AIBU to not want the nanny having her phone with her?

[ClipsAre]

I don't mean not physically on her, but her not using it when she is meant to be looking after my child. I often notice her on her phone and DC nudging her and her saying one minute, etc. I work from home, so I tend to see what's going on and if I'm going past I do occasionally mention it but she claims that my DC is happy doing x, y and z so she thought she'd quickly reply to an email/text, etc.

AIBU to think this isn't okay?

expatinscotland: I don't think it applies to you personally. I am talking about the hypothetical application of your opinion to your own situation. IF you wanted to hire a nanny, I think you and your opinion would struggle.

I'd expect her to carry a phone for emergencies but wouldn't hesitate to speak to her if she was using it for personal use during the day. She's paid to do a job, not play with her phone.

There are thousands of jobs where you can't use your phone as your employer actually expects work in return for a salary.

Yanbu

What parents do is irrelevant really because their child, their choice.

If you're paying someone to look after your child, that's what they should be doing

Gobsmacked at the Nanny Wherestheevidence who texts other nannies for playdates etc and their long list of what they do on their phone! Really?

The OP is being paid to work as well, and clearly isn't working for all the hours she is paid to work, as she has enough time to check up on the nanny and see that she is "often" on her phone. So you're watching your nanny when you're being paid to work, and your nanny is on the phone when she is being paid to work. What's the difference?? Is the problem that you feel that you, as a professional, have the right to schedule your own day and breaks but the nanny, as a member of the lower orders, must work until you give her permission to stop? You sound overbearing.

harsh - I'm being paid to work? Where does it say that? I'm currently trying my best to solve a case (I'm in the police force) and am absolutely not being paid for the hours I decide to do at home. I'm currently part-time but spend my free days working my arse off. Not that I have to justify myself to you.

She has a 15 min break every hour.

'Solve a case' is a bit too TV drama, but piece things together to present on my days that I do actually get paid. Why do you automatically make assumptions about my life? Odd.

Oh and harsh as a nanny that I'm employing, yes, she does work to her contract which explains her breaks in there. If she isn't happy, she is allowed to stop her job, she isn't a slave and I'm not forcing her to be here.

I wouldn't like this OP, you are paying her to take care of your child.
I see parents doing this all the time, but they are their kids and it's up to them if they want to ignore them and not give undivided attention to their child.
The nanny is being paid for undivided attention, so should not be texting or applying to emails.

So I am a nanny.

I have looked at a typical day and how I would use my phone.

620 arrive at work possibly show my boss a photo/video if it comes up in conversation/handover. Cuddles with charge / say Bye to Mummy
6.30 put on kettle make babies milk - check phone to see days weather and see if we can go for a walk. If bad will text a friend to say well be at gym/soft play.
6.30 greet older charge and make breakfast all sit together and eat. Chat about our day.
7 free play for the children I unload dishwasher/hang washing older child helps. Also scope out the fridge to see what food is in. I may then google a recipe to make use of leftovers and quickly make dinner for later. Older child may help or play. We listen to the radio sometimes streamed on my phone or cbeebies podcasts. While food is cooking I play with the children or we read books on the sofa.
8 upstairs to get dressed
845 baby goes for a nap and older child and I will do craft I may check pinterest if i want to remember the craft were doing ie if with footprint reindeer whI ch way to positon the antlers. I will also take photos of charge painting. If I notice when heckig piteresy that my boss has text or emailed I will if I have time respond but sometimes this has to wait until later.
930 children put coats/shoes on and we go out for the day.
10 In town running errands before group I may text my boss if the children's feet have grown, or check a memo for anything I need to pick up. I will also take photos ie if trying on new shoes or video them doing something silly.
11 group time - see friends play with the children help with art etc. This is a time I may check my phone to confirm dates with the other nannies re dates for day trips etc.
12 Home for lunch and naps.
1-3 children nap - I sort the washing, the dishwasher, iron clothes, sort and clean toys, tidy up, go through children's clothing to sort into too small etc etc
2.45 may check Facebook over a cuppa
2.50 children up - do snack
3.15 head into town to the playground - maybe a text to a nanny to say we're going if she's at a loose end.
4pm local cafe to warm up
5.30 tea time
6pm bath time
6.30 coerced into watching a clip on YouTube ie gruffalo child or something educational like a rocket taking off; chrome cast on the TV
6.45 phone call from boss
7pm bedtime for baby
7.20 boss home I leave.

So I use it a lot,; buy I would say for work uses. Be interested to know if others think too much?

Is she actually nannying and allowed out or babysitting? Your comment re breaks confuses me.

I'm confused about the break situation too. Your nanny has 15 kind break every hour while you take over the childcare?

That sounds very unsettling for all concerned ( though I guess that it must work for you), but that arrangement can't be in place when she's out with the children surely?

She doesn't go out with him? Only to the park, etc. it's always less that 45 mins.

Is that your choice or hers, OP? It sounds very isolated.

I'd be displeased, with both the phone use and the fact that she doesn't seem to be doing much with him.

A lot of projecting from harsh there. This gal is being paid to LOOK AFTER THE CHILD, not diddle on her phone.

Check weather on phone after arriving at work - don't you check the weather in the morning before you get dressed/night before so you're wearing appropriate clothing? Or listen to the radio while having breakfast/driving to work?

I start work at 6.20 am I cycle to work and as you know with the weather it changes - I dress warm in the am and often end up in jeans and a warm top and the weather changes. I eat breakfast at work with the children.

Listen to radio on phone - or just put the radio on

We don't have a radio at work

Watch ceebeebies on phone - or put the tv on

I don't let the children watch TV so we may get a 5 minute episode of something on I player or a YouTube clip.

Look up recipes on phone - or use a recipe book

Have you found a way to ask a recipe book what to do with a spoon FUL of philadelphia, half a broccoli and some olives?

Taking photos of charge painting - why? Does your employer require a photographic record of the day? And why take photos of them trying on shoes? Surely she will see them on their feet? Unless you are trying on the shoes and not buying them (which would be strange). This activity can't happen more than once every three months unless their feet grow incredibly quickly.

Doesnt require photographic evidence as she trusts me. But as My boss works long hours and likes photos of the children's day it doesn't take a minute to take a photo. With the shoe fitting as you said once every few months. I send a photo so they can confirm they like the shoes then I purchase them.

WheresTheEvidence

What a long and fruitful day. I'd hire you if I had children

YANBU - if she has a 15 minute break every hour then that gives her plenty of time to reply to important texts and emails. But I think you need to make this clear with her.

FrancisCrawford: I wouldn't work for a nitpicker like you for £100 an hour! Sounds like your issue is with the presence of a phone rather than any inappropriate usage of a phone, even when the phone is being used to make things more fun/engaging/practical. What on earth is the benefit to being so inflexible?

Is she an actual nanny clips? It's sounds as if you keep her on a very tight leash. Why is she only allowed out for 45 minutes at a time? Is your DC a very young baby? Will this change when the baby is old enough to enjoy and benefit from baby and toddler groups, music groups, meeting up to play with other tots, visiting petting farms, longer fun/ educational trips etc?

YANBU. There is really no reason for the nanny to be using her phone while looking after your child, and I think you are well within your rights as an employer to request that the phone stays off.

Does she really have a 15-minute break every hour? That is an unusual schedule. Extremely generous on your part, though.

5more, I do all those with him??

She only goes out for 45 mins so she gets her breaks

So her call completely? You would be fine with her taking your child out for longer stretches to do fun stuff in the day? Do you not feel your child is missing out on this? Don't mean to be rude but it sounds like an odd arrangement.