Anonymous wrote:This post isn't about who benifits most because in a live-in situation (it's the employers of course ), or about freedom to choose to leave a job if you don't like it. It's about the overtime laws applied to live-in's. They are incredibly unfair to workers. Stating no pay for 8 hours, even though some nannies are technically working, and then no OT after 40 hrs. Why???

Anyone? Kathy and Susan?

What exactly is the INA lobby doing?

Anonymous wrote:On-call responsibilities are not always factored as an hourly compensation but this doesn't mean that you aren't compensated for it. In many cases, if a position has on-call requirements the overall base pay would be higher because not everyone wants to deal with being on-call so the pool of candidates (supply) is lower. You receive the higher base pay regardless of whether you are "called" once a week or every night. Being on-call isn't the same as not working at all but its also not the same as working during normal hours.

BTW you also shouldn't be drinking Shamrock Shakes. If being on-call keeps you from pigging out at fast food late at night, you should consider this part of your office wellness plan.

Thanks for your pile of crap.

Overtime laws lead to more regular predictable schedules not higher wages unless you are making minimum wage. Families budget on annual rather weekly expenses. If OT were to go into affect for live-ins you wouldn't all get a huge increase in salary. Your base rate would just be lowered.

On-call responsibilities are not always factored as an hourly compensation but this doesn't mean that you aren't compensated for it. In many cases, if a position has on-call requirements the overall base pay would be higher because not everyone wants to deal with being on-call so the pool of candidates (supply) is lower. You receive the higher base pay regardless of whether you are "called" once a week or every night. Being on-call isn't the same as not working at all but its also not the same as working during normal hours.

BTW you also shouldn't be drinking Shamrock Shakes. If being on-call keeps you from pigging out at fast food late at night, you should consider this part of your office wellness plan.

This post isn't about who benifits most because in a live-in situation (it's the employers of course ), or about freedom to choose to leave a job if you don't like it. It's about the overtime laws applied to live-in's. They are incredibly unfair to workers. Stating no pay for 8 hours, even though some nannies are technically working, and then no OT after 40 hrs. Why???

Anonymous wrote:The laws are even more nasty, when they say nanny employers who hire a 24hr nanny don't have to pay for 8 hours. Even though they are technically working, they are there in case kid wakes, has nightmares- the nanny can't run out in the middle of the night for a Shamrock shake craving. And when you sleeping, but know you are in charge of a child, your sleep is restless.

Exactly.

Anonymous wrote:Live-ins should be paid MORE, not less. Who wants to be at your job 24/7

Do you?

As many have said above, this is voluntary employment, if it does not fit the lifestyle or requirements that you prioritize then it is not the employment structure for you. Not every job is meant for everyone. There are countless nannyies and au pairs who have loved their years of employment with various families as a live in. There is no need to compare it with slavery. Like any other type of career, there are bad employers, and good employers, good live-in situations and bad ones.
Many employers design their live-in positions in a very beneficial manner for the nanny, so let's not overgeneralize that it only produces domestic servitude. I have never taken a live-in employment position because I know for a fact my desires for my at home lifestyle is not compatible with such a position. If you know this too, do not take a live-in position, find employment that is ideal for your personality and requirements, and if a particular family is mistreating you, address it and find a better family if necessary. You are not bound to serve there forever.

In regards to "no pay during sleeping hours" for 24/hr nannies, I do find that unfair. Of course there are children who sleep through the night, but there are also children who stay up for an hour maybe more frequently and the nanny is on call. Many other professions pay on call wages. But this is not an argument to compare various professions, apples to oranges, merely the fact that the nanny does have to care for the child, and loses sleep just at the fact that she must be alert just in case.

My sister was a live in nanny for 2 years after she graduated. She went on to become to an elementary school teacher. She loved the experience because it gave her a chance to move to an expensive, metro area far away for a few years without much risk or cost. She saved what she made since she didn't have living expenses and it gave her a change to replenish her savings after college. She got to go on vacations to beach resorts and Europe which she couldn't have afforded on her own. She speaks very highly of the experience.

I think its safe to say that their are benefits and drawbacks for BOTH employers and nannies for a live in situation. It isn't one sided and it isn't for everyone. Some employers would hate dealing with the nanny living in their house and some nannies would hate living in their employer's house. The nannies on this board need to stop being crazy and thinking that any amount of differential money overcomes situations that aren't mutually beneficial. The last person an employer should hire is someone who doesn't want to be a live in or doesn't see the value in it doing it but is applying because they can't find anything else. You would never want to pay extra for this person because they aren't going to be happy with the experience anyway.

Live-ins should be paid MORE, not less. Who wants to be at your job 24/7

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I only "live-in" M-F, but pay for my own monthly rent, and stay at my apartment on the weekends...am I considered a live-in, and thus except from overtime?

The truth is that live-ins are an enormous convienence for parents, not nannies.

I dont agree with this. I have a live in and its a pain in the butt.

And it's a walk in the park for your nanny. What's a pain in the butt about it? Having someone at your beck and call? Getting to pay crap wages for the chance to have someone at your beck and call? Getting to set rules about how someone lives their life but also getting to charge them to live with you and abide by your rules (not to mention the freedom to make the rules as silly and intrusive as you please because its your house, even though they pay to live there)? Oh wait I know what's a pain in the butt! It's having to share a space with someone who PAYS you to live there, and to feed someone who PAYS you to do so with their labor, or is it the lack of privacy from someone you hired to live with you? Waaah it must be awful not getting EVERYTHING thing exactly the way you want it. Live-ins should have to deduct room and board from their wages, but should also behave more like robots where they don't eat anything, do anything you didn't tell them to do, and you can turn them on and off as you please. She should also remember to thank you for the privilege to work/live with you daily as well.

What if the "labor" they do sucks? What if they are annoying to live with. Get over yourself

Then you fire them. But if they are legit at their job, everything you're giving up to have them there was not only a choice you made for the convenience of having a live in nanny, but she is paying for it through reduced wages and her own lack of privacy autonomy and and the annoyance of living with your family. News flash, most people, especially people you aren't related to are annoying as hell to live with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live-in nannies are being forced to pay for the privilege of never going home. How would you like to move into your office, and then have your salary cut for this "privilege"?

I wouldn't do it. Simple as that. But if I decided to, I would not complain and compare it to slavery. That’s just ridiculous. You're an adult and if you are unhappy at your job, quit. I'm just so sick of EVERYONE complaining that they are over worked and under paid. It’s not just nannies, its EVERYONE.

Not EVERYONE I'd supported by the government and its laws to pay non exempt hourly employees OT, or not at all!!!! The government is totally cool with nannies working for NO pay (8hr ON duty "sleeping" hours). How many other professions does our government do that for?

I will not be a live-in nanny anymore. If they don't want to let me live-out, you know they want to take advantage of you. Red flag!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I only "live-in" M-F, but pay for my own monthly rent, and stay at my apartment on the weekends...am I considered a live-in, and thus except from overtime?

The truth is that live-ins are an enormous convienence for parents, not nannies.

I dont agree with this. I have a live in and its a pain in the butt.

And it's a walk in the park for your nanny. What's a pain in the butt about it? Having someone at your beck and call? Getting to pay crap wages for the chance to have someone at your beck and call? Getting to set rules about how someone lives their life but also getting to charge them to live with you and abide by your rules (not to mention the freedom to make the rules as silly and intrusive as you please because its your house, even though they pay to live there)? Oh wait I know what's a pain in the butt! It's having to share a space with someone who PAYS you to live there, and to feed someone who PAYS you to do so with their labor, or is it the lack of privacy from someone you hired to live with you? Waaah it must be awful not getting EVERYTHING thing exactly the way you want it. Live-ins should have to deduct room and board from their wages, but should also behave more like robots where they don't eat anything, do anything you didn't tell them to do, and you can turn them on and off as you please. She should also remember to thank you for the privilege to work/live with you daily as well.

What if the "labor" they do sucks? What if they are annoying to live with. Get over yourself

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, why do you have a live-in then?

Because I thought it would be good for my situation. Turns out its more hassle that its worth. There are TWO sides to everything, just wanted to make that point.

No one has a live-in because they feel sorry for the nanny. Live-ins are a convienence for the family. Period.

WRONG