Nannys/parents - how do you agree overtime?

[sukigg]

Hello. We are about to appoint our first nanny. We both have busy, senior management jobs and while we will definitely be aiming for a better work/life balance now we're parents, it's inevitable that at times we will be home later than the nanny's official clocking off time, and that sometimes we might not know that until the day itself.

I've made it clear in our ad that we need someone flexible and able to stay late when required, and have discussed us being back late (not as a matter of course, but if unavoidable) during interviews, asking how much notice the nanny would need to stay late etc.

My question is if this is the norm? In my industry, although you are contracted to certain hours, it (rightly or wrongly) goes without saying that you stay until the job is done - generally when earning less than a nanny it turns out! We have no intention of taking advantage of our nanny, and so far they've all been very relaxed about it, but all the talk of hourly rates has me wondering if after a couple of favours, they'll start equating the odd extra half hour with pound signs and will feel disgruntled. Are we better to ask for a few babysitting sessions as part of the contract, even though we don't really need them, to use for late homecomings? Or is it generally accepted that you sometimes have to stay half an hour late? Does anyone ever end up paying overtime to their nanny? Would appreciate some advice as really want to ensure a fair arrangement for all.
(longwinded, sorry, but it's my first post!)

My first couple of weeks in my current job I got paid my babysitting rate each time parents were late- 2 or 3 times. Since then, nothing! They are often late, usually 10-20 mins but sometimes later. I don't plan things for evenings anyway as I'm exhausted, I spend over 2 hours a day walking for the school run plus am studying so I just go home. Trouble is the parents know that!

I just think that as long as nanny doesn't feel taken advantage of, a bit of flexibilty can work well. I've been at my job for 6 months now and love it so I put up with it. Also I have had one and a half (paid) days off when family took a long weekend so that adds up. I know its different as I was available to work those days but I just think they are paying a lot to have me there so I can be flexible.

Oh and to those talking about different kinds of work- there is a huge difference between staying till your work is finished and nannying. I imagine you know at least a bit in advance that you will have a busy week, a project is due or whatever. Perhaps you can take some of the work home with you, or take notes or something when out on a lunchbreak- which nannies don't get! (that's meant to be funny, not a serious point before I get jumped on). Getting a text or call 10 mins before you're supposed to leave is like your boss walking into your office when you are finished for the day, holding your coat and looking forward to your tea, and plonking a sleepy three year old on your desk, who is expecting their parents any second and won't go to bed until seeing them, and telling you to look after the child for an undetermined amount of time. Because no matter how amazing nanny is and how good the relationship is, at bed time all my little charges want is a cuddle with mummy or daddy. I know that doesn't apply to all nannies as their finish time is different to bedtime or the charges are older/younger but for me thats the case.

I had a job where my bosses were always late. They ran a clinic which was pen until 6pm I was only paid until 6pm so they were never going to be on time when it was full. She then did change my hrs so I worked until seven so then sometimes left early.
Paying for a 30 min handover may be a good idea you then have time to find out what you dc have been up to during the day you then have a little bit of lee way with the time.
I had a communication book which I also wrote in so if they were late and i needed to go as soon as they were back I could

I'm a mum and live-out nanny employer. Both DH and I are solicitors, and we can sometimes have to work long hours. Our arrangement (ie mine and DH's) is that I will always be home on time for our nanny to leave, unless either I have pre-arranged with nanny that she works late (or made alternative childcare arrangements like grandparents taling over), or DH is able to leave work to take over from nanny.

Come what may (unless its something which I know of in advance of the actual day), I leave work on time. That may involve me taking work home to do when DS is asleep, or going into work super early the next morning (I start at 8:30 anyway, and have a one-hour commute). But unless I have advance notice, I leave work on time.

If I am late home, either by pre-arrangement with our nanny, or say, the trains are up the spout, I will always pay our nanny overtime rounded up to the nearest half an hour. And yes, nanny and we pay tax on that. That's what our contract says. I see it as a professional way of acting, I suppose.

OP, its great that you've identified this as a potential issue in advance of hiring a nanny as you can plan for it and talk to the nannies you're interviewing about how this type of situation will work for you all.

Just to be clear (in case any of the nanny's I'm interviewing identify me!), I was never envisaging calling home ten minutes before I was due back to say I'd be late. I agree that's downright rude, whether meeting a friend for lunch or coming home to a nanny (unless you've been stuck underground for half an hour which as we all know, does happen from time to time). Clearly though, lack of courteous communication is a common issue for many nannys, going by all the anecdotes here.
I was simply trying to get my head round how agreeing an hourly rate for what we're seeing as a monthly/annual expenditure affects flexibility with the working day. There will be times when I know a week in advance that neither DH or I can get home on time, and occasions when the day disintegrates out of the blue by lunchtime and I have to call the nanny. I do have other childcare options if she's not available, so she would never be 'forced' to stay. And we are equally as likely to go in late, hence the swings and roundabouts idea.
Inerestingly, all the nannys I've interviewed have said they are happy about a reciprocal arrangement, and none have asked for overtime to be paid - and I've been quite direct in asking about their expectations on this! However, we haven't 'sealed the deal' with anyone yet, so I suppose they could still change their minds...

And by 'reciprocal', I mean relatively relaxed, rather than each of us keeping a tally of every extra 10mins... Right, I'm going to shut up about this now I think!

I worked for a GP and very occassionally she would be get delayed either in surgery or on home visits or if there had been an accident on the motorway ( it was only 1 junction journey home ) and I was totally fine with that. She would always let me know as soon as she could but sometimes it was 10mins before I was due to finish. She was always very apologetic and very grateful. If she was late home, inevitably she'd let me come in late when she had a late start or go early when she was home early. I think as long as flexibility is reciprocated then it's fine.

On the other hand I also worked for a SAHM and when they decided to bugger off to the Mall at 3pm ( an hrs drive away ) and then ring at my finish time to say they were just leaving that you used to piss me off and I'm quite easy going.

I have it in my contract that if parents are late by more than 15 min than they will need to pay me as per hour. TBH they are hardly late, maybe once a month, so I can't complain.