…about being mucked about by employers

[NellesVilla]

Hi everyone,

So I’m changing careers and on the way to this, am doing some nannying for a friend. The family were going way and leaving me to care for their child (who I’ve known for years), the house and 2 x cats. This was to be for 5-6 weeks during the summer and a temporary, fairly well-paid position.

Recently, they came back to me and said that now their other friend was going to come and live in the house for this time instead of me and would do some of the child and cat care. This is where it gets ridiculous… They would like me to be on call for nowt (£0), and to be ready to step in to take over if and when the friend wants to go out, go away overnight, go to Oxford for the day etc etc.

They expect me to take time off work (I haven’t quite left my current job yet), use my holiday allowance up and have no guarantee of work with them. As I said, they’ve offered no retainer to be on call; they expect me to be ready to dash over and take over. Obviously I can’t really accept other work in any free time I have, just in case…

Wtaf? If this were someone else I would tell them these people were being legendary CFs of the highest order possible, but I just don’t know how to inform them that this is unreasonable without looking like it’s all about the money.

It’s harder when it’s you. Help!!!

You just have to say, sorry I need to work, I can’t be on call with no pay for that length of time.

It’s ok for it to be all about the money!

hi friend, sorry, no, I can’t do that as I do have to eat and live and pay bills. I’m very happy to care for your child as planned, but if you don’t now need me full time then I’ll have to work elsewhere so I won’t be able to be on call let me know what you decide as I’ll need to get back to x employer if things are changing. Thanks!

Well they have quite handily ruined the friendship by treating you so badly so now it will be straightforward to say NO.

Good luck in your career change!

Tell them you were interested when it was a full-time role for a fixed term, and you were going to leave your current job to take it as a proper job. But now there is no actual job for you, just a few hours last minute cover sessions, it is no longer feasible for you, so you'll be looking for something else instead.

Only got as far as on call for nowt. They are being hugely unreasonable. Tell them where to stick their offer.

Unfortunately that doesn’t work for me, let me know what you want however my terms of employment are X.

You need to take the personal out of it and be professional.

I think this may be a new cf record.

So pleased that I am in the right. I told someone about this in irl today and they basically said the same thing. It is ridiculous.

Sorry but my bills aren't paid as and when I feel like it, so I'll need to secure another FT temp position for that time period. Enjoy your trip!

Oh and I don't think you should have any trouble finding nannying gigs over the summer holidays, download the Bubble app!

Thanks, @NippyWoowoo !