Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it's just fine for a MB to get pregnant while working and cause her employer all sorts of trouble because maybe someone else in her office can carry MB's workload for up to a year. But since a nanny works solo, she needs to never get pregnant because it will make her MB's life difficult.

Good God.

Correct. No one is telling nannies not to get pregnant, were telling them not to be nannies.

Are we also telling women not to be doctors, lawyers, executives, or entrepreneurs because they might gestate and cause their employers to be inconvenienced?

Perhaps all women who are capable of gestating should simply not work?

Most of these jobs are covered by workplace protection law. However, plenty of women in these jobs have also been fired for missing too much work or being unable to do their jobs. What we need is a pooled disability insurance that would cover pregnant workers of all types. Or, nannies need a union like actors to protect them in these single-employee jobs. But without either of those becoming reality, a woman needs to realize that being a nanny is not a great choice if she needs a guaranteed income while pregnant. She needs to find a full time job with an employer covered by the laws, like many large daycares or preschools. Those jobs often pay less, but they are also less "risky."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it's just fine for a MB to get pregnant while working and cause her employer all sorts of trouble because maybe someone else in her office can carry MB's workload for up to a year. But since a nanny works solo, she needs to never get pregnant because it will make her MB's life difficult.

Good God.

Correct. No one is telling nannies not to get pregnant, were telling them not to be nannies.

Are we also telling women not to be doctors, lawyers, executives, or entrepreneurs because they might gestate and cause their employers to be inconvenienced?

Perhaps all women who are capable of gestating should simply not work?

Anonymous wrote:So it's just fine for a MB to get pregnant while working and cause her employer all sorts of trouble because maybe someone else in her office can carry MB's workload for up to a year. But since a nanny works solo, she needs to never get pregnant because it will make her MB's life difficult.

Good God.

Correct. No one is telling nannies not to get pregnant, were telling them not to be nannies.

So it's just fine for a MB to get pregnant while working and cause her employer all sorts of trouble because maybe someone else in her office can carry MB's workload for up to a year. But since a nanny works solo, she needs to never get pregnant because it will make her MB's life difficult.

Good God.

You all need to check out employment law. Almost none of the workplace protections you mention apply to most nannies. Family and Medical leave (unpaid, BTW) is only mandated for companies of at least 50 employees. Discrimination laws only cover employers with at least 15 employees. Nannies have very few real, federally or state mandated workplace protections. You are very much at the mercy of your employers.

Anonymous wrote:["if you plan to have children in the next 5 or so year, please do not become a nanny. You can make the same money being a secretary or office manager"]

Just, wow... Please broaden your horizons. I am a graduate school educated nanny. Your assumptions about my motives for my career choices and aptitude are insulting. Here is a tip parents, if you plan to hire a nanny in the next 5 or so years, please do not revert to misogynistic thinking. That's a really big word that means thinking like a chauvinist a**hole. Oh gosh, yet another big word. What's a girl to do?

What a peach. Please never have children. And not just because you are a nanny.

["if you plan to have children in the next 5 or so year, please do not become a nanny. You can make the same money being a secretary or office manager"]

Just, wow... Please broaden your horizons. I am a graduate school educated nanny. Your assumptions about my motives for my career choices and aptitude are insulting. Here is a tip parents, if you plan to hire a nanny in the next 5 or so years, please do not revert to misogynistic thinking. That's a really big word that means thinking like a chauvinist a**hole. Oh gosh, yet another big word. What's a girl to do?

Another nanny here. I am frustrated by the angry replies from nannies. I don't disagree with your points. Private employers are more discriminatory and moral decency is the exception rather than the norm. However, you can't control someone else's behavior. Focus on what is within your control which is how you will meet the challenge of a barely regulated industry. Angry posts on a website do nothing to lessen that burden.

1. DO NOT share such personal information. They don't have a right to know and you are not obligated to comply with a discriminatory line of questioning.
2. Make sure your reviews are on point so you have a record of good performance. And for all nanny's sake, don't behave like the nanny in 16:25. If you don't want your privacy invaded then keep you personal business personal.
3. If you are terminated after you get pregnant, sue them for wrongful termination.

These are the things within your control: what you share, how well you perform, and how you respond.

My nanny is pregnant. She has had a lot of doctor's appointments (some extra monitoring due to a preexisting condition), and she complains all.the.time about pregnancy-related discomforts. It has absolutely made her a less able nanny, and has cost me a lot of my own PTO to cover for completely predictable but last-minute issues that come with being pregnant for the first time (like feeling it's necessary to see the doctor whenever she experiences a new symptom). I will absolutely try to avoid this situation next time.

We haven't even gotten to the tough part of pregnancy, either. She's still less than halfway through.

In most other workplaces, other employees can cover.

I am a nanny and I agree with both sides of the issue. Families cannot easily cover long periods of leave. Nannies can and should charge a rate that reflects their level of risk. Without all the animosity, I feel the parents and the nannies both have to think about their needs and structure their agreements accordingly.

This is one reason I don't feel bad charging families a high rate. We take extra risk in our job because there is no HR department to protect us. Nannies, let them have their petty ways and raise your rates. They can pay for the privilege of being jerks. Otherwise, you are on the short end because no one looks out for us.

MB wants nanny to be professional until its time to treat her right then they be like, oh you a joke. Lol, if you don't think nanny is a professional then keep your peace when she don't act like one.

Nope. I'd keep looking.

I've never thought of this but I'm glad I saw this thread. This seems like a really good question to ask in the future since we will be looking for a nanny soon for the fall.

Anonymous wrote:I used my paid vacation as maternity leave. Cost the parents nothing extra.

If you get paid leave, sure.