Am I being unreasonable?

[ecullen23]

I started working as a part-time nanny for a family 3 months ago and it started off great. The four kids were polite and friendly and I settled into their routine well.

After a month the family asked if I could be paid monthly instead of weekly. I agreed. A month later I was due my wage and they said that they had 'cash flow' problems and didn't pay up for nearly 3 weeks. I've now been waiting for my next months wages for 13 days and to be honest I'm fed up of their 'we're going to look at it tonight' excuses.

To make matters worse today I noticed that they have changed my time-sheet where I note down my hours. I was left a note saying "you left yesterday at 6.24pm not 6.30"! Considering that I am usually at least 10 minutes early in the mornings I think that is a bit of a cheek!!! Is it usual for Nannies to be paid by the minute?!? In my last job we just rounded my hours to the nearest 15 minutes.

I'm really not very good at talking to my employers about the whole 'money' side of things. Am I being unreasonable? Any tips on how to approach these problems without sounding rude?

Start looking for another job.

Just note/amend your arrival time and look for a new job and go back to either weekly or daily payment!

It sounds like your employers are the ones being unreasonable.

'Cash flow' problems are THEIR problems not yours. Your wage should be their priority and they should do whatever is necessary to pay you on time.
I know it's hard but I think you need to tell them that you need paying within x amount of days after the end of the month. Be firm and don't let them mess you around. I'm sure they expect you to get to work on time and do your job well...so they should keep to their side of the agreement too.

It sounds very petty that they are arguing over a few minutes of pay. To be honest I would be extremely worried if my employers did that to me. If I were you I would speak to them and clarify if they really want you to note down your hours to the minute. I've certainly never heard of that before!

If they are still unreasonable then I would start looking for a better family!

sounds like they arnt ever going to pay you and you will have to have a row or confront them, sounds like they want you to walk out so they don't have to pay you. Its definately going to get worse.

Don't expect this to get any better. They have no respect for you - not paying you on time combined with incredible pettiness over your own hours worked has got to be a clear message on that.

Start looking for another job immediately. I would give notice on this job too. It's obviously going to be a huge fight to get the money they owe you, and they will still owe it to you if you just leave.

Having been in a similar situation, I urge you to get out ASAP!

How many nannies complete a timesheet? Don't think I've ever done that for nannying.

How you are paid is detailed in your contract usually. Nannies will often get an annual salary based on a weekly number of hours. If they work more hours than contracted, then overtime applies. If they work less hours than contracted, the contracted hours apply. It's certainly not paid by the minute, least not in my experience.

Monthly pay makes sense but it is due on the agreed day... typically the last working day of the month. If they are missing payday regularly then it's job hunt time. Your bank won't like it if you don't have funds in your account as per your agreement with them, thus then you won't have cleared funds to pay your bills.

It can't go on long... thus job hunt time. Either the family gets things sorted fast, or you leave.

YANBU

My tip is to tell them that you need the money transferred to your account tonight, that it is a totally unacceptable breach of contract to withhold your wages.

If they tell you they cannot pay you tonight then you need to explain that you cannot return to them until the money is paid.

And look for another job fast (regardless)

Please look for another job as soon as possible and if they do not pay you money owed seek legal advice. The citizens advice should be able to help you with this.

These people are unreliable and mean spirited you deserve better.

Not a nanny but everywhere I have been employed, all employers rounded down my hours to the nearest quarter hour rather than up. Nor did employers pay me extra if I began a few mins early, (but some expected me to be there 10 mins early so that I would be ready to start exactly on time). If I was treated any differently I thought they were being generous rather than it being my right. Perhaps your employers get treated this way in their work place too so assume it is how it should be done.

But not being paid is a obviously a huge issue and you need to review this with them- give them a time limit and if they don't stick to it, get out.

Totally within your rights to refuse to return to work until they clear the back due salary.

Start calling agencies today and look at Gumtree/Nannyjob.

Lots of parents may be looking for someone to start after the new year.

You need a new job!!

Yes, they are in breach of contract and you are within your rights to refuse to work any more unless your backdated pay is covered. You could also request a change in the contract (in writing) so that you are paid in advance rather than arrears. There's no valid excuse for failing to pay you when they are supposed to.

However, if you're supposed to work till 6.30 then you are contractually obliged to be there at 6.30. Apart from anything else, if you noted on your timesheet that you left at 6.30 when you actually left at 6.25 then you could be held legally responsible for anything that happened in those five minutes - by your own admission you would have been on the premises.