We're not talking about an individual negotiating with a company, this is a one on one negotiation and you have no more power than the nanny. The nannies need only to realize it. Employing a single individual is a unique employment situation, and nannies should look at it as more a business partnership than typical employment. We are technically classified as employees, but have the freedom to operate as independent contractors in many ways. I set my rates and policies, draft my own contracts, and market myself.

Not true. There are many more nannies than there are jobs. It doesn't take a lot of skill to be a nanny. It doesn't take education or certifications. You have the freedom to operate any way you like, but you don't have the power your employer has. All the more reason you should look after your own interests.

Anonymous wrote:I"m the nanny with the 13 years experience. First I would like to say I never whine. I don't point fingers. It is not my nature. If you read my post right I just said I'm sad and i learned my lesson. I'm from Europe. I worked as a nanny for families in European countries too. In every single contract I tried to negotiate things that I didn't like in my previous jobs. Things that came up. I'm still in contact with most of the families I ever worked. They invite me to their kids performances in school. To the big events in their life. They are sending me pictures how the kids are growing up. I'm even in contact with families who let me go because they had hard time financially. I understood they couldn't pay me anymore. BUT they never ever short cut me while I was working for them. Until now it worked for me " If I play fair game they will play fair game". I was wrong. My next contract will include a new line..... And I wouldn't say that us nannies are ignorant.... I would say life is a constant learning and if we are smart enough we learn from our mistakes

So many of the comments are very harsh . I know life is tough. Trust me I know more than most of you here. But when somebody post a comment and before you answer them never forget maybe one day you will walk in their shoes.... We make mistakes. We do stupid things in our life. We regret things later. BUT as my grandpa taught me " Be kind and don't judge people because you are not perfect either" .

I apologize, I didn't mean "out of ignorance" as an insult. I meant only that when something has never been an issue before, one is ignorant of the need to highlight or address it.

Anonymous wrote:

You're right PP. Nothing is a given, and everything can be negotiated. A lot of parents on this board would do well to remember that too. You want nanny to take on certain nap time duties? Don't assume anything is standard, and be prepared to negotiate for it up front not try to guilt her into them later. You want flexibility in start and end times? Say so up front, don't just show up whenever. Just as you would like the opportunity to consider each benefit as a part of the entire package and how it fits your budget, so would we like the opportunity to consider every task/requirement of the job and to be sure we feel suitably compensated to agree to each of them.

I'm not sure why you keep addressing me, PP or what problem you think you have with me. Of course, anything extraordinary should be spelled out in the contract. Employers define the job they want and nannies can take the job or move on. It's not an equal negotiation, because the power is with the employer. This is true in most industries, considering this economy.

We're not talking about an individual negotiating with a company, this is a one on one negotiation and you have no more power than the nanny. The nannies need only to realize it. Employing a single individual is a unique employment situation, and nannies should look at it as more a business partnership than typical employment. We are technically classified as employees, but have the freedom to operate as independent contractors in many ways. I set my rates and policies, draft my own contracts, and market myself.

You're right PP. Nothing is a given, and everything can be negotiated. A lot of parents on this board would do well to remember that too. You want nanny to take on certain nap time duties? Don't assume anything is standard, and be prepared to negotiate for it up front not try to guilt her into them later. You want flexibility in start and end times? Say so up front, don't just show up whenever. Just as you would like the opportunity to consider each benefit as a part of the entire package and how it fits your budget, so would we like the opportunity to consider every task/requirement of the job and to be sure we feel suitably compensated to agree to each of them.

I'm not sure why you keep addressing me, PP or what problem you think you have with me. Of course, anything extraordinary should be spelled out in the contract. Employers define the job they want and nannies can take the job or move on. It's not an equal negotiation, because the power is with the employer. This is true in most industries, considering this economy.

I"m the nanny with the 13 years experience. First I would like to say I never whine. I don't point fingers. It is not my nature. If you read my post right I just said I'm sad and i learned my lesson. I'm from Europe. I worked as a nanny for families in European countries too. In every single contract I tried to negotiate things that I didn't like in my previous jobs. Things that came up. I'm still in contact with most of the families I ever worked. They invite me to their kids performances in school. To the big events in their life. They are sending me pictures how the kids are growing up. I'm even in contact with families who let me go because they had hard time financially. I understood they couldn't pay me anymore. BUT they never ever short cut me while I was working for them. Until now it worked for me " If I play fair game they will play fair game". I was wrong. My next contract will include a new line..... And I wouldn't say that us nannies are ignorant.... I would say life is a constant learning and if we are smart enough we learn from our mistakes

So many of the comments are very harsh . I know life is tough. Trust me I know more than most of you here. But when somebody post a comment and before you answer them never forget maybe one day you will walk in their shoes.... We make mistakes. We do stupid things in our life. We regret things later. BUT as my grandpa taught me " Be kind and don't judge people because you are not perfect either" .

Anonymous wrote:I am the earlier poster re: trips to Cancun and aspen but it is a good point PP that points to why this needs to be part of the contract so it is clearly spelled out for both sides. Also agree that not negotiating for guaranteed hours up front in the hope your MB will later just agree is in very bad faith. That said it still strikes me as odd that an employer is oblivious to the budget pressure that no pay for weeks on end will wreak on a nanny.

It also shows that if you as a nanny (well, not PP specifically, but in general) cannot be a professional and think about what benefits you truly want and ask for them when doing negotiations at the beginning of employment. If you fail to ask at that time, then I think that it shouldn't be asked or brought up until doing a yearly review and at a time when a raise might normally take effect. Since not everyone can give a raise after a year, switching to paid PTO if that wasn't originally in your contract could act as one.

I always make sure to discuss guaranteed hours and such for my PT positions since it is more rare. Most MB's understand the need for me to ask for it (since I do need a reliable and steady income myself), and most have always been glad to work something out with me. For the ones that won't, and if I truly need this to be done, I then pass on the position and take something else that does.

You're right PP. Nothing is a given, and everything can be negotiated. A lot of parents on this board would do well to remember that too. You want nanny to take on certain nap time duties? Don't assume anything is standard, and be prepared to negotiate for it up front not try to guilt her into them later. You want flexibility in start and end times? Say so up front, don't just show up whenever. Just as you would like the opportunity to consider each benefit as a part of the entire package and how it fits your budget, so would we like the opportunity to consider every task/requirement of the job and to be sure we feel suitably compensated to agree to each of them.