I want to start this article off by having you ask yourself if you’ve ever waited to speak up about something at your job? Some examples include: You realize you should be getting mileage reimbursement, you realize you’re not being paid overtime, you realize you’re underpaid, you realize you haven’t gotten a raise in 3 years, you realize your bosses have been banking your hours…
Read MoreParents who employ nannies, if I may take a few minutes of your time, I have something I need to address. As I’m sure you’re aware, nannying is very different from other professions. Your nanny works in your home. Your nanny spends their days caring for your precious children. You depend on them to be there in your absence; your children love and need them. We know how personal it feels to you, because it feels personal to us too.
Read MoreNanny shares are hard work. As a nanny share specialist, I know that better than most. I see comments on nanny groups all the time like “I could never”, “I got burned”, “I tried, it was terrible”, and my heart goes out to those sweet nannies because I truly love doing shares! I may have fallen into my first nanny share out of necessity, but I have since made it my specialty.
Read MoreEvery job comes with its quirks and difficulties, but as any nanny will tell you, the quirks nannies have to deal with are on a whole other level. Because we are working in people's private homes taking care of their personal items as well as their most prized possessions (their children!), the requests and expectations placed on nannies can oftentimes be quite ridiculous.
Read MoreI’ve been wanting to write an article on this for a while, but to be honest, I was hesitant to do so because I was worried about how the readers would receive it. The majority of Nanny Counsel’s following is made up of nannies, which makes sense, since it is a Nanny Advocacy Blog. However, I am also a family advocate and I certainly do not believe that nannies can do no wrong.
Read MoreOh hey you! Yes, you with your judgmental views and assumptions about what I do for a living and whether or not being a nanny qualifies as a "real" job. I'm just curious what you think I do all day at my pretend job? And what do you think I do with all that pretend money I make? I must use it to pay my pretend bills...
Read MoreI want to start this article with a question for parents: Would you ever ask your house cleaner to change your child's diaper, or take your child to the park, or prepare and feed your child lunch, or pick your child up from school, or assist your child with homework, or take your child to the doctor, or research and plan a developmentally appropriate sensory activity, or set up and host a play date, or sleep train your baby? I bet your answer is a resounding "No". Why then, do parents often ask and expect nannies to take on house cleaner roles? I truly don't get it. If you wouldn't do the reverse and have your weekly cleaning person take care of your child, why then is it okay to expect your nanny clean your home? A nanny and a house cleaner are two VERY different jobs and generally speaking, most nannies don't decide to become a nanny so they can clean houses -- they decide to be a nanny because they love children and are passionate about investing in them.
Read MoreEmploying a live-in nanny can oftentimes be a little confusing. Many parents think that because a live-in nanny is receiving "free" room and board, they can pay their nanny less by deducting room and board from their nanny's monthly income, or pay them a lower hourly rate, or simply have their nanny work in exchange for room and board. A nanny who doesn't have to pay any rent, electricity, water, internet, cable, food, etc. surely should make less money per hour! While I understand how at first glance this seems like a fair deal, the industry standard is to pay a live-in nanny their full hourly rate...not a reduced rate. Legally live-in nannies must be paid for all hours worked, including applicable overtime (live-in overtime laws vary state by state, so it's important to check your specific state laws). In fact in some markets, such as Chicago, live-in nannies actually make MORE per hour than live-out nannies. Why? Because being a live-in nanny is extremely hard work and a huge sacrifice.
Read MoreLet's just dive right in. Nannies get sick and will miss work from time to time. There, I said it. Sadly, all too often, parents seem to forget that nannies are still human. I can only assume that lots of parents think their nannies are superhuman (which we kind of are in some ways), based on the countless nannies I encounter who are told they HAVE to come in even when very sick or are simply made to feel guilty for calling out. One nanny says she has been made to feel so guilty for calling in sick, that she hasn't taken a sick day in 6 years. Many nannies have even reported being guilt tripped for needing surgery -- like it's something they can control.
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