WWYD?

[HowsTheSerenity]

After some discussion with other nannies, I am curious to know how many nanny employers would ask/expect thier nannies to do these tasks?

Clean out the garden shed (does contain some toys).

Use a hired carpet cleaner to shampoo carpets in childrens rooms.

Break plans on weekend to open house up for employers when they have lost their own house keys.

Unpack non child related things from their family holiday.

Organise, plan and book a family holiday.

Thanks

Is this a pure nanny role or more of a nanny-housekeeper? Are the kids in school or full time at home?

Kids are all at school during the day (but some finish at 1pm). She starts at 7am.

The nanny in question was hired as a nanny but seems to have ended up in more of a nanny/pa/housekeeper role.

1- Clean out the garden shed (does contain some toys).

No. But would ask her to clean out the toys only.

2- Use a hired carpet cleaner to shampoo carpets in childrens rooms.

No.

3- Break plans on weekend to open house up for employers when they have lost their own house keys.

Definitely not.

4- Unpack non child related things from their family holiday.

Absolutely not!

5- Organise, plan and book a family holiday.

Not unless her reward for this task is that she is going on the holiday (and not working), and she had been goven the option and agreed to these terms.

I'm with Strix

does the nanny have clearly articulated duties in contract? The more ambiguity the tougher it can be

Am nanny employer rather than nanny btw

Funny though, it takes me back to when I was an au pair for a delightful but eccentric Italian family 20 years ago - I did some really odd stuff for them but didn't mind at the time and the benefits compensated

Incidentally, I have and full time nanny and my kids are in school all day (except obviously during the hols).

As a nanny i would not do any of the above...

although if my bosses were locked out and i was the only person with a spare key then id ddo my best to help them get back into their house

Clean out the garden shed (does contain some toys).

I would clean out the toys but only if I don't have my charges around. Sheds and charges don't go together, especially if you need to clean them out:).

Use a hired carpet cleaner to shampoo carpets in childrens rooms.

I would do it in my working hours if I don't have my charge around.

Break plans on weekend to open house up for employers when they have lost their own house keys.

No. BUt would tell them that I might be at home in a couple of hours,they could come and pick up the keys.

Unpack non child related things from their family holiday.

No.

Organise, plan and book a family holiday.

Yes, I would do that cause I enjoy doing it:).

Thanks for your input.
THat is pretty much what I said.
The nanny is not going on the holiday with the family but she will be reprganising the kids rooms while they are away.

I once had to leave my niece's birthday party and drive an hour home(after a small glass of wine), as my employer had locked herself out and as her husband was working, I had the only other key.

I was due to stay overnight at my sister's with my children but had to leave 10 minutes into the party as my employer "had" to have her children stay on their routine.

I wasn't impressed.

I would tidy the toys if I didn't have children but would say no to everything else.

tbh i wouldnt do any of those things apart from possibly break plans to let employers in their house

depends where i was, ie not going to drive back 3hrs if away for weekend, but if was at home (5mins away) then would happily go and drop keys over

I have vaxed the children's bedroom and playroom carpets, but my bosses went away for 5 weeks, had already had 6 weeks holiday that year and had another 2 booked in, so I said I would do it while they were away, they didn't ask and were greatful as the boys were little and the milk stains were everywhere!

I have also sanded and varnished a table as my boss had done it a few months before and there was a huge grease stain under the varnish and it drove me mad! This was also done in the 5 weeks they were away, I had started to get bored!

I would be pretty pissed off to be asked to do any of thise jobs on the list though or the things that I did when I was bored but house/dog sitting so I couldn't go on my own holiday.

My second position, worked for an extremely harrassed widowed father who didn't know his arse from his elbow when he was "in charge" of his 2.5 year old and 18 month old sons, The amount of times he called me to come let him in does not bare thinking about! (I was live-in, but in an annex on the side of the house, although I was generally out when he was locked out!) I had spare keys cut, after asking him of course, and gave them to half a dozen good neighbours, on monday morning, I would re-distribute them to the neighbours. Now, whenever I start a new job I make sure there are spare keys locally!