Nannies leaving before year commitment
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Anonymous
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I could use some feedback/venting. We've had three live-in nannies, all 20-something Americans. All three have made one-year minimum commitments at the outset - it is our most important requirement of a candidate. All three have also left before that. We know these contracts aren't really enforceable, and we don't frankly want someone caring for our kids who doesn't want to be doing it, but I am losing it. Again, we are forced to put our kids through this tough transition (the reason for the commitment) more than we'd like, not to mention the time and expense of another nanny hunt.
Two partially completed college, one is a very high acheving grad heading for a PhD. All are caucasian, from different parts of the country and different socio-economic status. Two left to follow guys, but nothing that was time sensitive. We're still in touch with all of them, so I'm farly confident it's not that we're horrible, scary people. The one pursuing further education is even interested in continuing to live with us while in school. What gives!?!?! Have other people experienced this? Are we just unlucky? Is it something about this generation taking commitment less seriously? I've heard that, but don't see those traits in the young women I manage at work. Is it cultural? Not trying to stir things up, but would I be having the same experiences with a foreginer? A non-caucasian? I'm about beside myself with going 0 for 3. Really don't want to make it 0 for 4, but have NO idea how to change our track record. Thanks. |
Anonymous
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Hiring young women with college and career aspirations probably means you're going to face this unless they somehow know that a career nannying is what they're seeking. Maybe this time around you specifically look for a different kind of candidate?
I think a lot of people make assumptions about the energy level and enthusiasm of older candidates that aren't fair, and often you get a much greater level of maturity, and a much more accurate understanding of the job. I also think that people who are older are less comfortable w/ short term jobs - people want to make sure they have stable employment, good working environment, etc... So maybe you need to rethink your criteria? Are you open to older candidates? Are you open to non-american nannies? (That isn't code for illegal nannies - just non-american born/raised.) Are you flexible about the need for a college degree? |
Anonymous
The same could be said about assuming younger candidates are flaky, and not able to keep a commitment. I am a 23 year old nanny and have had 2 nanny jobs so far, the first of which I stayed at until I was no longer needed, and the second being my present job. I do agree with PP that older candidates may be the way to go for yourself OP because the commitment thing is so important to you, but I do get tired of the bad rap given to younger nannies for which nannying is not the end of the road. |
Anonymous
| Is your pay scale less than what they can earn elsewhere? Based on what you say, that's my guess. I'll bet that if you boost your rate by 3-5/hr, you'll find some of your former nannies coming back. Your job needs to be economically competative (for real). Granted, you'd need to revamp your finances, and eliminate or reduce other expenses. |
Anonymous
OP here - Thanks. It's a live-in job, and we've paid more for each successive candidate, with just this thinking in mind. Are now paying over $200 a week more than where we started, plus car (work and leisure use), car insurance, private room and bath, food, all typical room and board type stuff. Plus paid leave and an fixed amount account from which they can draw to periodically travel home (we were concerned homesickness was a factor). |
nannydebsays
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OP, how much are you paying per week, and how many hours is your nanny working each week?
Not asking to set you up for a scolding, but genuinely curious, especially since you have raised the rate so much from the start. |
Anonymous
| We're in the high 400s a week for almost exactly 40 hours. That does not include the other benefits, leave, etc I mentioned, so those are on top. |
Anonymous
| You will need to post where in area you live too if people are trying to judge if the rate is too low. My guess is that college grads see this as a temp stint and that if you want someone for longer you should find someone who views nannying as her career / focus rather than a way to kill time. |
Anonymous
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I'm in DC. I always forgot how many non-locals are on here. THanks for the reminder.
I see your point about college grads (although only one of them has been that), but we are SO clear about requiring a one year commitment up front. I honestly don't know whether they just tell us they'll stay that long but never intend to, or they just don't bother to stick it out once something new comes along. I want to think well of them, but like I said before, we're 0 for 3. |
Anonymous
| Well, it sounds like you're targeting this for more temporary placements from the start, rather than for the "susan" version of the options posted on the other thread. If you want a Susan you need to structure/search for that. Your current version sounds designed for the "Grace"s of the world and the less reliable tenure comes with the territory I think. |
Anonymous
Why do you think this is structured for temporary placements? Because we've hired in that age range? We've always discussed the one year as a minimum, not a fixed duration. |
Anonymous
| I understand that I'm on the high-end, but my last live-in paid $1,000/week, gross, in the DC area. |
Anonymous
I stayed over a year. |
Anonymous
| OP, if all three left then you have to look at the common denominator and that is you. |
Anonymous
| I think her salary is low. |