Anonymous wrote:
If ALL the references don't want to say then I would suspect whether they are legtimate references vs. people pretending to be her old bosses. Quiz them a lot more on details she's told you to make sure they match up. There's just no reason why most MBs would be reluctant to share that info to a new reference.


+1

+2

Anonymous wrote:If ALL the references don't want to say then I would suspect whether they are legtimate references vs. people pretending to be her old bosses. Quiz them a lot more on details she's told you to make sure they match up. There's just no reason why most MBs would be reluctant to share that info to a new reference.

+1

If ALL the references don't want to say then I would suspect whether they are legtimate references vs. people pretending to be her old bosses. Quiz them a lot more on details she's told you to make sure they match up. There's just no reason why most MBs would be reluctant to share that info to a new reference.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I understand why nannies don't want their salary known but why don't employers discuss it?

Do you mean employers you call for a reference? Truly I didn't encounter that when I called references and in fact thought many ppl were surprisingly eager to share information about their compensation packages. Has it been happening a lot or just once or twice? If it is just a few people, I would guess under the table payment or they are embarrassed about what they paid because they know it is under market. I would ask the nanny directly and then confirm it with the former employer.

OP here: I understand why nannies don't want their salary known but why don't employers discuss it?

If your salary history shows that your pay has increased over time, it just means that you have done good work and grew in your field of work. If you took a job that dipped in pay, just be prepared to explain (it was my friend's kid or 1 older child, location was next door to my house, etc). Salary histories usually don't hurt you even if it shows that you made less before.

This question is asked by all types of employers in most fields for a number of reasons. It helps employers and employees confirm they are aligned in terms of salary expectation and helps employers to know when they have found an employee who will stick around rather than one who will just be there until she finds a higher paying job. It is also a verifiable piece of information when calling for a reference that is not subjective - and we were surprised to find it was something a couple of nannies lied about (lying during the interview was an immediate disqualifier in our eyes). If a nanny didn't disclose that information, I would feel like she was trying to hide something.

I understand why nannies think this puts them in a worse bargaining position but for a good nanny, I would be surprised if it has any real negative impact and could even have a positive one. An employer who discovers the nanny she really wants to hire made a lot more at a previous job may well look for ways to increase the nanny's salary or otherwise pad the benefits package to entice the nanny to take the job. By contrast, learning your nanny made a lot less at another job doesn't mean she doesn't have a higher earning potential for the job you are offering now (plus jobs have different requirements, benefits, days off, flexibility etc.) and most employers know to take that into account or they risk losing a nanny they really like to another higher paying job.

The nannies on this board are constantly convinced employers are trying to take advantage of them but the reality is, you don't have to take any job you think does not pay enough or meet your value. At the end of the day, your previous salary doesn't dictate what you can get paid at your next job - your ability to demonstrate your value to your prospective employer and the market does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree. Very common for jobs outside of the nanny world to ask for your salary history. Most job applications have a place to list your previous salary.

Most employers don't try to nickel and dime you the way the MBs around here do.

I have worked outside of the nanny world and always left those questions blank, and it has never been a problem.

Yeah, to leave those fields blank is never a problem until you become the top candidate for the job. Then you get asked for the info.

+1