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Original poster

Extra dudites for our nanny when the children are away..

68 replies

AuntLucyInPeru · 09/02/2012 13:39

We're off next week Tues - Fri with the children, and our nanny isn't coming with us, and doesn't have any holiday leave left this year so we need to pay her. Can anyone come up with 35 hours of reasonable things we can ask her to do (not cleaning or gardening - we have a cleaner for that so the place will be pretty much spotless when we leave..) that it's reasonable to ask her to do?

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Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 10/02/2012 11:04

Thanks Misty - I deliberately didn't post in AIBU because I was feeling chatty rather than combative - but I seem to have caught a few people in feisty moods today!

OP posts:
MistyB · 10/02/2012 10:50

FWIW op, I think you are being given an unreasonably hard time on here. I don't have time to formulate a bullet proof response but YANBU, though you didn't actually ask that!!

ssd · 10/02/2012 10:45

dont agree with you there duchess, have you ever been a nanny?

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 10/02/2012 09:35

why do people always try to compare the role of a nanny with other jobs?

"BUT as other employees don't get to go home 'paid' when their boss is away for a few days, I hadn't expected that nannies did."

There are perks in every job but they do differ. As you've already said, your office workers get an hour lunch break...... why doesn't your nanny? (if you're comparing like with like) She would probably enjoy her lunch sitting in a coffee shop with friends rather than sitting in your home looking after your child over "lunch".

It is clearly ridiculous to compare two different jobs. Nannies don't generally get paid lunch breaks away from their role but they fairly often do get extra days (paid) off if the family goes on holiday.

duchesse · 10/02/2012 09:25

No, the relationship between parent and nanny is no different to any other working relationship. The relationship between nanny and children might be, not the employer-nanny one. That is the mistake many people make. You are not doing your nanny a favour by employing her, neither is she doing you a favour by working for you.

ssd · 10/02/2012 09:19

I think you should stop worrying about what other employees do, the relationship between you and you nanny is a bit different to other working relationships, just concentrate on what suits you and the nanny and leave it there,

If you say to your nanny, we will be away, please come in (or does she live-in?) and do (child related jobs) then thats fine, if you say go and answer the phone for an hour as I do it, then she may be a bit miffed, she's a nanny, not a receptionist. But then again if she is happy to do this, then fine again.

Is she your second nanny?

Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 10/02/2012 09:05

I don't mind her surfing the internet in nap times - a 10hr day is a long time just focussing on kids and I certainly take breaks during my working day, so I would expect her to do the same (talking of which I really need to stop messing about here and get on with some real work).. BUT as other employees don't get to go home 'paid' when their boss is away for a few days, I hadn't expected that nannies did. Live and learn, eh!

OP posts:
TheHamish · 10/02/2012 09:05

So this post is basically "I already have a list of things for her to do, but I think she can fit more into the time so please suggest other duties" - yet you're happy for her to spend nap times on the computer? Why haven't you got her washing toys/ washing the cats/ sweeping your chimneys while the kids are asleep?

Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 10/02/2012 09:02

SSD - Was just making chat and looking for some feedback from other nannies/employers on what it would be 'off' to ask her to do whilst we were away (got a bit more feedback than I bargained for in some cases but hey-ho, that's the joy of mumsnet!). The list was built after I got a few good suggestions on here, came up with a few more myself after wandering round the kids rooms when I got home from work last night. Have employed nannies for 3 years, current one has been with us a year.

OP posts:
TheHamish · 10/02/2012 09:01

If she's using nap times to surf the internet there's no bloody wonder there's a mountain of household stuff that needs doing!!!!

ssd · 10/02/2012 08:58

last not lasy

ssd · 10/02/2012 08:58

why on earth are you asking op?

your list from lasy night was fairly extensive, you seem to have loads for her to do

can I ask, has she been with you long? have you had many nannies?

Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 10/02/2012 08:57

TheHamish - our nanny already uses our house and internet to research her next 'post' - she's leaving the job in a couple of weeks to go off on a years' travelling and uses nap-times to surf for travel bookings, and sometimes takes my daughter with her to stores to but the bits she needs for her backpack. Of course she eats our food, drinks tea, charges her appliances, listens to the radio. It would be bloody odd if she didn't! All of which is open between us, fine, and entirely above board - I couldn't give a stuff really providing she's also doing a good job at her childcare duties. She is also using the playroom to store some of her stuff until it gets packed up to go home.

OP posts:
MarieLloyd · 10/02/2012 08:53

We just gave our nanny the time off when we went away. She would do slightly longer hours sometimes the day or so before we went, off her own back, and do jobs like re-organising the kids wardrobes or to boxes or whatever.

TheHamish · 10/02/2012 08:53

Nanny duties are fine and acceptable, (though I'm a bit dubious about machine washing soft toys and dishwashing plastic ones for children past the age of needing a stairgate) - going into the office for an hour to relieve the receptionist is NOT ok.

Does her insurance cover her in your office as a non-official office employee if anything goes horribly wrong? If she receives an injury, loses you business, breaks something?

Original poster
AuntLucyInPeru · 10/02/2012 08:50

Nbee84 - our nanny has had two paid days off over and above her annual leave this year, and a couple of hundred in bonuses over and above the general wrapped birthday/Christmas gifts we exchange. She'll prob end up with around another day off 'free' next week once she's done the bits on the list. I don't give paid extra leave to the other employees in our office-based business, (unless they're doing something charitable, like a sponsored parachute jump or similar).

OP posts:
duchesse · 10/02/2012 08:40

I'm imagining that the nanny has probably taken all her leave entitlement for the year and her employer rightly does not want to get into the habit of giving her extra free time- it does them all a grave disservice. Nannying is not slavery nor is it a cinch. It's just a normal job like any other. I fail to see why people objecting to the OP's OP think the nanny should be treated differently from any other worker.

duchesse · 10/02/2012 08:38

Batman of COURSE it happens outside nannying- most other jobs for instance. You wouldn't just get the week off working in your office because your boss was away!!

Blondeshavemorefun · 10/02/2012 08:22

very true nbee - nanny is a 4 day one assuming from 1st post of tue to fri so would normally have 23 days holiday

pmsl hamish - behave Grin

nbee84 · 10/02/2012 08:14

Lol at Hamish Grin

TheHamish · 10/02/2012 08:11

... do my washing, drying and ironing, have a shower and use your internet to look for another job.

nbee84 · 10/02/2012 08:10

And makes a nanny happy and grateful to her employer.

Apart from the hour in the office all the duties op has listed are related to the children. She mentions in her 2nd post that nanny has lots of hols and bonuses - doesn't sound like someone that would begrudge a couple of extra time off next week Hmm but then her original post says nanny doesn't have any holiday left and we need to pay her - that to me doesn't read like nanny gets time off paid over and above what she is due. Don't know quite what to make of this TBH.

Iggly · 10/02/2012 08:10
Biscuit
TheHamish · 10/02/2012 08:05

Ooooo, I'd love to come over and do your jobs while you're away. Rather use your heating than mine in this weather, use your electricity, eat your food, watch a bit of telly, play some music, drink some tea, charge my phone, iPad, laptop...

Blondeshavemorefun · 10/02/2012 08:04

and yes fair enough find her child care duties to do, ie tidying up playroom and sorting out kids clothes

but asking her to go along to your office for an hour to replace your receptionist during her lunch hour seems a bit ott imho