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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Sigh.

There were several points I made, but the most important one is that they were trying to use my previous wages to justify paying me a lower rate, but my previous wages are not relevant for many reasons:
1) their position requires a lot of housework, which none of my previous jobs did
2) their position was taking care of infant twins, when none of the jobs I held with said references were for the care of more than one child
3) the majority of my positions were from more than three years ago
4) since those positions I have not only gained more professional nanny experience but I have also completed my ECE degree as well as other childcare related studies

They clearly weren't factoring any of that information in; they were just looking for justification for offering me a low wage. Rather than look at themselves and say "maybe we need to reevaluate our needs, maybe we don't really need the nanny to wash the windows and sanitize moms breast milk pumping equipment," they were just wanting to say "oh, well she only made $14/hr in this other job, so we can feel totally justified in offering $15/hr for ours!" (Again, not taking into account any of the factors I have listed above.)

The point I was trying to make about someone else accepting the job at $13/hr is that you get what you pay for when you pay a low rate:
1) someone with little to no experience
2) someone who is not committed--first nanny left suddenly (she says it was health issues, but that could've easily been an excuse to leave for a better position), and second nanny is only a week in and already contemplating quitting!![/quote]

But the problem with your argument is that the twin family was able to hire someone (with whom they were presumably pleased) for less than you cost.  That is their prerogative.  It doesn't mean that the person they hired is inferior - that's your judgment, based on nothing other than your assumptions about rate.  They were willing to pay more for you - so clearly they liked you.  But they can't afford what you requested so they hired someone else.

You think you're worth more - that's great.   Maybe you are to someone else - just not to that family.  No prospective employer is required to agree with you.  If can you command higher wages on the job market go get 'em.  If they can find cheaper care they are pleased with then they are free to do that. There is a range for everything.  Just because you think you're superior doesn't mean that everyone will agree.

No matter how many words you throw at it your entire premise is based solely on your judgment, which has zero influence in your professional marketplace.

[/quote]

The point here is asking previous employers for a nanny's wage is not a good basis to justify offering a lower wage to said nanny. Prerogatives, finances, the job market, etc, are all excellent ways to gauge what kind of salary to offer a prospective nanny. The salary she made with a different family in the past should not be part of the equation.

I will say that it sounds like OP was asking for their previous wages not as a way to justify a low pay rate, but rather to make sure she was offering a salary the nanny would be truly happy with, which is a bit different.[/quote]

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