Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your NF or your contract doesn't make sense.
The families always take 1-5 weeks+ of vacation and pay you your minimum guaranteed. And then you choose your 1 or whatever weeks on top of that. Usually for something like Xmas week, the nanny holds out

1st, her contract seems pretty standard and not at all confusing
2nd, there is no "always" in this industry

If an employee is given PTO as a benefit, with no caveat, they are under no obligation to "hold out" until a time that is convenient for their employer.

I agree, there should be no confusion. So why is Miss Experienced Nanny so confused?

No nanny burns her personal vacation week on Christmas because she knows 9/10 times the family will take off that same week and it will be just another bonus paid week off. Just like all the other weeks the family takes off.

Miss Experienced Nanny should always ask when the family is planning to do Christmas, spring break, summer, etc. and then use her own week separately.

I totally disagree with Miss Self-Righteous. I've been a nanny for 8 years with the same family and I get 2 weeks of my choosing as vacation time. I typically take 1-3 days over the course of Thanksgiving, Xmas, and New Years because I travel and my NF doesn't as the MB and DB tend to work at some point over the vacation. For my other days, I do not ask what their vacation plans are for the entire year before I plan my own vacation.

stop being so rude, she was just asking for some advice to a question that might make any accommodating person feel awkward

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your NF or your contract doesn't make sense.
The families always take 1-5 weeks+ of vacation and pay you your minimum guaranteed. And then you choose your 1 or whatever weeks on top of that. Usually for something like Xmas week, the nanny holds out

1st, her contract seems pretty standard and not at all confusing
2nd, there is no "always" in this industry

If an employee is given PTO as a benefit, with no caveat, they are under no obligation to "hold out" until a time that is convenient for their employer.

I agree, there should be no confusion. So why is Miss Experienced Nanny so confused?

No nanny burns her personal vacation week on Christmas because she knows 9/10 times the family will take off that same week and it will be just another bonus paid week off. Just like all the other weeks the family takes off.

Miss Experienced Nanny should always ask when the family is planning to do Christmas, spring break, summer, etc. and then use her own week separately.

What university did you attend that conferred the degree of Masters In Nannying upon you? Or do you always just feel entitled to tell other people what they should do?

That sounded like common sense to me, but I'm not PP.

Sounds like OP needs to explain how guaranteed hours work, and that while they are gone they essentially pay that as a retainer. In theory, had OP taken a different job where they did not take so much vacation, she would be paid that week, so she needs to be paid her minimum or follow the contract.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your NF or your contract doesn't make sense.
The families always take 1-5 weeks+ of vacation and pay you your minimum guaranteed. And then you choose your 1 or whatever weeks on top of that. Usually for something like Xmas week, the nanny holds out

1st, her contract seems pretty standard and not at all confusing
2nd, there is no "always" in this industry

If an employee is given PTO as a benefit, with no caveat, they are under no obligation to "hold out" until a time that is convenient for their employer.

I agree, there should be no confusion. So why is Miss Experienced Nanny so confused?

No nanny burns her personal vacation week on Christmas because she knows 9/10 times the family will take off that same week and it will be just another bonus paid week off. Just like all the other weeks the family takes off.

Miss Experienced Nanny should always ask when the family is planning to do Christmas, spring break, summer, etc. and then use her own week separately.

What university did you attend that conferred the degree of Masters In Nannying upon you? Or do you always just feel entitled to tell other people what they should do?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your NF or your contract doesn't make sense.
The families always take 1-5 weeks+ of vacation and pay you your minimum guaranteed. And then you choose your 1 or whatever weeks on top of that. Usually for something like Xmas week, the nanny holds out

1st, her contract seems pretty standard and not at all confusing
2nd, there is no "always" in this industry

If an employee is given PTO as a benefit, with no caveat, they are under no obligation to "hold out" until a time that is convenient for their employer.

I agree, there should be no confusion. So why is Miss Experienced Nanny so confused?

No nanny burns her personal vacation week on Christmas because she knows 9/10 times the family will take off that same week and it will be just another bonus paid week off. Just like all the other weeks the family takes off.

Miss Experienced Nanny should always ask when the family is planning to do Christmas, spring break, summer, etc. and then use her own week separately.

I would offer to come in part-time during their vacation and take care of some kid-related chores--maybe cleaning the kid's room, or sorting clothes and getting rid of outgrown things, or reorganizing the toys--as well as bringing in the mail and watering the plants--but I wouldn't offer to take the time unpaid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please elaborate: "'Here's the thing. I am a long-time very experienced nanny and I've seen a lot of different NFs over the years. '"

How many years have you been fulltime nannying? How long per family? How old are you?

Not relevant. What are you fishing for here?

the truth.

Anonymous wrote:Your NF or your contract doesn't make sense.
The families always take 1-5 weeks+ of vacation and pay you your minimum guaranteed. And then you choose your 1 or whatever weeks on top of that. Usually for something like Xmas week, the nanny holds out

1st, her contract seems pretty standard and not at all confusing
2nd, there is no "always" in this industry

If an employee is given PTO as a benefit, with no caveat, they are under no obligation to "hold out" until a time that is convenient for their employer.

OP, I am inclined to agree with the other posters with one exception, I would NOT offer free babysitting nights. They are choosing to take more vacation, you shouldn't have to adjust your schedule to accommodate this.

I would offer a ride to/from the airport, to bring in the mail/water plants and come in to organize on no specific schedule. This is more than generous and sets a reasonable precedent for future events.

Your NF or your contract doesn't make sense.
The families always take 1-5 weeks+ of vacation and pay you your minimum guaranteed. And then you choose your 1 or whatever weeks on top of that. Usually for something like Xmas week, the nanny holds out

Anonymous wrote:Please elaborate: "'Here's the thing. I am a long-time very experienced nanny and I've seen a lot of different NFs over the years. '"

How many years have you been fulltime nannying? How long per family? How old are you?

Not relevant. What are you fishing for here?

Please elaborate: "'Here's the thing. I am a long-time very experienced nanny and I've seen a lot of different NFs over the years. '"

How many years have you been fulltime nannying? How long per family? How old are you?

As a nanny, I wouldn't want to bend. As I read your post I thought to myself that perhaps you could compromise and take one week paid and one week unpaid and then I thought, "holy cow! if I had to lose an entire week's paycheck unexpectedly and through no fault of my own, I would be so upset!" it's so nice of you to want to consider a compromise and I would do the same but ultimately, losing pay because they made an error is not okay.

as the MBs above me suggested, why don't you talk about a few date nights or things you can do while you are away? I would confront this head on if you can. tell them that you really enjoy working for them and want this to be a long term relationship. tell them that while you would love to help them out, you specifically planned your weeks believing you were within your vacation times and wouldn't be missing any pay. say you are willing to renegotiate your contract for next year (if you are) and that you would be willing to do x number of "free" date nights as well as any around the house stuff they might need while they're gone (again, if you're willing).

I know it's a sucky situation and you want to help them out, but you can't penalize yourself for their mistakes - this is how you make your living. give and take in a relationship with your NF is a good thing when nobody takes advantage, so this could be your way of establishing that sort of relationship if you want one like that.

MB here.

Honestly, in your instance, I wouldn't bend it at all. As their first nanny, you are setting the expectations about what a nanny/family relationship is. And, in my mind, guarenteed hours is a basic.

Next time it seems natural, I would let them know what you've told us. Just how much you appreciate their kindness and respect. Then, also mention how the guarenteed hours allow you to count on a regular income and make it possible to give your all to the job.

There are definitely other ways you could give some extra. You could let it slide if they come home 15 minutes late. Or throw in some extra light housework that isn't expected. You could even offer to come in during this extra paid vacation and bring in mail, get some organizing done or just check in on the house.

But two unpaid weeks - no way.

MB here. You sound lovely.

Here are my thoughts. If I were your employer I would expect and assume that I need to pay you for any and all time we are away. We are making that decision, not you, so you should not be penalized for it.

If you indicated any acknowledgement that this might actually be tough for us to swallow I would be so appreciative, but I would still consider it my responsiblity to pay you.

But maybe there are other things you could do, like - check on the house periodically, restock the fridge/turn on ac/etc... before their return, drive them to/from the airport.

If you want to, you could even offer to work a couple of date nights or something like that in lieu of all the additional time off you're getting. I think all of that would be a really wonderful gesture.

But, I certainly do not think you need to forego your salary.

I've been working with a wonderful NF and awesome 8-month-old since he was a newborn. Before I started, we drafted a work agreement that stipulated:

- guaranteed hours
- 2 weeks paid vacation
- 1 week paid personal/sick days
- 8 paid holidays

I have already taken 1 week paid vacation last month when the NF went out of town. I've already scheduled my other week for the week between Christmas and New Years.

Recently MB mentioned to me that they are planning a second vacation for two weeks in September, and she seemed to be hinting around as to what "we should do about that", as if she had just realized that having guaranteed hours means that my pay can't be cut for those two weeks because they are above and beyond what is in our work agreement. I think she was fishing for me to say, "Oh that's OK, I've already got my two weeks paid, so you don't have to pay me for two additional weeks of vacation.", but I kept that thought to myself for now.

Here's the thing. I am a long-time very experienced nanny and I've seen a lot of different NFs over the years. Some are better than others, but the NF I'm with right now is the best one I've ever worked for. They are kind, considerate, respectful, and I like just about every single aspect of my job with no complaints. Usually I stick to the work agreement like it's the bible because if you don't, some NFs will start to take advantage. But I feel like this family is different and I don't mind bending it a little because they have demonstrated that they are NOT the kind of family to do this. I trust them to continue treating me well and I want to make a good faith demonstration that recognizes our mutual respect and professionalism.

What are your thoughts? Should I just leave it alone and let them suck it up and pay me what amounts to four weeks of paid vacation instead of two? I realize that technically this would be within the spirit of the work agreement, but if I look at the bigger picture, I'm tempted to give them a break. They told me upon hiring me that they'd really like their first ever nanny (me) to stay with them long-term because they plan on having at least one more child and they value the consistency and stability of not having to keep replacing nannies. Plus, given my age, I plan on this being my last nanny position and retiring once they no longer need me.

Anyway, hope this all makes sense. What I'm really asking is if anyone has any other ideas of a compromise of something between me losing two weeks of pay and them paying out two additional weeks of vacation. Thanks for reading!