I work as a nanny for a family of 5. 2 parents and 3 children. I was taken on originally to take care of the children but over time the jobs and duties expected of me became more. I always did a general clean up of the areas from when I started but the cleaning requirements became more and more.
Recently I was folding away clean clothes in the utility room. There was a wash in the machine that finished. I was clearing away the load of clean dry clothes to find space to hang the wet clothes. Mother boss was working from home and comes in and sees a load a washed load sitting in the machine and she starts ranting at me because I didn't do it ASAP. She just made me feel so small. I hated it. I wanted to walk that day to see if she could do better with her own children and her own home and clothes.
There's other aspects of the job that I don't like. I had a contract with hours set out but over time the parents started messing me around coming home later. Putting exercise in the gym and social dinners and meetings after work ahead of coming home to their own children in the evening time and ahead of me. The longest day I worked was from 8am to 10.30pm at night. I didn't get a penny over time. There's been other abuses on my time like that too.
Since this pandemic started, one of the parents work from home. The parent continues to work out from the house as an essential worker. They've told me from the start that because one parent is essential, than I'm essential. They were following all of the guidelines. So I was happy to continue to work. I also got some lovely hours and since March there was a better work life balance. Starting in the mornings at 11 and finishing for 6pm. It was lovely and badly needed. I finally found time to start looking after me.
I feel lately they might be slipping back into their old ways with me finishing later. Also there's more and more people coming and going to the house now:
Cleaners x 3 times a week
Home teacher every morning for about 3 hours. When this teacher is working, my focus is on a disabled child.
Playdates
Hairdresser
I don't feel comfortable any more because there's no social distancing happening and there's more human traffic coming and going to the house.
Also I have another issue maybe I might get advice on please.
The parents booked me, to move in for a week at the end of June. This was before the virus emerged. So the parents can take two of their children away on a home grown holiday and leave me at home in their home with their disabled child. Essentially working for 3 weeks solid before I get a day off. Normal week, followed by 7 nights in their home, followed by another normal week. Then I will get time off. They will top up my wage but it certainly won't be the time and hall according to law. I feel if I was to work like that in a factory, I would probably come out with 700 or 800 pounds a week. My weekly pay is 400 pounds. With the week they have planned, I might get another 200 pounds on top of what I usually get.
I presumed because of the virus, the plans would be off now. I got a call last night reminding me of that week where they wish to continue with their plans. This fills me with unease really. They will be staying in a self catering cottage so they won't be in a hotel. I feel uneasy because what if they get sick while they are away and they are required to stay in isolation leaving me with their child in their house for more than the agreed 7 nights. What if I become ill? I don't know if I can trust them that they would care enough about me if I was to get sick. I don't know if they would come home to me. Or what if my family become ill and need my help? It's almost as if she thinks my family is an old mother so she doesn't count because she's not a small child.