Cleaning as a nanny

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I'm a nanny and since the youngest children started nursery, I do some bit round the house. Washing, ironing, beds etc all fine. But on the weeks the cleaner isn't there I'm being asked to clean the bathrooms. I personally don't think this is my job. I know for a fact I get paid less per hour than the cleaner. I wasn't employed as a nanny housekeeper, and I wasn't asked if I would mind, it was just assumed. AIBU?

YANBU

I would speak to your employer about renegotiating the terms of your contract.

Yanbu. Last year my nanny had a few hours when both kids were in school / nursery when she would do kids laundry and tidy their rooms. She also ironed dh shirts sometimes - she apparently likes ironing and likes having something to do. We would never ask her to do heavy cleaning like bathrooms / windows / oven etc. We had another baby so now she is fully occupied. I'd look for another role.

YA absolutely NBU!

We wouldn't have dreamed asking our au pair to do that sort of cleaning, let alone a qualified nanny?!

Your employers are CFs.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't think I was being unreasonable but it's nice to be backed up! Now I just need to work out what to say. I'm a people pleaser and hate confrontation but I have to stand up for myself. If she wants me to do it, that's fine as long as my wage reflects it

Apart from looking after the children themselves, your only other jobs are to look after the children's stuff and do a quick clean up after them.

If your employer can't see this then you need to hand in your notice and refuse to do general household cleaning.

Leaving them and finding another job isn't really an option. I only do 19 hours a week which is when my PIL have DS. I doubt I would find another role with these hours. Plus I like them, I like the kids and the thought of starting again doesn't thrill me. I've been with them nearly 3 years

I have no advice but can’t believe they’re paying someone more per hour to clean than to care for their children!

YANBU

YANBU

Could you say something along the lines of
"Hey, I'm happy to carry on doing the extra cleaning the weeks the cleaner isn't in and I have the time when the DC are here (if you actually are that is) but what will need to happen alongside that is an increase in my pay for the extra work" that's not an unreasonable request.

If you've known them for a long time you'd know how to best approach this.

How long are children in nursery?

Could you perhaps prep the evening meal instead if you have extra time? I would prefer that to bathrooms

You hold more cards than you think.

I have hired help, and if she came to me to negotiate for more money, I'd lose more from her leaving than she would. If you have a bond with the kids most parents will be very anxious to see that maintained over anything else.

The children are in nursery all day today, I start at 12, cook tea (and usually tea for tomorrow as well) iron, do laundry, change 4 beds, hoover etc

Definitely speak to your employer!! If you're going to be the house keeper as well as nanny you should be fairly compensated.

If the children are in nursery all day, why do you start at 12? I’m just curious as it sounds like you’re already doing more housekeeping than childcare? Maybe that’s why they felt they could ask re the bathroom.

Speak to them, they probably haven’t given it as much thought as you.

Perhaps your employer thinks they are giving you the extra work to justify the hours when you don’t have the children to care for. An alternative would to cut your hours to when childcare is needed but your pay would be less.

Think about what tasks you are happy to do and which you don’t want to do and how much time this would take, then talk to them.

It does depend on what is in your contract - if household cleaning is listed as a duty, then it’s your job, if not, then it isn’t. Our contract with our nanny had ‘light household duties’ in because I wanted her to load and unload dishwasher, occasionally do a load of laundry / hang it up to dry, take the bin out when full and that sort of thing, which come up in your daily life at home with children. I wouldn’t have expected her to clean the bathroom - except perhaps rinse the tub when the kids got out, and wipe the toothpaste dribbles of the sink 🥴. It is difficult if you are being paid whilst the children are at nursery and school though. My friend has a ‘Nanny / Housekeeper’ who she employs all day purposely so she can clean properly, do laundry, cook, walk the dog, run errands whilst the kids are at nursery- but she was employed for that purpose and the details are in her contract.

I start at 12 because getting things like bed changing and tea ready is much easier without the kids. If I started at school pick up I wouldn't get much done, there's 4 children so a lot going on with homework, reading etc.

Like I said, light household duties are no problem at all. I've done them the whole time I've worked here. Dishwasher, laundry, cooking, tidying up after the kids/dog. I've never been asked to clean the bathroom before. I have just under 3 hours before the school run and cooking two meals, changing 4 or 5 beds, laundry for a family of 6 takes up most of it

As well as the fact the cleaner is paid £3 an hour more than me

I think you are right but it depends how much you want this particular job whether you press this. They might just decide that given little one is at nursery, their needs have changed and hire someone who doesn’t mind doing more cleaning. Is it the pay that annoys you? Would asking for extra when you do cleaner type jobs redress this? What solution would suit you and the family best?

You’re not the cleaner; if the cleaner is off they need to clean their own bathroom or if they want you to then ask and offer overtime rates.

YANBU. I think housework associated with the kids and cleaning up as you go would be perfectly reasonable but not acting like a poorly paid cleaner.

Sounds like they are using you as a house-keeper/ baby sitter.
Not a nanny job at all

I'd also agree with PP that if they have any sense they'll do their utmost to keep hold of you. If you're a good nanny who can cope with 4 kids and you make sure their homework gets done and they do their reading etc. you must be like gold dust. I'm sure they could replace you with someone cheap who could herd the kids around but not necessarily someone who would actually be a good caretaker for their children.