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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am a nanny and I completely understand why employers are now cracking down on a nanny's cell phone use.  Watching a row of nannies on a bench at the park all texting furiously; texting during story time and texting and talking on the phone while pushing a stroller -- it is becoming absurd.

It pissed me off to see so many nannies ignoring their charges.  [/quote]

I'll say this again, because so many people don't get it:  you don't know what they are doing, so please don't judge every nanny as the same.  I'm a household manager as well as a nanny, just like a previous PP.  My charges never nap, but I still have to find the time to do the sundry things that come with running a large household; would you prefer that I split attention while small children have fingerpaints and glue?  Perhaps when I'm having children under 6 use knives to cut mushrooms for the salad?  As [b]I am perfectly capable of watching 5+ children in the park/playground while talking on the phone[/b] (I don't text as I can't do that and watch), I feel that is the most appropriate time for me to call for quotes on auto repair and getting rid of pests, follow up with the housekeeper that didn't show, schedule landscaping, etc.  I also use that time to call the list I constantly update for new activities for the kids, schedule medical and dental appointments and (when I have a 24/7 job) I use 5 minutes daily to check in with my grandmother and great-grandmother (5 minutes for personal calls out of 24 hours doesn't seem unreasonable to me).  I have never has a single one of my employers question my phone usage, whether they were paying for the phone or I was.  Some employers feel the need to set a whole list of rules and micromanage the nanny, and they are entitled to do so; I am quite comfortable looking for a position in which I can do what needs to be done without someone constantly checking up on me or second-guessing decisions I've made.

PP that doesn't allow the nanny to carry a cell phone for emergencies even when leaving the house:  I hope your nanny doesn't have a blow-out on the highway.  Trying to keep kids in the car and change a tire is difficult enough on a backroad (I didn't have service), but at least there was a ditch for the younger kids to cross and then see who could make a bigger pile of rocks fastest by standing at the edge and tossing them down.  I didn't have to worry about them getting hit; your nanny won't be able to do the same.[/quote]

No, you are not capable of that anymore than someone is capable of texting and driving regardless of what they tell you.  You should have 100% attention on your charges (if not playing with them) while you are out of a child-proofed area (like in a home).  If you cannot find indoor, safe activities for your charges to do indoors while you are making your home-manager calls, then you are not much of a nanny.

And I seriously doubt the nannies I see texting furiously while their charges run around the park unsupervised are scheduling medical appointments anyway.    
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