Anonymous wrote:
"If a nanny accepts a job involving driving and using her own car, and she agrees to that job requirement, then she absolutely has to have a car to meet her job requirement. If her car dies, she needs to get a new car, for her own life and to meet her job requirements."

Spot on.


Question for you: If a family hires a nanny whose car is capable of driving their 1 or 2 kids safely, and then the family has a 3rd child, are you saying the nanny needs to replace her car to accommodate the family's choice to add a child to the mix? Or do you think in that situation the family needs to choose to either provide an appropriate vehicle to transport 3 kids or choose to let nanny go and find a new nanny with a minivan?

I think it would be far easier for a nanny whose car can hold two kids to find another employer than for an employer to find a nanny who drives a minivan. Therefore, to me, if all is well with the nanny/family dynamic, the family providing a work vehicle is the best and easiest choice if they wind up having more kids than the nanny can fit in her car.

I'm the first PP quoted and my answer is no, the nanny doesn't need to replace her car to accommodate a third child necessarily. It all depends on the agreement. If the job requirement is to have the nanny use her car to drive the charges, that is the requirement. If the parents change the terms by having a third child, then they are in violation of the agreement and should work with the nanny on how to renegotiate the transport issue. The nanny only has to deal with the situation she agrees to. If the family changes terms, they need to provide a car or whatever is necessary to allow the nanny to do her job.

If they fail at that, they should lose her and she would be better off with another family.

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

I have been employed by my NF for three years and have always used my vehicle. I had a ten year old vehicle that I recently traded in. I now have a brand new car. Purchasing the car was stressful in itself because I had to ensure that it fit three car seats. I was a little put off that my employers didn't offer to help a tiny bit with the purchase but quickly got over it because of my excitement. I've now had my car for a month and am disgusted at how quickly my car has been soiled. I do not allow the kids to eat or drink in it but their little feet seems to do a lot of damage. I'm now becoming increasingly upset that my new car will become destroyed if I don't keep up with regular cleaning/detailing. My question is, would it be out of line to ask for extra money to help cover this cost? And am I wrong for feeling as if my employers should have helped a little with the purchase? If I was buy a car just for me, I would have purchased a much smaller and less expensive vehicle. Thanks for your input.

Is not fair to use your car for the family,,..

nannydebsays wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"If a nanny accepts a job involving driving and using her own car, and she agrees to that job requirement, then she absolutely has to have a car to meet her job requirement. If her car dies, she needs to get a new car, for her own life and to meet her job requirements."

Spot on.

Question for you: If a family hires a nanny whose car is capable of driving their 1 or 2 kids safely, and then the family has a 3rd child, are you saying the nanny needs to replace her car to accommodate the family's choice to add a child to the mix? Or do you think in that situation the family needs to choose to either provide an appropriate vehicle to transport 3 kids or choose to let nanny go and find a new nanny with a minivan?

I think it would be far easier for a nanny whose car can hold two kids to find another employer than for an employer to find a nanny who drives a minivan. Therefore, to me, if all is well with the nanny/family dynamic, the family providing a work vehicle is the best and easiest choice if they wind up having more kids than the nanny can fit in her car.

I agree but this is a different situation. I posted earlier, when we had 2 children, the nanny drove them in her own car. When we had a 3rd child we got a minivan for the nanny to use. It wouldn't make any sense to require the nanny to get a new car because we had a 3rd child. We basically changed the terms of her employment when we had a 3rd child. I think that is different, however, than if you have 2 children and specifically hire a nanny who can use her own car to drive them and then she decides to get a new car. In that case the employers didn't change the terms of her employment. If the nanny got a car that didn't accommodate the children anymore then SHE changed the terms of the employment.

Anonymous wrote:"If a nanny accepts a job involving driving and using her own car, and she agrees to that job requirement, then she absolutely has to have a car to meet her job requirement. If her car dies, she needs to get a new car, for her own life and to meet her job requirements."

Spot on.

Question for you: If a family hires a nanny whose car is capable of driving their 1 or 2 kids safely, and then the family has a 3rd child, are you saying the nanny needs to replace her car to accommodate the family's choice to add a child to the mix? Or do you think in that situation the family needs to choose to either provide an appropriate vehicle to transport 3 kids or choose to let nanny go and find a new nanny with a minivan?

I think it would be far easier for a nanny whose car can hold two kids to find another employer than for an employer to find a nanny who drives a minivan. Therefore, to me, if all is well with the nanny/family dynamic, the family providing a work vehicle is the best and easiest choice if they wind up having more kids than the nanny can fit in her car.

"If a nanny accepts a job involving driving and using her own car, and she agrees to that job requirement, then she absolutely has to have a car to meet her job requirement. If her car dies, she needs to get a new car, for her own life and to meet her job requirements."

Spot on.

But then the nanny shouldn't be expected to provide a car for her NF once hers takes a crap because her new car will probably last longer than her nanny job. This argument can go both ways.

I'm 9:53 and I'm not sure if you are responding to me or someone else, but, if you are responding to me, then no, the argument does not go both ways.

If a nanny accepts a job involving driving and using her own car, and she agrees to that job requirement, then she absolutely has to have a car to meet her job requirement. If her car dies, she needs to get a new car, for her own life and to meet her job requirements. The only thing her employer is obligated to is paying the IRS reimbursement rate. That rate covers fuel and wear and tear. If she can't have a car to meet her job responsibilities, she has to either renegotiate her contract or find a non driving job.

I have had jobs that require driving and there was no such thing as a company car to give me. I was reimbursed at the IRS rate. If my car died, my employer wouldn't hesitate to terminate me because, simply, I can no longer meet the requirements of the job. My company wouldn't be expected to pay anything to my new car, nor pay for detailing. You can debate all day on whether you like policies and contracts and using your own vehicle. In the end, the only thing that really matters is the contract. If you agree to drive your charges in your car and contract for that and fair compensation, then you have to provide the car and any extra upkeep you want, you need to pay for.

Before you (or anyone else) gets snarky and insulting, my nanny doesn't not drive on the job as we are super close to Metro, so there is no need to make assumptions about what kind of MB I would be in this situation.

But then the nanny shouldn't be expected to provide a car for her NF once hers takes a crap because her new car will probably last longer than her nanny job. This argument can go both ways.

Your employers should not be expected to contribute to the cost of a new vehicle for you, unless they had a vote in what car you chose.

They should, however, be paying you the IRS rate for mileage and wear/tear on your vehicle - which you should be documenting. And, IMO, they should pay to have your car detailed periodically.

- MB


This. Why is this even a question?

Agreed. Presumably, the nanny will have the car longer than she will have the job (because cars last so long, NOT because the nanny isn't good) so she should not expect the NF to contribute to the purchase of the car. Besides, that doesn't actually address the nanny's problem, which is minimizing mess. The IRS rate is sufficient to cover wear and tear on the car, including cleaning, but if I had three kids, I would offer a periodic bonus for extensive detailing.

I think it is a reasonable request to have the nanny use her own car, as long as she is reimbursed at the IRS rate, and fully understands the requirement before taking the job.

^^ "I would however be respectful of the nanny's new car."

NP here. When we had 2 children the nanny used her own car with car seats we provided. We reimbursed her the IRS rate for mileage. She never complained about the car being dirty, if she had though I would have paid for cleaning. When we had a 3rd child we got a 3rd car for the nanny to drive. We needed a car anyway since neither of our other cars was big enough for 3 car seats. We moved at the same time as we had the 3rd child so we were looking for a new nanny and we would have been significantly limited in the number of applicants if we needed someone whose personal car could accommodate 3 car seats. If, however, we had made that a requirement for the applicant I would have been a little annoyed if after some time the nanny decided to get a new car and either a) asked us to help or b) decided to get a smaller car. Depending on how much I liked the nanny otherwise I might offer to help or just buy a 3rd car in order to keep her but it would definitely sour me a little on the relationship. I would ever be respectful of the nanny's new car.

OP, I understand your frustration with the cleaning. They should absolutely pay for the cleaning/detailing since it's their children making your car dirty. They didn't, however, have to help you buy the car since it was your personal choice to get a new one and you knew having a car to drive the children in was a requirement for the job. I don't think anyone would fault you if you felt the job wasn't right for you anymore but you can't expect the parents to change the requirements because you decided to get a new car.

"If they refuse, then either a). Refuse to drive the kids anymore or b). Have them provide a nanny vehicle for you to use on the job. "

If our nanny did this we would unfortunately be done. Driving is an essential part of the job and we do not have a 3rd car to give her.

OP, when you purchased your new car, you didn't have to purchase it w/the purpose of accommodating your charges in it. If you did that, then that is YOUR choice and no one forced you into that. You should have discussed this w/your family prior to purchasing the vehicle if you were going to purchase it w/your charges in mind and perhaps then the family may or may not have offered to help contribute something towards the cost. Not now, after the fact.

Since you already have the car, all is said and done. It is too late to ask them to help you pay for the car itself.
Sorry.

I do think, however that they should pay for the cleaning/detailing of the interior since their kids are doing a lot of extra wear and tear daily.
You should most definitely ask them.

If they refuse, then either a). Refuse to drive the kids anymore or b). Have them provide a nanny vehicle for you to use on the job.

Good luck and hope this helps out some.