Anonymous
Post 12/19/2013 12:43     Subject: Re:Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
+1. When hired, our nanny agreed to do certain housekeeping-type tasks during downtime but she didn't follow through consistently. I noticed that she would frequently bake or cook for us while the agreed-upon chores sat undone. We brought that up at review time and she acknowledged that she hates feeling like a maid but finds cooking very relaxing and creative and would be happy to do more of it. Now, instead of cooking random things based on whatever we had around, we plan recipes and lay in the ingredients for her to start or complete the adults' dinner quite often. She's happy, we're eating real meals instead of whatever junk is quickly available at the end of the day, and the adjustment has definitely endeared the nanny to us in a whole new way. To a large extent, being a good manager is about creating jobs around value-creating tasks that your employees like to do and can do well.


This great. I'd trade cooking for housekeeping tasks but I don't think my nanny cooks. Finding something that is valuable and interesting to both parties is always a win-win.

However, so many of the nannies on this board will come up with "fake" tasks, tasks that are already part of their normal responsibilities anyway or try to convince you that they can spend 45 minutes unloading a dishwasher or 5 hours a week organizing clothes. If nannies were not so dishonest, there would be more clarity on whether a position was the right fit for all parties involved.
Anonymous
Post 12/19/2013 07:53     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:15:16 here. I just reread your post and I see that your daughter only in school for 4 hours per week. You've added an awful lot of tasks to her days for only 4 extra hours. Sit down with her and discuss what she is willing to take on. Maybe she'd be happier doing grocery shopping or fixing dinner on those days. Maybe she'd rather cut back her hours than take on housekeeping duties. It seems like you made these changes without a lot of thought or input from her, so you can't fault her for not loving your solution.


+1. When hired, our nanny agreed to do certain housekeeping-type tasks during downtime but she didn't follow through consistently. I noticed that she would frequently bake or cook for us while the agreed-upon chores sat undone. We brought that up at review time and she acknowledged that she hates feeling like a maid but finds cooking very relaxing and creative and would be happy to do more of it. Now, instead of cooking random things based on whatever we had around, we plan recipes and lay in the ingredients for her to start or complete the adults' dinner quite often. She's happy, we're eating real meals instead of whatever junk is quickly available at the end of the day, and the adjustment has definitely endeared the nanny to us in a whole new way. To a large extent, being a good manager is about creating jobs around value-creating tasks that your employees like to do and can do well.


You sound like a lovely MB. I'm sure your nanny is very happy with your family.
Anonymous
Post 12/19/2013 02:25     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:15:16 here. I just reread your post and I see that your daughter only in school for 4 hours per week. You've added an awful lot of tasks to her days for only 4 extra hours. Sit down with her and discuss what she is willing to take on. Maybe she'd be happier doing grocery shopping or fixing dinner on those days. Maybe she'd rather cut back her hours than take on housekeeping duties. It seems like you made these changes without a lot of thought or input from her, so you can't fault her for not loving your solution.


+1. When hired, our nanny agreed to do certain housekeeping-type tasks during downtime but she didn't follow through consistently. I noticed that she would frequently bake or cook for us while the agreed-upon chores sat undone. We brought that up at review time and she acknowledged that she hates feeling like a maid but finds cooking very relaxing and creative and would be happy to do more of it. Now, instead of cooking random things based on whatever we had around, we plan recipes and lay in the ingredients for her to start or complete the adults' dinner quite often. She's happy, we're eating real meals instead of whatever junk is quickly available at the end of the day, and the adjustment has definitely endeared the nanny to us in a whole new way. To a large extent, being a good manager is about creating jobs around value-creating tasks that your employees like to do and can do well.


excellent. I know my former client talks about my cooking.
Anonymous
Post 12/18/2013 06:10     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Well said, 5:15.
Very few "nannies" want to clean your house.

Hint:
That's why they're nannies,
not housekeepers.



Anonymous
Post 12/18/2013 05:15     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Anonymous wrote:15:16 here. I just reread your post and I see that your daughter only in school for 4 hours per week. You've added an awful lot of tasks to her days for only 4 extra hours. Sit down with her and discuss what she is willing to take on. Maybe she'd be happier doing grocery shopping or fixing dinner on those days. Maybe she'd rather cut back her hours than take on housekeeping duties. It seems like you made these changes without a lot of thought or input from her, so you can't fault her for not loving your solution.


+1. When hired, our nanny agreed to do certain housekeeping-type tasks during downtime but she didn't follow through consistently. I noticed that she would frequently bake or cook for us while the agreed-upon chores sat undone. We brought that up at review time and she acknowledged that she hates feeling like a maid but finds cooking very relaxing and creative and would be happy to do more of it. Now, instead of cooking random things based on whatever we had around, we plan recipes and lay in the ingredients for her to start or complete the adults' dinner quite often. She's happy, we're eating real meals instead of whatever junk is quickly available at the end of the day, and the adjustment has definitely endeared the nanny to us in a whole new way. To a large extent, being a good manager is about creating jobs around value-creating tasks that your employees like to do and can do well.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 21:29     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
How pathetic are you're loves that the second someone posts a story you haven't experienced yourself you call troll? Are you really that simple minded or sheltered? Crawl out from under your rock and comes to terms with the fact that people have different life experiences and just because you haven't been in a particular situation doesn't make it fiction.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 18:37     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Not a troll, just a MB looking for advice.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 17:48     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
OP?
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 17:06     Subject: Re:Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Anonymous wrote:
Do you guys not realize that this is the troll who always posts stupid comments and then "Thoughts?".

Perhaps the story teller troll.


+1.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 16:27     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Anonymous wrote:Do you guys not realize that this is the troll who always posts stupid comments and then "Thoughts?".

Perhaps the story teller troll.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 15:40     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
If you factor in driving time, and the fact that your child doesn't nap, those 4 hours child free don't a,out to much more than a much needed lunch break that your nanny usually goes without, and maybe 20-30 minutes to load and unload the dish washer, tidy your daughter's room/playroom, and prepare her lunch for when she gets home. Take the day off on a preschool day, and see how much you get done in 2 hours including the time it takes you to drop off and pickup.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 15:37     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Do you guys not realize that this is the troll who always posts stupid comments and then "Thoughts?".
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 15:31     Subject: Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
Yes I get 20 to babysit for my last boss.... but 30 an hr to do heavy housecleaning.
When I had jobs with kids in school, I either pulled a split or got paid to stay, but I didn't have scrub toliets. Errands, organizational jobs, cooking, food prep, vacuum/quick mop, help with laundry. And always I was asked to take an hr break, because a 9 hr day is very long with no down time. Does your nanny get a break? She's been pulling long days with a non napping preschooler, it would be a kindness to make sure she now.can get that , especially if she's doing extra chores.
Also, as someone who's been working as a nanny/household manager for years, that's too much work for 4 hours.
Anonymous
Post 12/17/2013 15:04     Subject: Re:Nanny not happy, are we out of line?
You're asking way too much for the time.

Also, while nannies often do take on extra tasks when the child is in school F/T it's usually not the heavy cleaning you have listed. It's usually running errands, tidying up, grocery shopping, cutting fruit/veggies or similar light meal prep, and maybe running the vacuum. I don't know any nannies who lean bathrooms, and even less of them tht would be willing except perhaps the child's bathroom. Housekeepers get paid drastically more than most nannies anyway.