Anonymous
Post 09/23/2022 03:50     Subject: Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:Hi all, we have three children aged 14, 10 and 8. They all go to the same school but finish at different times each day. We have a great full time housekeeper who prepares dinner each day. Otherwise we need coverage in the afternoons, ideally to be at our home at 2.30pm, take our car to school, pick up at least one child and bring to activities, then meet me at home and help with the whole serving dinner, homework help, bed and bath routine. We can commit to have this person stay until 8.30, and work Monday to Thursday, Friday is optional.
We’ve posted online and so far no viable candidates. Most Nannies have experience with younger kids, and the college students aren’t available every day.
Any thoughts on how we can find a good fit, what could I change in the job description
Thanks so much


I wouldn't mind doing it since i am single and have 20yrs of experience. Provided the rate is higher..$25 is way too low for part time hours. if still looking..reach out.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 21:17     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have been told to offer $35+ per hour for this - essentially to get someone you have to pay them like they would make for 40 hours. I was told nannies (decent ones) are starting around $30/hour and have no additional duties (laundry etc). It's a tough market right now. We ended up getting an au pair when our nanny quit - it's worked out for us - I essentially need a driver - which au pairs are young and fun and we sourced from countries known for excellent drivers.


Thanks we have a full time housekeeper so this is purely a childcare and driving role. It’s also supporting one parent, driving back and forth to school or activities twice each day, and the older kids are pretty self sufficient when they get home


SHouldn't a parent be home at some point in the evening?
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 15:14     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To Op, I really think it's the late schedule. Almost nobody likes to work so late and definitely are the hours that you offer. It's just 24 or possible 30 hours. At this time everyone will look for full-time hours. And sometimes it's just hard for them, to fill their mornings with another job; even they have an afternoon job. You should think a little more about the rate; people in DC are making $25 per 1 child. Where are you located OP?


I agree with this poster about the late schedule and also needing to increase the rate. I was working a very similar schedule, but got burned out getting getting home at 8:30 every night. Are you able to shift the hours to start/end earlier so you can still offer enough hours? Would additional tasks that your housekeeper doesn't perform be an option? We made that change and I stayed with them for several more years.

I worked 12-7 with one later night for date night and also had a lot of Fridays off. I was being paid $36 an hour + insurance, vacation, sick days, etc
I was guaranteed 31 hours and had an option to work Fridays for additional hours. I worked well for all of us.

They didn't employ a full time housekeeper, but did have cleaners 1-2x a week. I didn't clean or do laundry, but did straighten up and oversee kids putting away laundry, unloading dishwasher, taking out trash, etc.

I will say that my role was constantly evolving and there were always new things to do to keep me busy. There was definitely enough to do to fill those 3 hours before I picked the kids up. I helped with pet care, all kinds of errands, paying bills, research projects, camp registration, doctor's appointments- basically anything that I could take of off their plates. I also made dinner for the kids.

Could something like that work for your family or do you definitely need someone late in the evening ?

Good luck!


Yes we're happy to guarantee a minimum # of hours, start earlier etc if needed. Also while we pay hourly, happy to pay for Fridays even if they don't work because that's usually a chill family afternoon for us.
This role is different each week day, a lot of driving two of the days, less the other two. I would need to think about other responsibilities without piling on
I've been trying to keep it as simple as possible
What is your profile, age etc, if you don't mind sharing
We're interviewing a couple of folks this week, one who is 27yo and has worked the same schedule for another family for the last few years
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 13:08     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:To Op, I really think it's the late schedule. Almost nobody likes to work so late and definitely are the hours that you offer. It's just 24 or possible 30 hours. At this time everyone will look for full-time hours. And sometimes it's just hard for them, to fill their mornings with another job; even they have an afternoon job. You should think a little more about the rate; people in DC are making $25 per 1 child. Where are you located OP?


I agree with this poster about the late schedule and also needing to increase the rate. I was working a very similar schedule, but got burned out getting getting home at 8:30 every night. Are you able to shift the hours to start/end earlier so you can still offer enough hours? Would additional tasks that your housekeeper doesn't perform be an option? We made that change and I stayed with them for several more years.

I worked 12-7 with one later night for date night and also had a lot of Fridays off. I was being paid $36 an hour + insurance, vacation, sick days, etc
I was guaranteed 31 hours and had an option to work Fridays for additional hours. I worked well for all of us.

They didn't employ a full time housekeeper, but did have cleaners 1-2x a week. I didn't clean or do laundry, but did straighten up and oversee kids putting away laundry, unloading dishwasher, taking out trash, etc.

I will say that my role was constantly evolving and there were always new things to do to keep me busy. There was definitely enough to do to fill those 3 hours before I picked the kids up. I helped with pet care, all kinds of errands, paying bills, research projects, camp registration, doctor's appointments- basically anything that I could take of off their plates. I also made dinner for the kids.

Could something like that work for your family or do you definitely need someone late in the evening ?

Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 10:33     Subject: Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher and will retire in 4 years (age will be 60). I love those hours. Hope these types of jobs are still around when I retire! I want my daytime for working out (training for marathon) , general errands, doc appmnts, etc. My sister is in California and already retired and working this type of gig. She makes $35 per hour cash (2 kids, 2-8pm) but that is Cal rates.

Look for night owl-types.


OP - thanks for sharing your perspective. We had a funny interview last week, a woman who's also a retired teacher, she told us she's a morning person and likes a lot of personal time, so our schedule would suit her as she could use her am energy for her own stuff and kind of mail it in while working for us....as she described it I explained to her that we needed someone with a good energy level who could keep everything moving and she withdrew her application! I agree though, a night owl would be great.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 10:30     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have been told to offer $35+ per hour for this - essentially to get someone you have to pay them like they would make for 40 hours. I was told nannies (decent ones) are starting around $30/hour and have no additional duties (laundry etc). It's a tough market right now. We ended up getting an au pair when our nanny quit - it's worked out for us - I essentially need a driver - which au pairs are young and fun and we sourced from countries known for excellent drivers.


Thanks we have a full time housekeeper so this is purely a childcare and driving role. It’s also supporting one parent, driving back and forth to school or activities twice each day, and the older kids are pretty self sufficient when they get home


If the housekeeper is physically present, can't she just drive the first kid and be there? Assume she drives? It sound like your needs are changing and she might need to change her duties or you need a housekeeper/nanny. Maybe up her rate by $2/hour.


She works 6am to 2pm so she’s not working afternoons

OP - she has been very flexible and helping for the last few weeks but she likes to start early and get home early to her own family.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 09:59     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have been told to offer $35+ per hour for this - essentially to get someone you have to pay them like they would make for 40 hours. I was told nannies (decent ones) are starting around $30/hour and have no additional duties (laundry etc). It's a tough market right now. We ended up getting an au pair when our nanny quit - it's worked out for us - I essentially need a driver - which au pairs are young and fun and we sourced from countries known for excellent drivers.


Thanks we have a full time housekeeper so this is purely a childcare and driving role. It’s also supporting one parent, driving back and forth to school or activities twice each day, and the older kids are pretty self sufficient when they get home


If the housekeeper is physically present, can't she just drive the first kid and be there? Assume she drives? It sound like your needs are changing and she might need to change her duties or you need a housekeeper/nanny. Maybe up her rate by $2/hour.


She works 6am to 2pm so she’s not working afternoons
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 08:27     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have been told to offer $35+ per hour for this - essentially to get someone you have to pay them like they would make for 40 hours. I was told nannies (decent ones) are starting around $30/hour and have no additional duties (laundry etc). It's a tough market right now. We ended up getting an au pair when our nanny quit - it's worked out for us - I essentially need a driver - which au pairs are young and fun and we sourced from countries known for excellent drivers.


Thanks we have a full time housekeeper so this is purely a childcare and driving role. It’s also supporting one parent, driving back and forth to school or activities twice each day, and the older kids are pretty self sufficient when they get home


If the housekeeper is physically present, can't she just drive the first kid and be there? Assume she drives? It sound like your needs are changing and she might need to change her duties or you need a housekeeper/nanny. Maybe up her rate by $2/hour.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2022 05:55     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:I have been told to offer $35+ per hour for this - essentially to get someone you have to pay them like they would make for 40 hours. I was told nannies (decent ones) are starting around $30/hour and have no additional duties (laundry etc). It's a tough market right now. We ended up getting an au pair when our nanny quit - it's worked out for us - I essentially need a driver - which au pairs are young and fun and we sourced from countries known for excellent drivers.


Thanks we have a full time housekeeper so this is purely a childcare and driving role. It’s also supporting one parent, driving back and forth to school or activities twice each day, and the older kids are pretty self sufficient when they get home
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2022 18:50     Subject: Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:Hi all, we have three children aged 14, 10 and 8. They all go to the same school but finish at different times each day. We have a great full time housekeeper who prepares dinner each day. Otherwise we need coverage in the afternoons, ideally to be at our home at 2.30pm, take our car to school, pick up at least one child and bring to activities, then meet me at home and help with the whole serving dinner, homework help, bed and bath routine. We can commit to have this person stay until 8.30, and work Monday to Thursday, Friday is optional.
We’ve posted online and so far no viable candidates. Most Nannies have experience with younger kids, and the college students aren’t available every day.
Any thoughts on how we can find a good fit, what could I change in the job description
Thanks so much


This is a terrible schedule. You will need to pay for full time and a minimum of $30/hr. You are cutting into dinner time.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2022 20:26     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
I have been told to offer $35+ per hour for this - essentially to get someone you have to pay them like they would make for 40 hours. I was told nannies (decent ones) are starting around $30/hour and have no additional duties (laundry etc). It's a tough market right now. We ended up getting an au pair when our nanny quit - it's worked out for us - I essentially need a driver - which au pairs are young and fun and we sourced from countries known for excellent drivers.
Anonymous
Post 09/18/2022 19:44     Subject: Afternoon schedule, what works?
I am a teacher and will retire in 4 years (age will be 60). I love those hours. Hope these types of jobs are still around when I retire! I want my daytime for working out (training for marathon) , general errands, doc appmnts, etc. My sister is in California and already retired and working this type of gig. She makes $35 per hour cash (2 kids, 2-8pm) but that is Cal rates.

Look for night owl-types.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2022 16:14     Subject: Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:Other than the driving issue, the 14yo seems like old enough to babysit the 8yo? you could pay your 14yo?


The challenge is getting the 14yo home, different schedules and after school activities
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2022 10:13     Subject: Afternoon schedule, what works?
Other than the driving issue, the 14yo seems like old enough to babysit the 8yo? you could pay your 14yo?
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2022 16:30     Subject: Re:Afternoon schedule, what works?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To Op, I really think it's the late schedule. Almost nobody likes to work so late and definitely are the hours that you offer. It's just 24 or possible 30 hours. At this time everyone will look for full-time hours. And sometimes it's just hard for them, to fill their mornings with another job; even they have an afternoon job. You should think a little more about the rate; people in DC are making $25 per 1 child. Where are you located OP?


OP yes we’re offering $25+ depending on experience. We’ve had lots of applications and nobody has cited the rate as an issue, but they also can’t work the schedule consistently. Also the primary role is getting our youngest home safely as DH and I pick up the other two on our way home most days. Dinner is already made and just needs to be warmed up


Another poster suggested getting an Au Pair. Have you considered that?


We're not interested in an AP, three kids is enough!