S/o how to be a good employer while WFH

[Anonymous]

When I go back to work from maternity leave, my kids will be 2.5 (33 months) and 6 months. It looks like my husband and I will be working from home until next spring/summer (until a vaccine). Our house isn’t huge, but a nanny would have access to our first floor and the kids’ bedrooms. How can we be “goof” employers in this WFH situation? One thing I have thought of is that I would mostly like to continue nursing the baby (I hate pumping and this would be one of the few benefits of being home). Any kind advice on how to make a less than ideal situation work?

[Anonymous]

Oh my goodness! I meant “GOOD” employers!

[Anonymous]

Talk openly with your nanny at the end of every day in the beginning to see how things are going. Nursing your baby is no problem but the toddler seeing this as an opportunity to be with you might be.

What has made this WFH situation easier for me and better for my toddler charge is that from the beginning I told my employers that I was not going to pull him away from them. I would, of course, try to distract him but he can visit them whenever he wanted. After a couple days he realized I was more “fun” and his parents weren’t forbidden fruit so he generally leaves them alone. It’s worked out great.

Plus we have a schedule that’s set so my charge’s parents know that from 9 to 11, for example, we’ll be outside. And 12:30 to 3ish he naps. Any extremely important meetings that can’t be interrupted are scheduled for those times.

[Anonymous]

All good advice above.

May I add, do not leave your lunch dishes for the nanny to do. Let your nanny start the day with a clean kitchen and clean up after yourselves. Your nanny is your children’s nanny and not yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk openly with your nanny at the end of every day in the beginning to see how things are going. Nursing your baby is no problem but the toddler seeing this as an opportunity to be with you might be.

What has made this WFH situation easier for me and better for my toddler charge is that from the beginning I told my employers that I was not going to pull him away from them. I would, of course, try to distract him but he can visit them whenever he wanted. After a couple days he realized I was more “fun” and his parents weren’t forbidden fruit so he generally leaves them alone. It’s worked out great.

Plus we have a schedule that’s set so my charge’s parents know that from 9 to 11, for example, we’ll be outside. And 12:30 to 3ish he naps. Any extremely important meetings that can’t be interrupted are scheduled for those times.

+1. Let your toddler come to see you whenever he wants to but don’t make his visits fun. Just say hi, give a hug, and go back to work. It’s truly the only thing that works. Let your toddler decide what’s fun and what’s not - otherwise he’ll never leave you alone.

[Anonymous]

After a couple of weeks of working, DH and I realized we wanted ten or so minutes to talk with the nanny about how the day went. So we extended the nanny's hours by 15 minutes so that they didn't feel like we were keeping them late anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After a couple of weeks of working, DH and I realized we wanted ten or so minutes to talk with the nanny about how the day went. So we extended the nanny's hours by 15 minutes so that they didn't feel like we were keeping them late anymore.

Thanks! That makes sense to have 15 minutes at each end of the day for handoff... do you do that in the morning too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After a couple of weeks of working, DH and I realized we wanted ten or so minutes to talk with the nanny about how the day went. So we extended the nanny's hours by 15 minutes so that they didn't feel like we were keeping them late anymore.

Thanks! That makes sense to have 15 minutes at each end of the day for handoff... do you do that in the morning too?

+1. All families should do this regardless - just not on the nanny’s time. Come down/come home earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After a couple of weeks of working, DH and I realized we wanted ten or so minutes to talk with the nanny about how the day went. So we extended the nanny's hours by 15 minutes so that they didn't feel like we were keeping them late anymore.

Are you paying OT?