the nannies who want to moan,get advice,scream,be happy staff room thread!!!

Your employer may have no idea how to produce a written statement, so point them towards the ACAS website and also to the specimen contract at NannyJob

I don't start jobs without a written statement (signed contract)... but that's just me.

From ACAS (source)...
"The Employment Rights Act 1996 (amended under the Employment Act 2002) requires employers to provide employees, within two calendar months of starting work, with a written statement of the main terms and conditions of employment."

Without a written statement, a contract of employment does exist.

ACAS says the following: (source)
"All employees have a contract of employment which forms the basis of the employment relationship. In simple terms, an employee agrees to work for an employer in return for wages. A contract is made when the offer of employment is accepted. A number of rights and duties, enforceable through the courts, arise as soon as this happens.
Most employment contracts need not be in writing to be legally valid; a verbal agreement can be sufficient. However, writing down the terms of the contract can minimise later disagreements. The Employment Rights Act 1996 requires employers to provide most employees, within two calendar months of starting work, with a written statement of the main terms of the contract."

So your way forward is to rise with your employer the situation regarding having a written statement which describes your duties, hours of work, holiday entitlement, wage, what happens if you are sick, that sort of thing. If after gentle nagging... and several weeks have passed, alert them to the legal requirement.

I have just started a new job (2 weeks) and all is going well! 17 week old twin boys and two mum's! The mum's are lovely, really down to earth, if a little crazy!! Am very happy, everything is as they said at the interview, the only problem is, I still don't have a written contract! I am not going to let it lie but how do I ask (again!) without it sounding wrong?? Liking the nanny staff room, but will only be able to visit at weekends as 3 and a half month old twins does not give a lot of time for surfing!!

I think it would be nice if we had a group of nannies who emailed each other for support/help/advice.
Its a strange role to have and can be quite isolating. Lets face it, you never work with other nannies!

I too am fed up with people not being honest. It cant be too much to ask for, surely?

Awwwwwwwwww....... thank you! Glad you got them OK! Pictures are welcome too
Hope things are going well for you with your new set up, too. I dropped you a mail on hotmail so feel free to reply off the record.

Enjoy half term...... ((0_0))

just wanted to thank you - kids loved the letter and postcard. Dd has drawn you countless pictures but getting her to write more than Hello, Goodbye is proving taxing NOT because she doesn't want to but because she's, well, dd and you know what she's like with writing .

I am sending you a big hug and kisses from both of mine.

Glad to hear new job going OK! They don't know how lucky they are to have you!

I tend to go for the ones who are really lovely and warm and friendly only to discover 4 weeks later that they are complete nutters...!!

My boss at the moment is very practical, straightforward and business like and was in the interview as well. I think it's going well - finally found a job where there are lines!

y trouble at the moment is trying to get everything done at the end of the day. I feel like if I turn my back on the kids they don't eat - the smallest one sits there in front of his plate without touching it. But if I don't use meal time to clear up the kitchen it adds an extra half hour on the day and it's been noted I'm not most organised with clearing up the evening meal (lunch is simpler as it's only one kid). I guess I just have to let them get on with it, and if they mess about then it's no TV for them!

By the way, I had one prospective employer bad mouthing her housekeeper, "she's not the most intelligent woman in the world or she wouldn't be a housekeeper, but her English is OK... I suppose" - and I was left thinking, this poor woman has traveled form South America to work in a foreign country and send money home - she's doing pretty well! If you think domestic staff are an "underclass" I don't think I want to work for you!

alright all just need to sit down. had a long day. im in my new job, 3rd week and ive seen it all at interviews!