PP here again - Just say yes instead of explaining why you MIGHT not be able to fulfill it but would hope too. They might take it the wrong way.. So again, just tell them what they want to hear and hope for the best.

OP, just tell the parents what they want to hear. I'm sure ideally they would love someone that committed but things happen and I'm sure they wont keep their end of the 'commitment' if something comes up.

Just say yes and if something comes up just give them a decent amount of notice and they'll get over it. They can't force you to stay even if they write the four years in a contract.

The parents are control freaks.

Absolutely not!! No one knows where they will be in four yrs!! What other jobs make you give a 4~yr commitment?? NONE!!

OP, don't even consider it. It's just plain unreasonable and not realistic.

Anyway, if you do end up taking the job, and decide to leave prior to the 4~yrs mandated, it is highly unlikely this will ever hold up in a court of law since I have never ever heard of a law stipulating one must commit for that long, aside from the military which is totally different than being a nanny.

Who does this family think they are? The government or what???

Let them do what is takes to earn your longterm loyalty.

Do whatever your gut is telling you to do. Don't worry about a silly 4 yr trap.

Most families are looking for a nanny that is going to be with them for sometime. I have been with two families in the past who I was with for more than five years each. Families will say they want a long term nanny, but most of them usually aren't specific in the amount of years. I would do a trial period with this family to see if you think you would be a good fit for them. As someone else pointed out, employers, in general, want their employees to stick around awhile.

And you have to be honest with yourself, if you don't think you want to be a nanny for four years, then don't accept the job. But it could be a good opportunity if it is the right fit for you. It will look good on your resume in the future, that you have had job stability with a family.

I'm pretty sure that a personal services contract for over a year isn't enforceable anyway. It's fine to be clear about wanting someone willing and intending to stay for the long term, but a four-year commitment before you know for sure that you're a good fit is extreme. Are they willing to promise not to fire you for four years? I highly doubt it.

A nanny is an at will employee so a 4 year commitment isn't enforceable. OP are you young or in school? Keeping a nanny who isn't a student in school and planning on being something isn't difficult at all. However, if the nanny candidate is very young or in school, he employee may be concerned that she'll leave in a year or two when she is finished to pursue a different career.

They may also not realize that a long term nanny is someone who is flexible about changing tasks as the kids grow older, doesn't mind switching to more housekeeping when the kids are in preschool, and understand that there is a rate/salary ceiling that she will hit at some point. This is ideal for some nannies who really prefer staying with one family, like job security, and end up being well compensated. This is not ideal for the I will not do nothing during nap time, errands and housekeeping offend me or I expect a big raise no matter how much I am already paid each year types.

MB here and I don't think a 4 year commitment is a reasonable request. In fact, it's not reasonable in any workplace.

What you could say is that you don't feel comfortable saying that you can guarantee 4 years as any number of things that are beyond your control could happen. (There could be a health crisis in your or the family's world. MB or DB could have a change of job status or move that would change the employment possibilities. They could have more kids. Etc....) But that you would love to be in a position for several years if everything worked out the way you hope, and that you certainly see everything that would make that possible with this family.

I would try to find out why they're asking this. Have they had turn-over in the job that has been a problem for them? (And if so, why did the turn-over happen?) What happens in 4 years - is that when the kid(s) would go to school? Etc...

I see this as unreasonable but not necessarily a horrible red flag if everything else seems great. But at best it's an unrealistic expectation. So a lot is riding on the discussion you have with them, and what you're willing to promise/risk.

Good luck.

I think it is understandable for a family to want one nanny until their child(ren) is in school full time but you can't really require someone to stay for 4 years.

When I started my job I knew they were hoping it would be a long term position. That's what I was seeking as well. We're all very happy with our arrangement and when I leave in the fall I will have been with them over 4 years.

Anonymous wrote:When you go to college that's a 4 year commitment. Why can't you decide that you'll be at this job for 4 years?

Stop being obtuse. There is a world of difference between commitment to school snd a job. OP, this is an unreasonable request and should raise red flags about this position.

Consider this a major red flag. Run. They want you to be the mommy. So why wouldn't you want to stay forever?

Why not just say something like "If all goes well I would like to be with your family for the next few years" It is true that you may have no idea where you will be in four years time but if you want a long term job the above statement will be true.