a replacement nanny or maybe try an au pair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the yoga class outside of her normal hours, as the class is? Are you paying her above top dollar to be flexible in her schedule? Sometimes my bosses would like to add hours to my schedule, but that is based on my availability, not their demands. It sounds like you are demanding that she keep a completely open schedule so that you can switch her hours around without any increase in salary. That would certainly not work for me. I value my job and love the family I work for, but I am not owned by them.

No, her classes are within her normal hours. She arrives at 7:30am on full days, we get home at 6pm. So telling us to "get home at 5pm so she can have fun at a yoga class" or that she "free ups at 9am and can get here at 9:30am on Mondays" is like passive aggressive quitting.

We pay to retain her time and flex the 3 full days as needed. she is paid $900/week gross and $800/week net for 40 hours a week where one kid is in school 3 hours/morning and the other is in school 8.5 hours/day and only requires a pickup at 4:30pm. She is in her 50s and does not want 50 hours any longer, she hated working 5 full days, that's why we did the 3 and 2 schedule with flex. This is common for our age group, we know many families that email the nanny a week or weekend before with her hours for the week. And they always change due to doctor shifts, travel, kids off, etc.

If her decisions affect her ability to do her job (ie show up on time when needed), she will not be paid and will be given warning. If a second time, she will be fired, we will do after care until we find a replacement nanny or maybe try an au pair.

The yoga thing wouldn’t work for me, and I’d never behave that way. My bosses work with me if I need off early (once/month for an appt), but it is a request not a demand. But if she doesn’t typically work Monday mornings, I think it is unreasonable to expect her to retain that time for you. You do not pay her for hat time, and $22.50 is not high pay. But you should absolutely do what is best for your family and get a new nanny if hats what you need.

[Anonymous]

OP - While I totally understand your frustration w/your Nanny,
Please note that you can NEVER withhold any of her earnings as a form of punishment.

No matter what she does, she is always entitled to all monies owed her.

[Anonymous]

You should be looking for a new nanny now, instead of waiting for your current nanny to leave you in a bind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - While I totally understand your frustration w/your Nanny,
Please note that you can NEVER withhold any of her earnings as a form of punishment.

No matter what she does, she is always entitled to all monies owed her.

+1