Live In Nanny

[Anonymous]

DC Nannies


We are pretty scared of COVID, and want to hire a nanny in the DC area as a LIVE-IN. My wife is pretty strict about not leaving the house at all unless absolutely necessary, and we would like our nanny to follow the same rules. A family member is sensitive to COVID. Is it unrealistic to make that request, and how much would you require as a professional nanny to abide by this limitation.

[Anonymous]

Please provide input. My wife and I are so curious.

[Anonymous]

Highly unrealistic. I wouldn't live with a family unless absolutely required. You sound like horrible people.

[Anonymous]

32.00.

[Anonymous]

While I can see your fears (and they are legitimate fears) regarding COVID-19, it seems a little strict imo to enforce your Nanny what she can + cannot do during her time off.

But if you feel this is the only option for your family then I would offer higher pay and/or benefits for her to make up for her living w/strict restrictions.

We are all navigating through uncharted territory right now & there are many different situations where there is no simple & fair answer.

Good luck to both you and your wife.

[Anonymous]

New poster here
I would establish criteria for when the lockdown could end; for example, when there is a vaccine (and your family and the nanny have received it) or when there are fewer than X cases in your area per week...or whatever. And once those conditions were met and the "lockdown" ends, would you still need your nanny? Would the nanny's rate change?

I think you will have a hard time finding someone even if you offer some insanely high rate.

[Anonymous]

I've seen some positions posted on Care.com that have a quarantine requirement, listed between $40-$50. I interviewed for one that paid $40/hr for the time in quarantine (with room and board covered) and then a lower/more typical rate once quarantine ends. In that case it was really nice because the income wasn't drastically different during quarantine and after, because the parents had a long commute and needed more hours. So although it was a lower rate, there were more hours so the paycheck would have been only slightly lower. By quarantine, they did allow the nanny to lease for walks provided nanny was wearing a mask and other than that, only for essential (e.g., medical appointments) things.

[Anonymous]

So many factors to consider.

-When you say not leave the house: do you have a yard? Will you 'allow' nanny to go for walks?
-Does the family member who is sensitive to COVID live with you?
-Do you have the space for a live in nanny?
-How many kids?
-Do you and your wife both work from home?

[Anonymous]

The rate would depend on all sorts of factors. Nanny’s years of experience, education level, the number of children you have and their ages, and the general job description. The living situation (bedroom and shared bath? Private suite with kitchen and living room?) would also affect the hourly rate.

Personally, I’d ask for double my typical rate to be a LI who is restricted in my activities. I’d also expect to be able to visit family and friends over the holidays and then quarantine with full pay.

There would also need to be a defined end time to the isolation, and my expectation would be that you and your family follow the same rules I have to follow. If your family broke the rules, I’d consider you in violation of the contract and I’d expect to get 6 weeks severance and leave the job.

I have many years of experience and wouldn’t isolate as a LI for less than $60/hour.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds like he wants an indentured servant. I wouldn't touch it ,but many folks -- especially immigrants who do not qualify for relief -- are desperate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC Nannies


We are pretty scared of COVID, and want to hire a nanny in the DC area as a LIVE-IN. My wife is pretty strict about not leaving the house at all unless absolutely necessary, and we would like our nanny to follow the same rules. A family member is sensitive to COVID. Is it unrealistic to make that request, and how much would you require as a professional nanny to abide by this limitation.

Be prepared to pay through the nose. Your expectations are unreasonable. She will be a live in prisoner.

[Anonymous]

How many children do you have ? Ages ? What are the hours ? Duties ?

[Anonymous]

Well, I’m a live-in nanny who occasionally homeschools. I’ve accepted a job that requires quarantine, and I’m moving in the middle of this month. I’ve also applied for other positions, then rejected the offers when it was clear the family was going to take advantage of the situation.

For clarity: I am going to be paid $1k for up to 40 hours of work per week. That includes both teaching (not childcare, homeschooling 3 elementary age children) and writing their curriculum from assessments and the state standards; the hours will be split 25-35 teaching and 5-15 planning. I do not have a degree, but I do have several years experience homeschooling and I’ve tutored kids for over a decade. The only reason I accepted the position at $1k is because it’s teaching, not childcare. For right now, I wouldn’t agree to less than $1.5k per week for 50 hours if childcare with children under 6.

There’s no way I would have agreed to under $1k per week, no matter the number of hours. I’m not allowed to walk with friends, even masked. I will not be in any building other than the family’s home. And I won’t be walking in any areas that have even a small number of other people walking. While I am hapoy to be distant from others, I’m also realistic about how much this is going to change my off hours.

I told every family my non-negotiables: no dl, legal pay, a contract, no singletons, and a free hand to work without being micromanaged. Most nannies are asking for the same non-negotiables. Pay will vary based on the nanny’s experience and education, number and age of the kids, any special needs, household duties, etc. But I’d guess that even starter nannies won’t agree to less than $600 right now, for a maximum of 40 hours at that rate, and I wouldn’t guess about whether you could find a nanny willing to quarantine at that rate. It’s too easy to find better paying jobs right now, jobs that don’t require quarantine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I’m a live-in nanny who occasionally homeschools. I’ve accepted a job that requires quarantine, and I’m moving in the middle of this month. I’ve also applied for other positions, then rejected the offers when it was clear the family was going to take advantage of the situation.

For clarity: I am going to be paid $1k for up to 40 hours of work per week. That includes both teaching (not childcare, homeschooling 3 elementary age children) and writing their curriculum from assessments and the state standards; the hours will be split 25-35 teaching and 5-15 planning. I do not have a degree, but I do have several years experience homeschooling and I’ve tutored kids for over a decade. The only reason I accepted the position at $1k is because it’s teaching, not childcare. For right now, I wouldn’t agree to less than $1.5k per week for 50 hours if childcare with children under 6.

There’s no way I would have agreed to under $1k per week, no matter the number of hours. I’m not allowed to walk with friends, even masked. I will not be in any building other than the family’s home. And I won’t be walking in any areas that have even a small number of other people walking. While I am hapoy to be distant from others, I’m also realistic about how much this is going to change my off hours.

I told every family my non-negotiables: no dl, legal pay, a contract, no singletons, and a free hand to work without being micromanaged. Most nannies are asking for the same non-negotiables. Pay will vary based on the nanny’s experience and education, number and age of the kids, any special needs, household duties, etc. But I’d guess that even starter nannies won’t agree to less than $600 right now, for a maximum of 40 hours at that rate, and I wouldn’t guess about whether you could find a nanny willing to quarantine at that rate. It’s too easy to find better paying jobs right now, jobs that don’t require quarantine.

I'm not the OP, but thanks for putting all that out there--it's informative! Can you please tell us what the living situation is for you at that house? Is it a private basement apartment, or a room in the main home with a shared bath, or.....?

[Anonymous]

I would not be a prisoner for 1K a week.