Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New nanny has nine hours of her 40 hour work week without kids (three hours three days a week). During her first week, she was proactive and rearranged some toys and straightened up a bookshelf. Before she started, we discussed that she would use the time for family meal prep, errands as needed, and helping with light housekeeping: vacuuming and dusting of main level and kids rooms (no bathrooms, no scrubbing floors - just vacuum, help dust). Like I said, week one was fine. By week two, she was using her "free" time to run her own errands and apparently accomplish little no nothing at our house - not even keeping up with kids' laundry, something that has never been a problem in the nine years we've employed nannies, despite there being at least one child home all the time. This is the first year when there are hours with no children at all.

Help me hit the reset button with this nanny, without coming down on her like a ton of bricks. If I had nine hours of kid free time during the week, holy smokes would I be organized, clean, and on top of the short list of tasks she has. I think part of the problem is that we are a mismatch on what we consider "clean". For her, chunks of bread on the floor and carrot sticks under the counter (literally) aren't a big deal. I sweep after every meal. She thinks our house is immaculate when it is apparent to even my husband - someone who will NEVER be accused of being a clean freak - that the house needed a good cleaning (we have been cleaning ourselves but I skipped the last weekend knowing we'd have someone coming on Friday).

I would appreciate any advice from BTDT parents. This is honestly the first nanny I've had that seems to have a significantly lower housekeeping standard than I do, and a much lower work ethic as well. She seems to think she is a hard worker, yet is not completing the same work that other nannies have managed just fine with kids around, never mind the tasks she's supposed to be doing during her "free" hours.

To be clear, we don't leave a disaster to be cleaned up. We've done kids laundry this weekend, our kitchen is scrubbed, our fridge is stocked. Help me politely light a fire under this woman so she figures out that part of her job is DOING HER JOB.

I would never work with this OP.

9.37 here. You may not, but there are plenty of us (myself included) who would be happy to work with this family, depending on rate and benefits of course. Given that OP has never had this issue in 9 years of employing nannies, I think that speaks well of her as an employer.

So next time don't complain your MB is making you do all house work and how do you know her previous nannies not having any issues. This is a one sided story and we know nothing about the nanny , stop judging. You must be the OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would write out a list that is explicit.

Not just "sweep kitchen floor" but "Sweep kitchen floor and make sure there is no food or crumbs on floor."

Not just "Do laundry" but "Do Kylie's laundry on Mondays, Kourtney's laundry on Wednesdays, and Khloe's laundry on Fridays."

Then tell her you'd like to sit down and go over how things are going. (Either pay overtime or get home early before she's scheduled to leave.) Tell her "The first week went really great - you totally hit it out of the park and did everything wonderfully. But beginning the second week we've noticed you've been using those kid-free nine hours to do your own errands during time we're paying you, and you're now leaving chunks of bread and carrot sticks on the kitchen floor. What happened from Week One to Week Two? Do you think you can see yourself getting back to your Week One Standard?"

Nanny here. I definitely agree with this method! The only thing that I would change would be to ask her which day(s) she will be doing each task. Personally, I prefer to do all kid laundry on the same day, other kid tasks on other days. And if you ask which days, she's more likely to stick to the schedule. But sit down with her and write a schedule, include absolutely everything, even if there are things that only need to be done once or twice a month.

Anonymous wrote:If she is on call for that time during the week when she has no children, this can go both ways.

Some nannies think that since they need to reserve that stretch of time solely for your family, then that is what they will do. Remember they cannot accept any jobs or make social plans for those hours so they are giving up something to be on stand-by in case they are needed.

Then there are some nannies who provide strictly childcare, no housecleaning duties. I mean they always wash any dishes used and clean up any play areas before leaving. Some even offer to do the child's wash.

It sounds to me as if you both are not on the same page.

Tell her in detail what this position requires of her and let her know that it is best if she doesn't like doing errands and cleaning, then perhaps this is not a good match for either side.

Best of luck to you both.

Anonymous wrote:New nanny has nine hours of her 40 hour work week without kids (three hours three days a week). During her first week, she was proactive and rearranged some toys and straightened up a bookshelf. Before she started, we discussed that she would use the time for family meal prep, errands as needed, and helping with light housekeeping: vacuuming and dusting of main level and kids rooms (no bathrooms, no scrubbing floors - just vacuum, help dust). Like I said, week one was fine. By week two, she was using her "free" time to run her own errands and apparently accomplish little no nothing at our house - not even keeping up with kids' laundry, something that has never been a problem in the nine years we've employed nannies, despite there being at least one child home all the time. This is the first year when there are hours with no children at all.

Help me hit the reset button with this nanny, without coming down on her like a ton of bricks. If I had nine hours of kid free time during the week, holy smokes would I be organized, clean, and on top of the short list of tasks she has. I think part of the problem is that we are a mismatch on what we consider "clean". For her, chunks of bread on the floor and carrot sticks under the counter (literally) aren't a big deal. I sweep after every meal. She thinks our house is immaculate when it is apparent to even my husband - someone who will NEVER be accused of being a clean freak - that the house needed a good cleaning (we have been cleaning ourselves but I skipped the last weekend knowing we'd have someone coming on Friday).

I would appreciate any advice from BTDT parents. This is honestly the first nanny I've had that seems to have a significantly lower housekeeping standard than I do, and a much lower work ethic as well. She seems to think she is a hard worker, yet is not completing the same work that other nannies have managed just fine with kids around, never mind the tasks she's supposed to be doing during her "free" hours.

To be clear, we don't leave a disaster to be cleaned up. We've done kids laundry this weekend, our kitchen is scrubbed, our fridge is stocked. Help me politely light a fire under this woman so she figures out that part of her job is DOING HER JOB.

nannydebsays wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New nanny has nine hours of her 40 hour work week without kids (three hours three days a week). During her first week, she was proactive and rearranged some toys and straightened up a bookshelf. Before she started, we discussed that she would use the time for family meal prep, errands as needed, and helping with light housekeeping: vacuuming and dusting of main level and kids rooms (no bathrooms, no scrubbing floors - just vacuum, help dust). Like I said, week one was fine. By week two, she was using her "free" time to run her own errands and apparently accomplish little no nothing at our house - not even keeping up with kids' laundry, something that has never been a problem in the nine years we've employed nannies, despite there being at least one child home all the time. This is the first year when there are hours with no children at all.

Help me hit the reset button with this nanny, without coming down on her like a ton of bricks. If I had nine hours of kid free time during the week, holy smokes would I be organized, clean, and on top of the short list of tasks she has. I think part of the problem is that we are a mismatch on what we consider "clean". For her, chunks of bread on the floor and carrot sticks under the counter (literally) aren't a big deal. I sweep after every meal. She thinks our house is immaculate when it is apparent to even my husband - someone who will NEVER be accused of being a clean freak - that the house needed a good cleaning (we have been cleaning ourselves but I skipped the last weekend knowing we'd have someone coming on Friday).

I would appreciate any advice from BTDT parents. This is honestly the first nanny I've had that seems to have a significantly lower housekeeping standard than I do, and a much lower work ethic as well. She seems to think she is a hard worker, yet is not completing the same work that other nannies have managed just fine with kids around, never mind the tasks she's supposed to be doing during her "free" hours.

To be clear, we don't leave a disaster to be cleaned up. We've done kids laundry this weekend, our kitchen is scrubbed, our fridge is stocked. Help me politely light a fire under this woman so she figures out that part of her job is DOING HER JOB.

I think you need to meet with her ASAP and review the contract duties she agreed to perform. Make the discussion a "poop sandwich", by complimenting her on something, then discussing your expectations, then offering praise of some kind. I would ask her, during the expectations discussion, if she is someone who is internally motivated, and just needs to know what has to be done each week and each month and will manage her time wisely and get that stuff done, or if she needs more external motivation, such as a check list for the week that she can create based on her job description.

Then schedule a second meeting for 4 weeks from now and review how things have gone. If there is no appreciable improvement, put her on probation, start your search for someone new, and let her go if she doesn't shape up within 2 weeks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New nanny has nine hours of her 40 hour work week without kids (three hours three days a week). During her first week, she was proactive and rearranged some toys and straightened up a bookshelf. Before she started, we discussed that she would use the time for family meal prep, errands as needed, and helping with light housekeeping: vacuuming and dusting of main level and kids rooms (no bathrooms, no scrubbing floors - just vacuum, help dust). Like I said, week one was fine. By week two, she was using her "free" time to run her own errands and apparently accomplish little no nothing at our house - not even keeping up with kids' laundry, something that has never been a problem in the nine years we've employed nannies, despite there being at least one child home all the time. This is the first year when there are hours with no children at all.

Help me hit the reset button with this nanny, without coming down on her like a ton of bricks. If I had nine hours of kid free time during the week, holy smokes would I be organized, clean, and on top of the short list of tasks she has. I think part of the problem is that we are a mismatch on what we consider "clean". For her, chunks of bread on the floor and carrot sticks under the counter (literally) aren't a big deal. I sweep after every meal. She thinks our house is immaculate when it is apparent to even my husband - someone who will NEVER be accused of being a clean freak - that the house needed a good cleaning (we have been cleaning ourselves but I skipped the last weekend knowing we'd have someone coming on Friday).

I would appreciate any advice from BTDT parents. This is honestly the first nanny I've had that seems to have a significantly lower housekeeping standard than I do, and a much lower work ethic as well. She seems to think she is a hard worker, yet is not completing the same work that other nannies have managed just fine with kids around, never mind the tasks she's supposed to be doing during her "free" hours.

To be clear, we don't leave a disaster to be cleaned up. We've done kids laundry this weekend, our kitchen is scrubbed, our fridge is stocked. Help me politely light a fire under this woman so she figures out that part of her job is DOING HER JOB.

I would never work with this OP.

9.37 here. You may not, but there are plenty of us (myself included) who would be happy to work with this family, depending on rate and benefits of course. Given that OP has never had this issue in 9 years of employing nannies, I think that speaks well of her as an employer.

So next time don't complain your MB is making you do all house work and how do you know her previous nannies not having any issues. This is a one sided story and we know nothing about the nanny , stop judging. You must be the OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New nanny has nine hours of her 40 hour work week without kids (three hours three days a week). During her first week, she was proactive and rearranged some toys and straightened up a bookshelf. Before she started, we discussed that she would use the time for family meal prep, errands as needed, and helping with light housekeeping: vacuuming and dusting of main level and kids rooms (no bathrooms, no scrubbing floors - just vacuum, help dust). Like I said, week one was fine. By week two, she was using her "free" time to run her own errands and apparently accomplish little no nothing at our house - not even keeping up with kids' laundry, something that has never been a problem in the nine years we've employed nannies, despite there being at least one child home all the time. This is the first year when there are hours with no children at all.

Help me hit the reset button with this nanny, without coming down on her like a ton of bricks. If I had nine hours of kid free time during the week, holy smokes would I be organized, clean, and on top of the short list of tasks she has. I think part of the problem is that we are a mismatch on what we consider "clean". For her, chunks of bread on the floor and carrot sticks under the counter (literally) aren't a big deal. I sweep after every meal. She thinks our house is immaculate when it is apparent to even my husband - someone who will NEVER be accused of being a clean freak - that the house needed a good cleaning (we have been cleaning ourselves but I skipped the last weekend knowing we'd have someone coming on Friday).

I would appreciate any advice from BTDT parents. This is honestly the first nanny I've had that seems to have a significantly lower housekeeping standard than I do, and a much lower work ethic as well. She seems to think she is a hard worker, yet is not completing the same work that other nannies have managed just fine with kids around, never mind the tasks she's supposed to be doing during her "free" hours.

To be clear, we don't leave a disaster to be cleaned up. We've done kids laundry this weekend, our kitchen is scrubbed, our fridge is stocked. Help me politely light a fire under this woman so she figures out that part of her job is DOING HER JOB.

I would never work with this OP.

9.37 here. You may not, but there are plenty of us (myself included) who would be happy to work with this family, depending on rate and benefits of course. Given that OP has never had this issue in 9 years of employing nannies, I think that speaks well of her as an employer.

So next time don't complain your MB is making you do all house work and how do you know her previous nannies not having any issues. This is a one sided story and we know nothing about the nanny , stop judging. You must be the OP.

Anonymous wrote:

nannydebsays wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New nanny has nine hours of her 40 hour work week without kids (three hours three days a week). During her first week, she was proactive and rearranged some toys and straightened up a bookshelf. Before she started, we discussed that she would use the time for family meal prep, errands as needed, and helping with light housekeeping: vacuuming and dusting of main level and kids rooms (no bathrooms, no scrubbing floors - just vacuum, help dust). Like I said, week one was fine. By week two, she was using her "free" time to run her own errands and apparently accomplish little no nothing at our house - not even keeping up with kids' laundry, something that has never been a problem in the nine years we've employed nannies, despite there being at least one child home all the time. This is the first year when there are hours with no children at all.

Help me hit the reset button with this nanny, without coming down on her like a ton of bricks. If I had nine hours of kid free time during the week, holy smokes would I be organized, clean, and on top of the short list of tasks she has. I think part of the problem is that we are a mismatch on what we consider "clean". For her, chunks of bread on the floor and carrot sticks under the counter (literally) aren't a big deal. I sweep after every meal. She thinks our house is immaculate when it is apparent to even my husband - someone who will NEVER be accused of being a clean freak - that the house needed a good cleaning (we have been cleaning ourselves but I skipped the last weekend knowing we'd have someone coming on Friday).

I would appreciate any advice from BTDT parents. This is honestly the first nanny I've had that seems to have a significantly lower housekeeping standard than I do, and a much lower work ethic as well. She seems to think she is a hard worker, yet is not completing the same work that other nannies have managed just fine with kids around, never mind the tasks she's supposed to be doing during her "free" hours.

To be clear, we don't leave a disaster to be cleaned up. We've done kids laundry this weekend, our kitchen is scrubbed, our fridge is stocked. Help me politely light a fire under this woman so she figures out that part of her job is DOING HER JOB.

I think you need to meet with her ASAP and review the contract duties she agreed to perform. Make the discussion a "poop sandwich", by complimenting her on something, then discussing your expectations, then offering praise of some kind. I would ask her, during the expectations discussion, if she is someone who is internally motivated, and just needs to know what has to be done each week and each month and will manage her time wisely and get that stuff done, or if she needs more external motivation, such as a check list for the week that she can create based on her job description.

Then schedule a second meeting for 4 weeks from now and review how things have gone. If there is no appreciable improvement, put her on probation, start your search for someone new, and let her go if she doesn't shape up within 2 weeks.

Please don't recommend the "sandwich" approach. It makes any thinking person wonder if the "sandwich-speaker" thinks the listener is a complete moron to not recognize the tactic, and it dilutes the value of the praise because it seems as if it's just being given because you had to come up with some "bread".