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Original poster

What duties do nannies do which they feel are part of their job but you feel are beyond the call of duty?

35 replies

nannynick · 22/11/2009 12:09

Events at work this week have got me thinking about how some of the times nannies do are seen by their employers as being beyond the call of duty.

For example, the downstairs toilet Bubbled this week at work. I knew that was a bad sign!
So after doing our usual morning routine and having lunch, toddler and I investigated the household plumbing. Toddler was not allowed to touch anything of course but did seem to enjoy watching, helping clear leaves and stones from manhole covers etc. We established that there must be a major blockage somewhere which we could not find... so called MumBoss to advise her and to suggest that I called Thames Water. I don't often disturb her at work, so she must have realised that I thought it was a major problem. I called Thames Water and arranged for a site visit, they came within a few hours and after a while found where the pipes were blocked and cleared the blockage.
So by the time by boss got home, everything was sorted out, plumbing back to it's normal state.

So is sorting an issue like that out something that is part of a nannies job, or beyond the call of duty? As I saw things, I work in the home and if there is a major issue with the home in some way which affects my ability to work there, then I get it sorted out. It's just part of the job. If MumBoss was at home that day, then I think she would have done the same as me... investigate the problem and then call someone out to fix it.

I think MumBoss thinks that I went beyond the call of duty in sorting it out. Well maybe it's not strictly part of my job but it's not as though I could leave it for her to deal with... she was at work, it needed someone onsite to deal with it.

What duties do nannies do like this which may or may not be beyond the call of duty?

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K75 · 22/11/2009 13:51

I would take time off to fix Nick.

She would be happy to be in for someone coming if really needed but couldn't see her making appointments etc. Although I have never asked!

She does comment on other nannies who run errands etc. and clearly doesn't think it's in the job description! Have to say though, we do know some where these are in the extreme and the poor kids get dragged around everywhere. Wouldn't want mine shopping all day!

Initiative is a must in my line of work and I hugely credit you all for it.

overweightnoverdrawn · 22/11/2009 13:44

I call myself my MB's wife lol

overweightnoverdrawn · 22/11/2009 13:43

I call myself my MB's wife lol

Blondeshavemorefun · 22/11/2009 13:38

as nick says we are there instead of parents so i have

called plumber when had no heating

called chimney sweep for fireplace

called plumber again when no hot water

taken dog to poodle parlour

taken dog to vte when throwing up

called electricty company for updates when had powercut to find out would be no power for a day so went to shop&brought candles/torches etc

fed/chased/put chickens to bed

taken car to garage when making noise/for mot

juneybean · 22/11/2009 13:25

I agree with you NN, although I'm sure some nannies won't.

I found myself tidying around the main areas of the house because the grandparents were due, and I had it instilled into me by my own mam that we had to tidy for nana coming lol

Original poster
nannynick · 22/11/2009 13:24

K75 - how would you be able to fix things though... you may not be in a position to very much. Also you may not be able to anything the nanny couldn't do.

It is about showing initiative, about knowing when something is a major issue (or could very quickly become a major issue) or when it can be left for a few weeks.

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Original poster
nannynick · 22/11/2009 13:21

Strange you should mention rods... I did get a rod set but soon realised that the home-grade rod set wasn't going to solve this problem... especially as I could not locate a manhole cover near the main sewer entry point. Would have been a bit dangerous rodding with a toddler in tow anyway.

I think you are right in how you say that nannies do things that make out bosses lives easier. They may be little things, they may be more major things. They may be child-related things, or they may not be directly related to the child.

When we discuss on here about the benefits of having a nanny, over taking a child to nursery/CMs... I feel these small (and not so small) things we do should be raised a bit more often. They are after all benefits of having a nanny - a nanny doesn't just care for the children, they also look after the home.

OP posts:
K75 · 22/11/2009 13:16

Wow! Love my nanny but initiative is not her strong point. She would prob text me and tell me there was a prob but I would have to fix!

overweightnoverdrawn · 22/11/2009 12:39

Good on you for calling Thames water . I just havt to get the rods out . LOL We found using washing tabs instead of powder in the washing machine sorted out this problem . Going back to your original point .There is loads of little stuff that I do that I know are not part of my job but makes life easier for my fab bosses ie lighting the coal fire and putting the logs away when they are delivered . Things like that . But hey thats life and its a two way street in nanny life . lol

Earlybird · 22/11/2009 12:35

Was MumBoss grateful? Hope so.

I was hugely grateful that our nanny saw sewing name labels in dd's school uniform as part of her duty. Hadn't occurred to me that she would do that chore.

She also brought her dad's power drill to work one day and changed dd's bedroom blind over for a blackout blind. That was 'over and above' in my book too.

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