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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]19.29 here.

[quote=Anonymous]Everyone always gives the same advice, that nannies are only in it for the money and that you have to give them absurd raises and bonuses to keep them happy. Yes, nannies work for money like everyone else, but we also usually love our work, love kids, love the flexibility, etc. I will give you some true advice that doesn't involve draining your life savings to overpay your nanny.

1) You don't need to give them free money or quarterly bonuses, but don't pinch pennies. Set a weekly rate and stick to it, whether you use all the hours or not. If you leave come home early on Wednesday and leave for vacation, pay her the full weekly rate.[/quote]
Quite agreed.  Guaranteed hours are so that the nanny can plan out bills and savings.

[quote]2) Be on time. Consistency is key. When I know you are ontime 99% of the time I can plan other parts of my life around work. When you are always "running late", even if you pay me for my time, I can't make plans with friends or be reliable for other jobs/gigs. If you are going to be late, let me know ASAP, not 5 minutes before you are supposed to show up. If you have a 30 minute drive home and you usually leave at 5:30 and you realize your not getting out of the office then take the time to text me right then and say your going to be late, not at 6 saying "Sorry I haven't left the office yet."[/quote]
I actually disagree with this.  Talk to your nanny.  I would rather have overtime, so I'm happy to work late, BUT I do expect a call or text if you're going to be 30+ minutes late.

[quote]3) Treat them like a 3rd parents. Be organized with a calendar for the kids things, add them to it. CC them on emails. It's annoying to plan things or set up playdates only to get a "Sally has a doctors appointment today at 10" when I arrive in the morning. Plan all this stuff with your nanny, not around him/her.[/quote]
It depends on the nanny's level of responsibility.  If she's heavily involved in the kids' scheduling, absolutely.  If the parent is going to pick up kids for doctor's appointments, tell her the day prior.  Some parents want the nanny to be like another parent, others want the nanny to just be childcare, and either is acceptable.

[quote]4) When you are planning to not need the nanny let him/her know as soon as possible so they can take advantage of that time. AND DON'T CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT DAYS OFF! While its nice to get a day off it's annoying to find out about it the day before.[/quote]
Agreed.  It's worse when the nanny was told a month ahead of time that she would have the week off, and then has to cancel plans the day before due to the parent's schedule change.

[quote]5) Treat them like a friend instead of an employee. Ask how their day was, invite them to things sometimes, offer to take them and the family out to dinner once a year on a whim, etc. Just act like you care about them and that they are more than just your childs nanny.[/quote]
This works for some nannies, but not for others.  I'm a live-in nanny, and boundaries are very, very fluid, so I try to keep anything personal out of conversations with my employer.  For some parents and nannies, it's okay that it's a nanny-employer relationship, and the parent doesn't view the nanny as JUST the nanny (no condescension because they are just the help).

[quote]I would take a family that does these 5 things over a family that gives yearly $1 pay raises any day.[/quote]

It's different for every nanny, so talk to your nanny and find out what she wants and needs.[/quote]

All nannies enjoy being treated like a friend. No one "enjoys" being spoken to like an employee if there is an option. You not need to pretend you are BFFs with MB, or share personal info, but being friendly and caring about someone can go a long way.[/quote]

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