Anonymous
Post 04/06/2014 16:36     Subject: Re:Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
What you are asking for seems completely reasonable. You need to be more specific and tell her what you want her to do and how you expect her to accomplish it. Also, kids can clean up their own toys and can even help folding their own laundry. As far as the soup, that is just ridiculous. What adult can't warm soup properly?
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2014 07:01     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:This is such bullshit. This nanny accepted a job that involves laundry and other things for $15. It's not as if she accepted a babysitting job and THEN laundry and other things were piled on.

The woman accepted a job with certain responsibilities for a certain rate. If those responsibilities weren't acceptable to her or the rate wasn't, then she had the free will to reject the offer. She accepted. She should be doing her job. If she's not, OP you should fire her.


I think that's what everyone has said. We also said that if this woman is the best that OP could get (a glorified sitter who can't multitask), she might want to reconsider what she is offering, which as it turns out is not attractive offer. She will have better people to choose from if her job is attractive. I'm not sure why that's difficult to understand. An exaggerated example would be trying to get a nanny by offering minimum wage. Yes I'm sure some idiot will accept the job, but that surely doesn't mean they will do it well. Would you be surprised that someone working a minimum wage nanny job isn't spectacular? No, because they probably have limited choices for a reason. Those that can command more wouldn't be interested. OPs job is not spectacular, yet she has high expectations of the person who takes it. She needs to decide if she is okay with a bare minimum kind of sitter, who takes care of the kids, or if all of the other things are similarly important, and she wants a higher quality sitter.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2014 01:33     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
This is such bullshit. This nanny accepted a job that involves laundry and other things for $15. It's not as if she accepted a babysitting job and THEN laundry and other things were piled on.

The woman accepted a job with certain responsibilities for a certain rate. If those responsibilities weren't acceptable to her or the rate wasn't, then she had the free will to reject the offer. She accepted. She should be doing her job. If she's not, OP you should fire her.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2014 00:01     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You can try another sitter who might get everything done, but not be so great with your kids. Pick your priorities.


This is ridiculous. Anyone with half a brain can figure out how to help kids play independently so they can get a few chores done. OP, you're not looking for a "magical person" - you're looking for a competent nanny. If I were you, I'd have a conversation with her where you reiterate your expectations for what she gets done, and very clearly spell out what they are (2 loads of laundry a week washed, folded, and put away; dinner prepared according to instructions every night; remind children to clean up after themselves etc. etc.) Give her a week or two to prove that she actually cares, and then re-evaluate. Anyone who couldn't handle your requests clearly should not be a nanny.

And I'm not saying this as a vindictive MB. I'm a nanny. I also manage to take care of laundry, cooking, and tidying despite having a very rambunctious 2yo underfoot. I love my job, but rocket science it is not.


+ 1. I'm a part time evening nanny for 3 kids. My job varies every night and I'm always juggling several things. Sometimes its getting the two older kids to their activities, sometimes it's tons of homework and projects, and other times its just playing with everyone. The youngest is 16 months so big difference in age and interests. I'll have them play independently while I make dinnner, sweep, load the dishwasher, etc... Your nanny should definitely be able to multitask.

After the kids are in bed, I finish cleaning and make sure the parents come home to a very clean house. This was never asked of me but it just seems part of the job. If she is an older nanny, she should know this.

I get paid $20 per hour and I've been with them for almost 6 years. I don't have guaranteed hours but I think that's a great benefit to offer!

Good luck
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 21:00     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:Either a person has work ethic or they don't. A person with ethics will have them at $12 or $22. A person who is lazy will be lazy at any price point.


Its not about using money to try to motivate a lazy nanny. If you pay more, you can attract the hard working nanny who has her pick of jobs. You just have to choose wisely. If you don't offer a competitive rate, the great nannies won't give your job a second look. Why would they?
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 18:37     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:Either a person has work ethic or they don't. A person with ethics will have them at $12 or $22. A person who is lazy will be lazy at any price point.

"You get what you pay for" is a grand myth.
Just be more clever than she is.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 18:34     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Either a person has work ethic or they don't. A person with ethics will have them at $12 or $22. A person who is lazy will be lazy at any price point.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 16:33     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:Op, you shouldn't have to pay more for pt, I work part time for a couple families and my rate is my rate. You also shouldn't raise her rate because she doesn't deserve it. She doesn't do what you need done and isn't willing to guarantee her availability. She doesn't sound great.

About the laundry thing... It sounds like there are days when she only has an hour and a half after the kids are done with homework or music. That's not enough time to process a load of laundry start to finish, let alone fold and put away. It takes my machine close to am hour to wash, another hour or so to dry, folding can really take half an hour especially if you're having to stick your hands up tiny sleeves and turn thing right side out etc. You'd be better off tag teaming that. Leave a note saying there's a load in the washer and dryer, please fold and put dryer clothes away, transfer washer clothes to dryer and start new load. If time fold dryer clothes and transfer washer clothes again. Sounds like you need to be specific with her.


No one is suggesting to raise this nanny's rate. She's not getting the job OP wants done. What we've said is that if this nanny is the best they could get, their offer was out of line with their expectations. OP needs to consider an offer that will attract a quality employee, who won't take 3 weeks off in only a couple of months, can mange multiple tasks at once, AND works well with her children. It shouldn't be hard to find if the offer is right.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 16:29     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Op, you shouldn't have to pay more for pt, I work part time for a couple families and my rate is my rate. You also shouldn't raise her rate because she doesn't deserve it. She doesn't do what you need done and isn't willing to guarantee her availability. She doesn't sound great.

About the laundry thing... It sounds like there are days when she only has an hour and a half after the kids are done with homework or music. That's not enough time to process a load of laundry start to finish, let alone fold and put away. It takes my machine close to am hour to wash, another hour or so to dry, folding can really take half an hour especially if you're having to stick your hands up tiny sleeves and turn thing right side out etc. You'd be better off tag teaming that. Leave a note saying there's a load in the washer and dryer, please fold and put dryer clothes away, transfer washer clothes to dryer and start new load. If time fold dryer clothes and transfer washer clothes again. Sounds like you need to be specific with her.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 16:04     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
OP here. We have a very set schedule and nanny is officially available all of those hours. We offered guaranteed pay, but she wanted to be able to take time off (like for her kid's sporting event or when older kid is home from college) withou having to "ask"--she has taken about 3 weeks worth of time off since starting for us in early December. We were willing to hire backup care so that she could take unpaid time when she wants OR offer guaranteed hours, but not both.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 15:42     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone. DH and I will have to look at our finances and see how much more we could reasonably pay. What do you think would be a reasonable amount for this position? As I said, we were fine offering guaranteed pay, but the nanny was not willing to reserve her time for us. Is guaranteed pay enough of the benefit for part-time or do I need to be offering sick days and vacation days as well? Once we figure out how much it would cost us to hire someone who would be more ideal, I can decide better whether the status quo is worth it or not.


You don't necessarily have to offer guaranteed hours, or PTO, its just that your rate does not reflect the lack of benefits like most PT jobs do. PT jobs don't usually come with any PTO or other benefits, but they do usually come with a higher rate. $15/hour is simply an okay rate for two children, for a full time position with benefits. For a part time position with no benefits, it is pretty low. I think you would get better candidates, even at the same rate, if you offered guaranteed hours, and paid holidays that fall on work days. I'm not understanding why your nanny refused guaranteed hours. Do you not have a set schedule and just wanted her available for a certain number of hours each week? I can see how that would be unnattractive. Basically being on call all the time and not being able to plan, but only getting paid for a fraction of those hours.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 15:13     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Thanks everyone. DH and I will have to look at our finances and see how much more we could reasonably pay. What do you think would be a reasonable amount for this position? As I said, we were fine offering guaranteed pay, but the nanny was not willing to reserve her time for us. Is guaranteed pay enough of the benefit for part-time or do I need to be offering sick days and vacation days as well? Once we figure out how much it would cost us to hire someone who would be more ideal, I can decide better whether the status quo is worth it or not.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 14:12     Subject: Re:Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Honestly, P/T positions generally pay more.

For $15/hour I think you've got a great nanny.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 14:00     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Current nanny is in her mid-40s with 2 teenage kids and AM job at a preschool.

What's her pay per hr?


OP is avoiding that question for a reason obviously. She knows damn well she's not paying enough for everything she is asking for.

Cue OP coming back to claim they pay her $20/hr with full benefits.....


OP here. I stated in my original post that we pay $15 an hour. We are in Northern Virginia. My understanding was that that was a reasonable rate for a nanny. If that is extraordinarily low, then that would be good information to have. Again, it is hard for me to know what to expect as my previous nanny was a live in and the rating system was very different since room and board was included in her overall pay. We also offered her benefits (just paid vacation and sick days) because she was full-time. Current nanny does not receive benefits, because she would rather have the ability to withhold her availability in order to do things with her own family then have guaranteed pay. That was a conversation we had before hiring her and I am okay with it. Although she sometimes seems disappointed when we hire a sitter for things like spring break, because Manny told us "I am not sure if I will be available." I am not sure if she was just hoping that I would wait for her to figure out her availability, but I like to have a plan in place ahead of time.


$15/hour isn't exceptionally low for 2 children, but add all of it together (no PTO, no guaranteed hours, part time schedule) and you have a not so great package, hence you got a not so great sitter. If you were offering a complete package at $15/hour, that'd be fine, but you aren't so your rate should be higher to reflect the lack of everything else. Raise your rate, or considering making the full offer more attractive, and try again. Your catch will only be as good as your bait.
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2014 13:24     Subject: Manny who cannot do anything but watch children
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Current nanny is in her mid-40s with 2 teenage kids and AM job at a preschool.

What's her pay per hr?


OP is avoiding that question for a reason obviously. She knows damn well she's not paying enough for everything she is asking for.

Cue OP coming back to claim they pay her $20/hr with full benefits.....


OP here. I stated in my original post that we pay $15 an hour. We are in Northern Virginia. My understanding was that that was a reasonable rate for a nanny. If that is extraordinarily low, then that would be good information to have. Again, it is hard for me to know what to expect as my previous nanny was a live in and the rating system was very different since room and board was included in her overall pay. We also offered her benefits (just paid vacation and sick days) because she was full-time. Current nanny does not receive benefits, because she would rather have the ability to withhold her availability in order to do things with her own family then have guaranteed pay. That was a conversation we had before hiring her and I am okay with it. Although she sometimes seems disappointed when we hire a sitter for things like spring break, because Manny told us "I am not sure if I will be available." I am not sure if she was just hoping that I would wait for her to figure out her availability, but I like to have a plan in place ahead of time.