I always wondered how people can work without vacation time when they can recharge. I don't have a normal working schedule. I have 1 full time and 2 part time jobs. I love working but I also need time for myself. And 2 weeks is not enough. Usually I have 3-4 weeks off per year. When the family goes away I always get paid. I know money is important but not everything.....Never had a problem to find families who can understand my way of living. People forget that "tomorrow is never promised"

Anonymous wrote:You can't take care of your kids for two weeks?

Not the OP, but I only get two weeks of vacation a year--so while I *could* use it all to cover our nanny's two vacation weeks, that assumes I don't go anywhere the rest of the year (and also assumes that neither my child nor the nanny gets sick all year--I or DH has to cover those occasional days with vacation time too). We go to visit family for the holidays when my older child is out of school, and wouldn't be able to do that if I used my vacation time to cover our nanny's time off. For our family, it's better financially to cover the time with another caregiver than to take unpaid leave (which my boss would not be thrilled with even if it the loss of income weren't an issue). So, basically--one of many reasons the OP might want to find someone to cover for that time, rather than take the time him/herself.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, nannies expect at least two weeks vacation every year?

I can't remember the last time I was able to take two weeks off from work.

What line of work are you in that you don't accrue vacation hours equivalent to at least two weeks every year?