What is reasonable in this situation?

[yanny]

I’m interviewing for a nanny job but they only need childcare 3 weeks out of every 4. What would be a reasonable compromise about pay for the unworked week? More to the point what would be unreasonable? I don’t need to be available at all for that week but obviously can’t find another job for one week a month

If I was hiring a nanny - which I will be in 6 months - I'd offer full time pay and suck it up. I think it's really unfair to ask someone to work 3 out of 4 weeks. It's different to asking for, eg, 3 days a week.

Well most jobs pay for contracted hours. Would it be constant? What about annual leave? To me it sounds ideal as would get a week off every month, and I would adjust my salary expectations accordingly. It depends if the money would cover what you need and what you want to do with a week off every month. Personally I’d be chomping at the bit for a job like that!!

A week off every month does sound great but it knocks a massive chunk off the salary if it’s unpaid (which seems to be the intention)

I don’t think they have considered offering a retainer and from what has been briefly discussed it seems it would be unpaid so losing around £10,000 per year from salary. I just want to put forward a reasonable alternative but have no idea what. I mean full pay would be ideal!

Could you offer child related things on the 4th week? Laundry, toy organisation etc

It's not fair of them to expect not to pay you because it is not as if you can find an alternative that is just one week in four. I'd stick to expecting full pay but offer yourself as available for nanny like responsibilities.

If it’s unpaid I would just look for another job. Ask them directly.

That's a lot of money to lose. It wouldn't be sustainable for me. I'm a childminder & would charge a retainer as I wouldn't be able to fill the space. A nursery would do the same. You shouldn't have to suffer financially.

What about asking for half pay for the week. It would still be a drop in salary but a week off every four weeks would be a huge plus too.

Presumably it’s a salaried job. You get paid x per month for y hours. Either you can afford to work part time or you can’t, you don’t work part time for full time pay.

Ate you on standby if child is ill, school closed etc? If so it should be paid.

I guess you have to see it as a part time job. In my job we work 35 hours per week, so 140 hours in a 4 week period. You're being offered a part time job of 105 hours in a 4 week period. If you want a full time job then you need to look elsewhere.

The council where I live have a staff bank to call on when needed for school & nursery staff. I would imagine most areas would have something similar.

Decent Ad hoc nursery cover are like gold dust. People list their availability and the good ones are constantly booked.

Do you have the qualifications that would make this a viable option for you?

This would easily top up your salary without permanent commitment.

Decide what you can and want to live on...

What was the salary offered? Is it reasonable?

Don't think about negotiating for pay for the third week specifically... they know it's a compromise ... if they offer a reasonable annual salary that you are happy with and you are happy to schedule all of your holidays in the third week you could be paid for up to 43 weeks (excluding bank holidays) instead of 39. (would assume they also would be happy with that holiday arrangement) also is it one week off per month? Or strictly one in 4.... that distinction could increase your pay by another week.

What is the full time salary range for your area? What are the hours like? Does the annual salary fit within the range of salaries for your area? Is this enough for you? Are there other jobs around that are a better fit?

You could go in with an expectation that you expect to be paid £45,000 gross for a full time job and would be happy with £40,000 based on experience and see how they take it.

I agree with this.

Look at the annual wage, rather then hourly/daily/weekly. Ask for an annual wage that works for you and then they have the option of accepting your offer or not.

That will often be easier for people to stomach than thinking they're paying you for a week you're not working even though it essentially works out the same!

So losing 12 weeks pay. 3mths. That's a lot

Would you ever have to work that 4th week if child was ill etx

Or could you look for temp work for that week. Obv it may not happen

Unless the salary was very good for those 3w so basically over the usual weekly wage it would be a no from me

Thanks so much everyone,

I have only just skimmed over but I’ll catch up with replies tomorrow