I think it's just a different time. Most 20 something nannies I know want to live with roommates or their SO, be able to go out drinking/smoke weed etc, and not have their bosses breathing down their backs. Each decade women are less of the housewife type, including nannies. If this makes any sense? -coming from a live out nanny with her own family

As a live-in, I have seen several different iterations. I've worked and/or interviewed for 20 hours per week split shift (which they couldn't fill consistently with a live-out nanny), 40 hours (16 hour availability 4 days per week), 45 hours (wonky schedule), major hours (one was 65-70, the other was 80), flex schedules (20 one week and 90 the second; 10 one week and 40 the next) and 24/7. In my experience, most live-in positions are because the family wants/needs a schedule they can't find in a live-out nanny, they want a different relationship for their kids and/or they have other issues that live-out nannies won't tolerate.

I will say that I am constantly told that it's a struggle to find live-in nannies to interview. Either they are in a different area and don't want to relocate or they lack experience. There have been several times when I was told (by former nannies or APs during a reference call) that I was the only nanny interviewing with the family.

Just saying, I think my live in benefits from the live in situation as much or more than me. As my kids are getting older, when they are home, she doesn't need to be on duty for them. So, she might be technically in charge and getting paid, but she might also be in her room in the basement, or doing her own laundry, or whatever. If she was a live out and waiting for me to get home to leave, she wouldn't have been able to leave until 6, not had 2 hours of downtown/half working that she did yesterday afternoon.

it's perfect for the parent, not for the nanny.

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

no it isn't, it's perfect for split time before and after school.

as someone who hasn't taken a sick day in 3 years, i think that it's ridiculous to say that your nanny doesn't deserve an occasional day to blow off unless she's dying. every adult i know calls in sick for job interviews, to attend to personal things like doctors appointments or errands that need to get done during working hours, or for a mental health day. you can't always plan these things in advance-life happens and you just don't want to play legos on the floor all day and scrub spaghetti sauce off the wall when you have something going on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

No, that's not what we're saying. We're saying that unless you're obviously violently ill to the point that you can't come out of your room, it can make for an awkward situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

You're quoting me. I think it's just harder to call in for merely being under the weather when you're live-in. If you're violently ill, obviously you have to take off, but if you're just suffering from a bad cold, and you're already physically at work, I think you're more likely to power through.

As you should just power through. A good employee works whenever possible during their scheduled time.

No, a good employee maximizes their availability. If I have had 4 bad colds in the last month and don't get a day to rest and recuperate somewhere in there, I am compromising my immunity and increasing the odds that I will get something more serious down the road and have to miss several days in a row.

A good employee also maintains high standards. If my best judgement says that I shouldn't be at work, the fact that it's "just a cold" shouldn't weigh in. As a live-in you feel like you have to be demonstrably sick (fever, throwing up, etc.) but if I am lightheaded and out of it, I am not safe to work.

I work primarily with toddlers and usually twins so perhaps if your nanny is just supervising school-aged kids doing homework and legos it might be different.

I'm a live in nanny I don't miss work unless I'm violently throwing up. My employers are thankful.

Okay. Here's your gold star. Are you caring for young toddlers like the PP or are you managing kids who can be somewhat independent? If the former, please tell us how you manage to ensure the safety of kids who need constant supervisiom while ill?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

You're quoting me. I think it's just harder to call in for merely being under the weather when you're live-in. If you're violently ill, obviously you have to take off, but if you're just suffering from a bad cold, and you're already physically at work, I think you're more likely to power through.

As you should just power through. A good employee works whenever possible during their scheduled time.

No, a good employee maximizes their availability. If I have had 4 bad colds in the last month and don't get a day to rest and recuperate somewhere in there, I am compromising my immunity and increasing the odds that I will get something more serious down the road and have to miss several days in a row.

A good employee also maintains high standards. If my best judgement says that I shouldn't be at work, the fact that it's "just a cold" shouldn't weigh in. As a live-in you feel like you have to be demonstrably sick (fever, throwing up, etc.) but if I am lightheaded and out of it, I am not safe to work.

I work primarily with toddlers and usually twins so perhaps if your nanny is just supervising school-aged kids doing homework and legos it might be different.

I'm a live in nanny I don't miss work unless I'm violently throwing up. My employers are thankful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

You're quoting me. I think it's just harder to call in for merely being under the weather when you're live-in. If you're violently ill, obviously you have to take off, but if you're just suffering from a bad cold, and you're already physically at work, I think you're more likely to power through.

As you should just power through. A good employee works whenever possible during their scheduled time.

No, a good employee maximizes their availability. If I have had 4 bad colds in the last month and don't get a day to rest and recuperate somewhere in there, I am compromising my immunity and increasing the odds that I will get something more serious down the road and have to miss several days in a row.

A good employee also maintains high standards. If my best judgement says that I shouldn't be at work, the fact that it's "just a cold" shouldn't weigh in. As a live-in you feel like you have to be demonstrably sick (fever, throwing up, etc.) but if I am lightheaded and out of it, I am not safe to work.

I work primarily with toddlers and usually twins so perhaps if your nanny is just supervising school-aged kids doing homework and legos it might be different.

Well said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

You're quoting me. I think it's just harder to call in for merely being under the weather when you're live-in. If you're violently ill, obviously you have to take off, but if you're just suffering from a bad cold, and you're already physically at work, I think you're more likely to power through.

As you should just power through. A good employee works whenever possible during their scheduled time.

No, a good employee maximizes their availability. If I have had 4 bad colds in the last month and don't get a day to rest and recuperate somewhere in there, I am compromising my immunity and increasing the odds that I will get something more serious down the road and have to miss several days in a row.

A good employee also maintains high standards. If my best judgement says that I shouldn't be at work, the fact that it's "just a cold" shouldn't weigh in. As a live-in you feel like you have to be demonstrably sick (fever, throwing up, etc.) but if I am lightheaded and out of it, I am not safe to work.

I work primarily with toddlers and usually twins so perhaps if your nanny is just supervising school-aged kids doing homework and legos it might be different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

You're quoting me. I think it's just harder to call in for merely being under the weather when you're live-in. If you're violently ill, obviously you have to take off, but if you're just suffering from a bad cold, and you're already physically at work, I think you're more likely to power through.

As you should just power through. A good employee works whenever possible during their scheduled time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

You're quoting me. I think it's just harder to call in for merely being under the weather when you're live-in. If you're violently ill, obviously you have to take off, but if you're just suffering from a bad cold, and you're already physically at work, I think you're more likely to power through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies learned from experience that living in is tantamount to being on duty 24/7 for less pay.

This.
I would never, ever live in. Not only for that reason, but also because it's impossible to take a sick day when you live in. And, living in also requires you to give up the opportunity to live with a significant other, or any other sort of your own family. Way too huge a sacrifice for me.

Not OP but I will confess: fewer sick days being taken is one of the reasons I prefer live-in.

Ok so are the live-out nannies saying they take sick days when they are not really sick?

Anonymous wrote:if the person was otherwise reliable and qualified, what possible reason could you have for requiring they live in your house? genuine question.

We have an English basement we would otherwise rent out, so I'd rather pay less cash for a nanny and not have to deal with a different tenant. We make slightly less money that way, but dealing with one person with whom we have a real relationship (our nanny) rather than two different people (especially where we have no real relationship with the tenant) makes it totally worth it.