Nannies: market rates (bit controversial)

[Tanzie]

Having read on another thread ("Paying Nannies when sick") gripes from UK nannies about jobs going to girls from accession countries who will work for less, (and do more in the way of housework), is this not just pushing the market rate down for qualified/experienced nannies?

I am not in UK, but I would look at it as providing more affordable childcare, provided you can find someone trustworthy and reliable. I lived in UK briefly about 4 years ago and a nanny friend of mine was earning GBP 25,000 and got a flat thrown in with it. This is more than I was earning at the time and could never have afforded this sort of money for someone to look after my children.

I am not suggesting slave labour from Central European girls, or paying them an au pair's "pocket money" for what is essentially a nanny job, but paying them a reasonable wage and providing free accommodation means that a lot of people, who could not afford a nanny or nursery fees, will probably be able to get back to work.

Of course, there will always be those who want a Norland nanny and can afford one, but it seems to me that your average Mum would welcome these Central Europeans with open arms...

I'll run and hide now...

beetroot, that was a joke

ladies (can I call you ladies, some of you were not that lady like tonight )

GOOD NIGHT

My question asking if you are an American

No, I am not American.

No, I am not American.

Thank you for answering.

You're welcome

at some of the blatant racism in this thread!

and anyone else wondering how many of these posters are the 'same' people that have changed their names............lots of nanny's 'suddenly' appearing................

'But we are small country and I think we need to help the people already in it, paying taxes and contributing before we help the others.'

Erhem... I'm a 'foreigner who's come into this country and taken somebodies job' and believe me... for the last 14 years I've been paying lots of NI and taxes so actually contributing to this country's coffer a lot! So nobody's been helping me!

Also, I'm not sure whether I read the post correctly re 'eastern nannies are coming over here because they can't get a job at home'... if I read it correctly I think that's a lot of bull. IMHO they're coming here a) to experience another country and b) it's a matter of demand and supply. Especially London, where there is a big emphasis on being in a career opens the opportunity for child care jobs.

Also may I point something out for which I probably get my head ripped off... regarding those 2 ladies who are so proud of being UK nannies (nothing wrong with that in itself I may add )... I've noticed that their spelling and grammer seems to be ever so slightly worse than most others so how does that fit in with good qualifications and supplying an educational environment. I know typos can happen but some of those things I spotted were very obviously not typos

p.s. I wouldn't expect my nanny to do all the housework, but a little help would be highly appreciated

The nannies have appeared because of a link on a nannysite, where there is lots of chuckle on this thread!

I felt as though that was what you were applying and i didnt like it!! Your rude!!!

Sorry, that was to lockets

Mr BigD here again. Not retreating at all, will be signing up the moment I've a chance sometime today. Sorry! Well to those who don't appreciate my comments, just too bad!

I'm one of those damned foreigners that comes over and takes the high tech IT jobs. I've worked in numerous countries around the world and am generally in demand. Actually the UK encourages my likes as they want the high tech skills and can't get it with local labour. Since being in this country some 6 years I've been out of work a total of 4 - 6 months, part travelling and just having a good time.

Now why am I so popular? Is it because I'm cheap? No, I'm actually the most expensive in my team next to my manager. The main reasons are because I work my butt off and do a bloody good job! I put in the long hours and I know what I'm doing. I'm also more than the average worker if I don't say so myself. I'm not a specialist who can only focus in one area but have skills outside of my expertise. Good nannies are the same hence most 'foreign' and 'european' nannies are popular with the 'locals'. If the work wasn't there and they weren't wanted then they wouldn't be 'coming over here' and stealing local jobs as it were. People want them and theres obviously a market otherwise lets face it, we wouldn't be here! And on top of that the present government wants this and so do the opposition parties so you're pretty much screwed on that one!

And as for working in other countries. Sorry to say but been there, done that. Most English Nannies I know couldn't get a job in NZ, Australia or the USA. Why? Straight up, most don't have 12 years experience which can be fully backed which is one of the requirements for a US H-1 Visa. Second they don't have the education! 2 years in some 'poncy' nanny school just doesn't cut it for the Visa staff I'm afraid! Then we have Australia which is based on a points system. So again 2 years nanny school training = no good and not acceptable. Job experience counts though so if you've got 10 years plus then you've a chance in that way. Of course you could do like most do which is the 2 years up to the age of 27. Now the problem with this access method occurs both in the UK and Australia. You're not supposed to work in your primary industry AND you're only allowed to work part time so needless to say the money is rubbish and if you get caught then you're banned from the country for 10 years, sometimes more.

Gotta say though, a good Nanny is worth her/his weight in gold but finding one is another story. I've interviewed Nannies for home and team members for my company and getting a good one in either is flamin hard. And most of the time, I'll take a good old foreigner! They generally know more and they'll work harder! I don't need to babysit them 7 x 24 either which means I can do what I need to do without worrying whether they can carry out their own tasks.

As for the financial side of it. I'll pay a person what she's worth. I know my value to my company and what I save them but when it comes to a Nanny thats a bit harder. And lets face it can be quite expensive! When you add in the Employers NI Contribution, Tax etc trying to pay a Nanny £25K after Tax is just not affordable, at least it isn't to me. And I know what others in other skilled industries are getting having friends in the Media, Nursing, Education and Catering industries. £25K for a nanny makes her worth more than quite a few skilled professionals who did do University etc and do work their butts of to gain and keep external qualifications!

But as a Foreigner I'm here to stay, keep paying Taxes and contributing to the UK Economy. I'll leave it at that but I'll be back shortly. So as they say 'Fire in the hole'!

BigD

'note to self' really shouldn't stay logged in when dh is home!

Told him to get his own mn account ...

Wow, I've made it to the hallowed chambers of Nannyjob. What fun!

daft question... what's nannyjob?

I'm fascinate to know why English nannies believe that childcare jobs in this country are their "entitlement" (re: the foreigners are taking our jobs).

It seems to me that not so long ago, very few families employed nannies - they used childminders and nurseries.

It's only with the influx of foreign whippersnapper nannies that has brought the price down to something slightly more affordable and therefore a realistic choice for more families.

If these Euronannies weren't here affecting the nanny market, those childcare positions are far more likely to go to a childminder or nursery than they are to an expensive British nanny.

Nannyjob is a support group for nannies - it's at www.nannyjob.co.uk

Interesting take on their Mumsnet thread. It seems that asking valid questions makes one a bitch. God forbid how they might deal with crazy and incessant questions from an average 3 year old .

I wonder why no one can say what you get for the salary premium? Do no answer equate to "nothing". Is an English nanny simple "brand image"?