Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Am i the only one mystified why nannies do this?

37 replies

balancingact · 18/12/2006 10:05

Maybe i shouldn't generalise, but it's my impression that nannies, within a few days of knowing other nannies, start talking about their salaries. I don't know if it's a case of one upmanship amongst them, but my view is if you've taken a job, then you are clearly happy with the offer so what does it matter what your next door nanny makes? clearly, they would have had a feel for the market rates when they were interviewing anyway? I just find it so strange as i would never dream of discussing my salary with anyone at the office or even with my friends - i just feel it's no one's business.
No point to the post - just random musing in the run-up to Christmas!!
I just wonder if there are employers who get the "the nanny next door gets this and she works less hours" chats....

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
vitomum · 18/12/2006 13:52

i don't think it strange at all. i know a number of people who work in the same filed as me and we quite openly dicsuss salaries. TBH i find it strange that some people find talking about money offensive / rude etc

nannyj · 18/12/2006 13:47

I totally agree that in my experience nannies are the only profession that talks so openly about salaries. I wouldn't say to my employers that so and so earned more to be honest i would just talk about it to my nanny friends.

Who knows if they inflate their salaries to impress others i've never done it. But i do think if you have accepted a job it's out of order then moan if you find out other people are earning more. Although maybe you mums think thats what i've done but i'm just unhappy with the wage increases over the 2 years. Although if the family i was working for were struggling then it wouldn't bother me at all, i suppose i just feel undervalued at the moment but thats my problem not the family i work for.

I think nanny salaries have definately risen alot in the last 18 months, have no idea why though.

Original poster
balancingact · 18/12/2006 12:49

bluejelly, your post really is at the heart of my puzzlement....why the need to discuss? i suppose i just grew up with the view that it's not really polite to talk about money so openly like that - yes, i suppose my friends and i complain about how expensive everything is in london etc etc but not to the point of - how much do you make? that's why i find it so startling that nannies are so willing to discuss this, even with those they would consider good friends.

OP posts:
Original poster
balancingact · 18/12/2006 12:44

nannyj, out of curiousity, do you sometimes think that maybe what the other nannies say to you is not really what they earn out of a desire to "impress"? The reason i ask is just that my recent experience with current nanny was that she was happy to receive what i offered her, and was surprised to find out (later on) what the agency had put as her indicative salary...i just don't want you to feel disconted in a job that (turns out) was paying you fairly....
a previous nanny used to tell me how this and that nanny got paid (always higher) than what she was getting - a) maybe it was just her trying to wrangle a raise, though she was paid the going rate, or b) her friends were inflating salaries in a bid to look like they got the best job. It does feel like nanny salaries are definitely going up much faster than most people's salaries!

OP posts:
uwila · 18/12/2006 12:42

So how much do you make then?

bluejelly · 18/12/2006 12:39

I talk about my salary with my friends and colleagues
I think it should be open discussion

uwila · 18/12/2006 12:33

Nannyj, I think those things are true for everybody. The UK is a lot more expensive than it was 10 years ago. And you are certainly not the only thirty something in debt. So, while you may feel that this equeates to you needing to earn more it also equates to parents having less with wich to pay you.

nannyj · 18/12/2006 12:08

I think money is important to me at the moment because i'm in debt and the age i am (32). When i was 25 i couldn't care less what other nannies where earning, most nannies will stay in a job because they are happy and money won't be a huge factor. Just for me it niggles that i know my employers could pay a bit more and there doesn't seem to be compensation for being loyal and no incentive for staying in a job more than 18 months which is a shame i think. So yes there are other factors for me wanting to leave but if they gave me more money i could live with the things that annoy me.

My last job was my favourite and i worked for 2 teachers and got less money live out than i do now live in and they were lovely people. I wouldn't have dreamed of leaving (they moved away) as i was so happy. So i'm sure your nanny will stay with you, you sound lovely.

Original poster
balancingact · 18/12/2006 11:23

nannyj, is the main reason cause you're not paid as much as the others or you're also not happy?
i know being a nanny is just the same as any other job, where you want to achieve the highest job satisfaction as possible (and clearly, compensation is one element of it), it still makes for depressing reading though as no matter how "good" an employer you are, you may lose a fabulous nanny because there are 3 hedge fund managers living around you that can give more perks/bonuses.
oddly enough, when i hired new nanny, all the expected salaries indicated by the agencies were way higher than what i agreed to pay, and she still signed up for it - and she is fab, and looks to be very happy. i guess i should thank my lucky stars, until a hedge fund manager moves next door to me....and then i'm screwed.

OP posts:
nannyj · 18/12/2006 11:11

I would not discuss with my employers other nannies salaries but yes we do discuss it between ourselves very openly, or at least the nannies i know. I think its because there is usually a pretty standard rate that nannies earn in certain jobs in certain areas and they can rise or fall depending on the economy. When i started my job 2 years ago I recieved the market rate for my age, experience and area of London but 2 years along the road salaries have risen quite dramatically and i think the one way to find that out is by talking to other nannies. My wage rises every year have not reflected the market rise so I'm thinking of moving on and changing jobs.

uwila · 18/12/2006 10:57

Yes, why do nannies do this? Are nannies an overly competitive breed? I wouldn't think so, really.

justaphase · 18/12/2006 10:26

it is only human...

Swipe left for the next trending thread