Is this fair to ask of nanny? RSS feed

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[Post New]08/26/2015 12:01
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Anonymous
I went into work late today and took my older kids to school. We got there a few minutes early, and the neighbors five year old daughter was already there eating a bag of dried cereal and waiting for the doors to unlock. We know the family pretty well, and I am not sure if this is a regular occurrence or not. Dad is a plumber and may have had an emergency to get to this morning.
If I was home I would offer to have her come over to my house for a few minutes before school and walk her to school with my kids. But I am not sure if that's a reasonable thing to ask of our nanny.
[Post New]08/26/2015 12:09
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Anonymous
You can definitely ask. As a nanny, I personally wouldnt have a problem with this at all, as long as her parents trusted me enough and felt it was ok!
[Post New]08/26/2015 13:28
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Anonymous
Nanny here. I would do it for an extra fee. If it's a matter of watching the extra child for less than an hour and taking her to a school I had to take my other charge(s) to anyway, I'd do it for something like $5 per day.
[Post New]08/26/2015 13:34
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Anonymous
Never agree to do for free.
[Post New]08/26/2015 14:20
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I would do it for an extra fee. If it's a matter of watching the extra child for less than an hour and taking her to a school I had to take my other charge(s) to anyway, I'd do it for something like $5 per day.


I hope that it's less than an hour. She is five. She is currently just sitting in front of the school. I imagine it's like ten minutes.
[Post New]08/26/2015 14:40
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Anonymous
MB here. I'm curious to see what other nannies say to this.

I think it would be ok if you explain the situation and see what your nanny in particular says. I think it would depend greatly on her neighborliness which varies greatly among people.

Just like it's not a huge deal for the nanny to watch the kid, up to $3-5 shouldn't be a huge deal to pay either, and particularly if it is more on a regular basis, you should make sure she is compensated for her time. Also, you should make sure that this is the only incidence of asking for volunteerism, if you end up not paying her.
[Post New]08/26/2015 14:54
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Anonymous
I don't think this is a big deal to do if it's not a daily or weekly thing. Its for a few mins (as stated by OP in post) and it's a nice thing to do. I would do it without extra pay once in awhile
[Post New]08/26/2015 15:11
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Anonymous
Could get out of hand, fast. 10 mins becomes 30 becomes 40, etc. Be firm, if you do it.
[Post New]08/26/2015 15:52
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nannydebsays

Member Offline
I would do it as long as it was agreed there was a time limit to my providing free services. Then the family could ask me to offer more time if they paid me my hourly rate.
[Post New]08/26/2015 16:34
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Could get out of hand, fast. 10 mins becomes 30 becomes 40, etc. Be firm, if you do it.


+1 on this.

The parent decided it was ok for the girl to sit there eating cereal. Will they decide that it is ok to leave the girl at your house for an even longer time? What happens if he had a job that he must get to an hour and a half before school?

Specify boundaries, if you do it.
[Post New]08/26/2015 17:07
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Anonymous
I just find it so upsetting when nannies view children like commodities to make money of off. I mean, if you are a nanny (or parent, or any decent person really) shouldn't you care about children enough to WANT to help if there is a five year old alone in front of the school? Isn't it about being a good community member, same as a parent would do in this situation for a neighbor?

I do understand not wanting to give the impression that you will offer extra services for free and you could worry that it would become just one of many future demands, but that shouldn't happen if you are comfortable with your NF and could let them know. Not like its any extra work to have the kid dropped off, already ready for the day, and walk to school with you. Seems very petty to ask for $3-5 extra; that said as an MB I would probably offer it in this situation. But I would pay it myself, not ask the neighbor family to, because again it seems very petty to ask.
[Post New]08/26/2015 17:32
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I just find it so upsetting when nannies view children like commodities to make money of off. I mean, if you are a nanny (or parent, or any decent person really) shouldn't you care about children enough to WANT to help if there is a five year old alone in front of the school? Isn't it about being a good community member, same as a parent would do in this situation for a neighbor?

I do understand not wanting to give the impression that you will offer extra services for free and you could worry that it would become just one of many future demands, but that shouldn't happen if you are comfortable with your NF and could let them know. Not like its any extra work to have the kid dropped off, already ready for the day, and walk to school with you. Seems very petty to ask for $3-5 extra; that said as an MB I would probably offer it in this situation. But I would pay it myself, not ask the neighbor family to, because again it seems very petty to ask.


They are commodities. Nannies are not free and if you want to add another child, you pay
[Post New]08/26/2015 17:47
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I just find it so upsetting when nannies view children like commodities to make money of off. I mean, if you are a nanny (or parent, or any decent person really) shouldn't you care about children enough to WANT to help if there is a five year old alone in front of the school? Isn't it about being a good community member, same as a parent would do in this situation for a neighbor?

I do understand not wanting to give the impression that you will offer extra services for free and you could worry that it would become just one of many future demands, but that shouldn't happen if you are comfortable with your NF and could let them know. Not like its any extra work to have the kid dropped off, already ready for the day, and walk to school with you. Seems very petty to ask for $3-5 extra; that said as an MB I would probably offer it in this situation. But I would pay it myself, not ask the neighbor family to, because again it seems very petty to ask.


I think the nannies on this board are a particular egregious breed. Having said that, I think the type of thinking you have is very dangerous for nannies because it is not "no extra work." There is extra work. If the girl is supposed to come to your house but is for some reason late, your charge might be late. The kids might fight. The girl might forget something at home. She may need help tying her shoelaces. There are so many issues that can come up and it should definitely be considered extra work. The MBs who find it "so upsetting" and not understanding from other people's perspectives can be very hard to work for and produce these bitter nannies with bad experiences and are always watching their backs.

I do not think that anyone mentioned being paid an outrageous amount of money. As the MB who posted above, I meant to say that the OP should pay the $3-5, not the girl's father.

[Post New]08/26/2015 17:49
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I just find it so upsetting when nannies view children like commodities to make money of off. I mean, if you are a nanny (or parent, or any decent person really) shouldn't you care about children enough to WANT to help if there is a five year old alone in front of the school? Isn't it about being a good community member, same as a parent would do in this situation for a neighbor?

I do understand not wanting to give the impression that you will offer extra services for free and you could worry that it would become just one of many future demands, but that shouldn't happen if you are comfortable with your NF and could let them know. Not like its any extra work to have the kid dropped off, already ready for the day, and walk to school with you. Seems very petty to ask for $3-5 extra; that said as an MB I would probably offer it in this situation. But I would pay it myself, not ask the neighbor family to, because again it seems very petty to ask.


Nannies are being paid to take care of children. More children = more work = more pay.

As others have stated, it is VERY easy for the situation to get out of hand and for neighbors to take advantage. If you say you'll watch one extra child for free for 20 mins once per week, that could easily become 30-45 mins 3-4 times per week, which really is a burden on the nanny no matter how you look at it. Plus, what if another neighbor is suddenly in a bind and says "your nanny watches Larla for free in the morning, she can watch my kids for free too if something comes up for me."

I have been the nanny who wanted to be a team player and help other parents out before, and all I did was get screwed over and taken advantage of, similar to what I've described above.
[Post New]08/26/2015 17:57
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I just find it so upsetting when nannies view children like commodities to make money of off. I mean, if you are a nanny (or parent, or any decent person really) shouldn't you care about children enough to WANT to help if there is a five year old alone in front of the school? Isn't it about being a good community member, same as a parent would do in this situation for a neighbor?

I do understand not wanting to give the impression that you will offer extra services for free and you could worry that it would become just one of many future demands, but that shouldn't happen if you are comfortable with your NF and could let them know. Not like its any extra work to have the kid dropped off, already ready for the day, and walk to school with you. Seems very petty to ask for $3-5 extra; that said as an MB I would probably offer it in this situation. But I would pay it myself, not ask the neighbor family to, because again it seems very petty to ask.


This is our JOB. Children are not commodities, but my services are not free. Do you ask other people you know for free services? I know some lawyers, should they represent me for free if I have a need? My mother is a caterer. Should she be volunteering to cook for friends who don't have time for home cooked meals? Your nanny is not your friend, she is probably not a member of your community, they are not her neighbors, and you should not ask her to volunteer the same services that she uses to make a living.

OP if *you* want to be neighborly and volunteer your nanny, you do that. But as her employer, it is your responsibility to see that she is compensated. I would say $5 at least. It seems simple enough but I can think of a few ways this could turn into a headache for your nanny.
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