The Curse of Boff strikes again - this nanny has decided after a fortnight in post that petrol is too expensive

[BoffinMum]

New nanny started two weeks ago, all going well, but then she resigns out of the blue.

This time, the cost of petrol and her 50 mile commute is blamed. She said she hadn't thought about that before taking the job.

I had a 'WTF???' moment as she was specifically asked about this at interview and by the agency.

Agency is being super and they are cross with her for messing us about, and they think she is being wimpy. So do I. She works 47.5 hours a week, so it's not as though her hours are mental for a nanny, either.

[cross]

I think the problem with nannying for me from the other point of view (the nanny) the hours are so long and it's fairly common to do a 60hour week. If you take that on an hour on hour basis your hourly pay isn't that great compared to other job. This week I have been offered a job at £6nph but a friend offered to a cleaning job at 10 per week. Once I have paid all my expenses I'm easily better off just staying and doing a few hours here and there cleaning but what a waste of all that experience. With this all said I have been thinking of fostering. My thinking is I get a rewarding career which fits in with my family, which I think, we all agree, is what we are all looking for. Also I get to use the many years experience I have and finish my degree at the same time. That work life balance is always so hard to obtain. Just when you think you are nearly there, something happens and messes it all up.

The hours are indeed long - cleaners however can only do so many hours a week, usually school hours, and most of them don't work much in school holidays, so it looks a lot on paper, but then not many of them earn more than £5000 a year in total.

A lot of jobs demands heavy hours these days anyway. I am supposed to work 37.5 hours a week but you can add another 10 unpaid onto that, plus commute. It's just life in a professional job these days.

Nannies, I would say that if you do a non-childcare job for a while, if you do a short childcare CPD course at the same time, it demonstrates a real interest in childcare whilst having a good work ethic to potential employers.

Shall we do a group Skype interview via conference call of this poor chap tonight? Then you can tell me if you approve!

Oh yes please

BOF - in how many parts of the country could people support themselves on £16-£18k?? (That's about £5 gross and hour at £18k) That's ridiculous, unless you expect all nannies to be being supported by either their parents or partners.

I personally think the Govt needs to make a nanny's wage payable out of the parents Gross wage (deductable). It is madness to have to pay a nanny out of a net wage - however, that doesn't mean nannies should work for a pittance.

I do.

In fact I have to support myself on less. After tax, childcare and commuting costs, I am lucky to have £150 a month left over to live on. £1800 a year, that is.

In fact many of my postdocs earn around that amount of money as well, thinking about it.

Now - what time is this Skype being set up for?

Boff - so nannies don't have tax, childcare, commuting costs? We are comparing gross with gross here - not gross after whatever...

You are suggesting nannies should have a gross wage of £16-£18k. Gross wage.

As soon as he gets his shorts on.

ON did you say? Bugger.

Chipping in, I do see your point, but I was arguing that a) that's really only what people can afford, if we are brutally honest, and b) I mainly had residential nannies in mind.

TBH most of us don't pay enough in tax to cover a nanny out of gross income - it would cost twice as much tax as I pay.

Anyway, a lot of nurseries pay £16-£18k.

We could argue about this all night and not come up with anything that changes the system So let's not bother eh! :)

Now... can't wait to see this new au pair

Point is though that if you're a nanny, you're either going to have to only work for the very rich or you're going to have to accept that you're part of the ecosystem, and adapt. People simply won't be able to afford you if you charge more than they can pay.

This is the sad fact of the matter, duchesse. We can only charge for our work what people can afford to pay us.

Boffin - you are wise. I like the idea of nannies going freelance too.

PS - has he got his shorts on yet? (rubs hands briskly on thighs Vic Reeves stylee)

PPS - have investigated nanny shortage down here. Seems less them going back to nurseries and more going up to London for half of the week, earning a higher wage but obviously having the hassle of living in and commuting. Also lots have gone abroad, to Middle East etc.

Boffin You can't expect a nanny to work for that low wage. Perhaps that is why your nannies don't stay. I think an au pair would be better for you. It's a shame you can't afford to pay more but it's hardly the nannies fault they have outgoings that they need to meet too.

Hope the Skype interview went well.

Eastnorth, I pay £20-25,000, depending on whether it's live in or live out, etc! Read da blooming thread!!

Well, we have interviewed him. It's a no, I am afraid. Not enough pre-schooler experience and I think he'd flounder.

Back to the drawing board ...

Eastnorth, most other jobs round here that require a Level 3 qualification only pay that kind of wage as well. As do local nurseries. Presumably those workers have similar outgoings?

Ok sorry. Should have read all the thread.

Yes people that work in nurseries all seem very young lots of nannies do this for their first job to gain experience. So they won't need as much money if they are living at home.