Nannies/Mother's Help - do they eat lunch from your fridge?

[VictoriaR]

Just about to employ a MH but wondering whether I have to factor feeding another adult at lunchtime x days a week.
TIA

Every nanny position I have been in my contract has said more or less the same as what imananny has said - and all my friends have had more or less the same.
It has never ever been an issue because I have never taken the "p!ss".

Sycamoretree - i have it in my contract and also in previous jobs as learnt from a friend years ago, and she got told off for eating breakfast at work and she started at 7am -

also she got moaned at as ate once with children at tea time, and mb came home early and saw, and wasnt happy
sometimes better to haveALL things like that in contract, to svae pettyness a few months on

gangle from your post - saying if nanny forgot lunch,she could help herself - does that mean you would expect your nanny to bring in lunch

tbh as long as the nanny doesnt take the piss and eat the familys steak (tho know my mb wouldnt mind) i dont think it is asking too much to previde lunch for your nanny in form of sandwich,jacket pot, soup or pasta
etc

When we had a nanny I always expected her to help herself to whatever she wanted but as far as I could see she hardly ever ate anything. I would really have liked her to eat with the children because I think that it's good for them to have a sociable meal where everyone eats the same thing but I don't think that she ever did do. If I were interviewing nannies again it's something I'd ask about.

gangle

"I did think about the fact that she has to work through lunchtime as a reason that we should provide lunch - however, she is getting paid for that hour."

She's getting paid for that hour because, unlike those of us who employ nannies, she doesn't actually down tools and stop for an hour!

I think it's incredibly unreasonable for an employer not to provide food, given the length of time that the nanny works during the day, and that she is there over at least one of her own meal times.

Hey botherednanny I don't know why I think it's insane - I can certainly see why many people provide lunch for their nannies given we work through a traditional lunch "break" and can't nip to a shop for our lunch etc.

I think I am just a bit of a bit of a weirdo, it feels weird to me to eat some else's food! Maybe if I had been with a family for years it'd be ok but I'd be worried about eating the wrong thing, eating too much, eating too little etc. Last time I forgot my lunch and next day I brought in loaf of bread and pack of ham to replace what I'd used. I think I'm just worried that parents might think I'm taking the mick; in my eyes nannies have a "bad" reputation in that many people think we have an easy life and an incorrect perspective of what a "real" job is like. Bringing my own lunch is my own silly little way of proving I do know what it's like in the "real world" I guess. Hope that makes sense?!

As far the nanny and childminder thing, yes you can go on bother registers but you'd need to pay 2 separate fees. You can be classed as self employed and an employee simultaneously; so my tax free allowance is used in my job where I am an employee and my self employed earnings are taxed at one % rate - 22% I think it is, or there abouts. Unless of course I exceed £40k or whatever the limit is these dates for the higher rate of tax. Hope this makes sense, I'm really knackered and ill and should be asleep!

Harriet - that went down fine. It definitely helped to be clear.

I would say lunch for nanny is a pretty small cost compared with the overall pay, but best to put things that you don't want to disappear on a particular shelf of the fridge, or labelled or something.

hey navyeyelasH that does make sense actually...
I know what you mean about wondering of you've eaten too much etc, I actually HATE eating in front of other people (except children obviously lol) + always try to find an excuse if my bosses ask if I want to eat dinner with them - the thought of eating in front of other adults terrifies me... I have no idea why. I'm a hell of a lot better than I used to be though lol, I can eat in front of close friends {nutter emoticon needed - }

re: the tax question, that explains it perfectly thanks soo much chick!

It's in our nanny's contract that we give her lunch. She does our online shop for us adn can add whatever she wants. She eats very sensibly thank goodness - does order the odd extra tub of ice cream that disappears very quickly!

I wouldn't drea of asking nanny to bring her own food, unless she specifically had something at home she wanted to bring in. We provide for our (live out) nanny's lunch and snacks, and tbh I have no idea what she eats, there is no noticeable dent in our supplies.... she is also able to buy what she wants out of the kitty that she has. I also ask her if there is anything specifically she sould like me to get in for her. She doesn't take the piss, and avoids any obviously special items in the fridge/cupboard. I think she generally eats w the children...

What about dinner? If nanny works 8am-6pm, and gives kids tea at 4:30-5pm, is it expected that nanny will eat a full portion at the same time?

A friend's nanny orders a full dinner for herself at 4:30pm when they eat out (too often if you ask me). Is that odd?

navyeyelasH I think you're really cool

mean beans - no generally i wouldnt eat with the children at teatime, but would sit with them, but very occassionaly i have had tea/marmite toast/bit of pasta if going out striaght afterwork or going to gym

if out for tea, as we do, i might order a cuppa and a biccy but certainly wouldnt order a full meal at 4.30 - lunch - well thats different

MeanBeans I bet you say that to all the ladies

imananny you're a nanny and find time to go to the Gym [shocked face smiley does not convey enough shock]. Share with me your secret ways of bending the time space continuum; I'm always too knackered to go to the gym but I really really need to sort it out!

I get up at 7.40am and leave the house at 8am (mega early for me as I am a lazy stay in bed all day if I could type) and get home at 7pm eat tea around 7.45pm.

My problem is that I could go to the gym from work, so could go at 6.50pm, but by the time exercise, get bum home, shower and wash hair it's way too late to eat tea! Eating tea at work is also more or less out of the question as I am always rushing around, when charges eat I am loading dishwasher, wiping down sides and putting away laundry etc.

Have been thinking about taking my life into my own hands and asking DP to burn toast cook tea; then I could cancel £60 month subscription (only used it for last 4 month to take charges swimming!) and go for a run along the waterfront - but I might get mugged/murdered/otherwise bludgeoned to death etc.

How do you fit it in!? [desperate]

i work 8-6,30 and go straight to gym for 7pm class, hence why i have a little snack at tea time at work, or would faint during my vigerious exercise!! and then have something small at home at 8.30

i am kanckered at end of day, but find once i am there i feel better for it -normally go 3 times a week

did try once going before work, got up at 6am [shudders] and was sooooooooooooo tired and grumpy that day, decided wasnt worth it

also go for a 3mile walk with a friend and kids twice a month - kids in buggy and get fresh air, i get double exercise pushing a buggy and walking 3 miles

I did a 6 mile buggy hike yesterday so I knwo what you mean about the buggy being a good work out!

Ok I could have a snack thing during work (god knows what though) but my something small would have to at about 9-9.30pm - do you reckon that's way to late!? I normally go to bed around 11 ish.

i normally have marmite toast/banana/cpasta if kids having it/beans on toast is good - really gives you energy

cuppa soup is good, esp if you are rushing about sorting stuff out after tea, you can still drink ir whiledoing stuff

OMG at 6miles - 3 kills my friend and i - we now squabble who has the heaviest buggy

9.30isnt that late to eat, esp if you have had a little something - pmsl i sound just like winnie the pooh!!