OP with an update. I won't be leaving my current NF after all. The care.com ad had said the pay started at $15-16/hr DOE, and promised a raise when baby #2 arrives in January. It said the hours were 8-5 M-F and it said the family lived in a specific neighborhood (MY neighborhood!). It said they were offering guaranteed hours plus benefits.

Turns out they live more than a mile outside the outer boundary of my neighborhood. The location was a MAJOR factor for me because I wanted to be able to bike to work 1-2 days per week and the extra distance (and steep inclines, whereas my entire neighborhood is quite flat) might mean that isn't really possible. Ultimately, driving to their house in rush hour vs driving to my current NFs home in rush hour is probably only about 5-10 mins shorter, which really isn't all that much of an improvement (they live north of me, current NF lives south, so right now I'm going against traffic both ways, if I took this new job I'd be going with traffic).

Turns out MB will be home most days by 4:30pm, and is only guaranteeing 40 hours per week because she "might decide on a whim to come home a few hours early on a Friday" (and clearly doesn't want to have to pay me for it). So, they are requiring me to be available M-F 8-5, but probably will actually only use me for 40 (they went out of their way to tell me they don't want to have to bother "figuring out" overtime rates).

Turns out they aren't offering any real benefits. MB and DB gave each other "a look" when I asked how much paid vacation time was offered, and then started rattling off holidays "Christmas, thanksgiving..." when they don't need me but I'll be paid anyway. My first reaction was "oh, all federal holidays off paid?" And they said "no, only four holidays per year off with pay." I then referred them back to guaranteed hours, and they told me they would "have to discuss" whether they would offer paid vacation, and said "they really hadn't planned to." (Towards the end of the interview they told me they'd met with three other nannies already and said they are meeting with one more nanny in a few days, "but were extremely impressed with your resume and meeting you...and will discuss adding one week paid vacation to the compensation package and let you know ASAP.")

Turns out, the pay is starting at $15/hr, then increasing to $16/hr for baby 2 (first born will still need full time care, no preschool until September 2016, and then it will only be part time), which is really not what was advertised. Since the ad said DOE and I have 14 years full time nanny experience plus an extensive list of degrees and certifications, I had expected to get the $16/hr to start and then another raise for the baby, not $16/hr max. I looked at the numbers and I make $14/hr now, but I also get five hours of overtime per week, so even once I'm making $16/hr, at only 40 hours per week my take home pay would still be less than I get now!

Lastly, this little gem: At the very end of the interview, MB casually mentioned that her brother and his fiancé live in the basement with their large dog, and that she herself plans to work from home two to three days per week...

I do think this is for the best; I may as well stay with my current family until something that will really make me happy (and compensate me fairly) comes along, and in the meantime I am putting in 110% with their family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you should feel bad especially if you intended this from the beginning. Being a nanny isn't just a "job" - we really depend on you, being you into our lives and entrust you with our children. It's not right to accept a job with kids, her them used to you, then uproot them 6 months later. Sorry, not right.

If you have never been in the position of needing to take the next job that comes along, you are a very privileged soul, indeed.

I stand by the fact that I think it's wrong to accept a job with small children, knowing that you will likely leave them right when they're becoming attached to you. Find a job to make ends meet, temporary babysitting jobs etc until you've found a job you'd luke to give a true shot. When it involves children, what OP has done is not nice or fair. She said she knew she was going to do this when she accepted. It doesn't make OP the worst person in the world but she shouldn't have done this.

Sorry but it is very hard to make ends meet with babysitting jobs.

Just ignore the troll.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you should feel bad especially if you intended this from the beginning. Being a nanny isn't just a "job" - we really depend on you, being you into our lives and entrust you with our children. It's not right to accept a job with kids, her them used to you, then uproot them 6 months later. Sorry, not right.

If you have never been in the position of needing to take the next job that comes along, you are a very privileged soul, indeed.

I stand by the fact that I think it's wrong to accept a job with small children, knowing that you will likely leave them right when they're becoming attached to you. Find a job to make ends meet, temporary babysitting jobs etc until you've found a job you'd luke to give a true shot. When it involves children, what OP has done is not nice or fair. She said she knew she was going to do this when she accepted. It doesn't make OP the worst person in the world but she shouldn't have done this.

Sorry but it is very hard to make ends meet with babysitting jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP is upset she's losing a week of paid vacation time when she's leaving a family after just 6 short months - something she intended from the beginning. Really? OP, move on, be gracious to this family you are leaving in a bind, and think more carefully about your choices next time around. I'm a laid back person and not normally harsh with people, but I feel strongly about treating others the way I'd want to be treated in life. That's all.

Why not share your 'how to treat others' feeling with your fellow nanny employer friends? Most nanny employers would give you the you-know-what finger. You know that, don't you? Or are you new here?

I'm not a nanny I'm a mom and we've had our nanny for almost 4 years. I Would always treat a nanny or housekeeper with the utmost respect and regard. For instance, I wouldn't hire a nanny for 6 months as a "filler" while looking for one I liked better or one with a cheaper rate. My friends and I love our nannies and treat them as family - how horrible that your experience has been otherwise.

Wish most employer parents were like you.

Given you are so upset about your current pay, how motivated are you to do a good job with your family right now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP is upset she's losing a week of paid vacation time when she's leaving a family after just 6 short months - something she intended from the beginning. Really? OP, move on, be gracious to this family you are leaving in a bind, and think more carefully about your choices next time around. I'm a laid back person and not normally harsh with people, but I feel strongly about treating others the way I'd want to be treated in life. That's all.

Why not share your 'how to treat others' feeling with your fellow nanny employer friends? Most nanny employers would give you the you-know-what finger. You know that, don't you? Or are you new here?

I'm not a nanny I'm a mom and we've had our nanny for almost 4 years. I Would always treat a nanny or housekeeper with the utmost respect and regard. For instance, I wouldn't hire a nanny for 6 months as a "filler" while looking for one I liked better or one with a cheaper rate. My friends and I love our nannies and treat them as family - how horrible that your experience has been otherwise.