how to deal with relatively unfair "pay" situation

[CarmineB]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading some threads about wages while DC is at nursery and the nanny does pick ups, drop offs and there are a few hours of no work during a shift. All posts say that there is, at least, a 50 percent charge.

I have not been offered getting paid, even if I will be on call, and being there for sick days and school holidays.

And this is the moment I get annoyed; my wages are down, my routine is gone, I am running here and there.

So, I have been considering quitting the job. And it is very hard. I am not sure whether I should talk to the parents first and ask for a more fair deal. However, it is very difficult since they have never offered to pay while I am not on duty and they know I am losing those hours; I doubt I should continue with a family like this.

Have you ever approached parents and asked for a better deal? have parents been approached?
Please help.

Cx

They have changed the job in a number of ways, you are obviously very unhappy with this and from your posts, I can't see you ever being happy with this family. I think you should stop staying in a situation where you don't like the job and blame the parents, and find a job you are happy with.

If you have a contract they cannot unilaterally change your hours (or duties) unless the contract says they only have to pay you for the hours you work. What they can do is give you notice (which they would have to pay you at full hours) and they might owe you a redunancy payment depending on how long you have been with them. Or they can try to renoegotiate the contract but you need to agree.
When my youngest DC went to nursery our nanny chose to find a new job because she got bored during the hours both kids were out and liked working with babies (and predicited we might want to try to agree changes). If she had not done that we would either have discussed with her whether she was prepared to take on some housekeeping duties (and if not may have made her redunant). When we looked for a new nanny we looked in the alternative for a full time nanny housekeeper or a nanny who was prepared to do (and be paid for) after school and holidays only.
We went with the former mainly because we were not able to find any decent candidates who were willing to take a pay cut in term time (they either wanted full time or close to full time pay or they wanted it to be part time during school hols as well as term time so they could take on a second job in the mornings). So your bosses may be being delusional in thinking they can find someone who will be paid just for the hours they work (although if you are in London at least there are lots of nannies looking for jobs at the mo so things may have changed).

The other option might be to take on a nanny share eg, look after a baby while children are in nursery.

Might work for parents who just want a couple of hours care.