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...

I DO think it's quite funny that all these nanny's are having a good old chin wag about this thread on 'their' board!

wb Lockets - and another congratulations

I am appalled at the racist coments on here! You are all stereotyping these nannies by refering to them as "english nannies" or "european nannies". If you posted a question asking who would be a better nanny, black or white, gay or straight, married or single, male or female, everyone would be hoprrified! A nanny is a good nanny because she is good at her job, not becasue she is or isnt english!

well LCM - it was some of the "English" nannies who were making racist comments!

"But It's still annoying that people from other countries are coming in and taking our jobs."

for example!

There's nothing wrong with talking about "European nannies" or "English" nannies (shame no-one mentioned the scots, welsh or irish ). What sort of PC world do we now live in if you can't say where people are from

Gwen, the WHITE girl, with the BLACK, husband and MIXED RACE children

I'd like to just add my bit... I just joined especially!
I'm an NNEB nanny with 11 yrs experience, fantastic references, only have to ask my ex-charges to find out how brilliant I am! (although I'm not REALLY suggesting you do that!)
I've just got my pay rise after being with current family for a year, and am now on nearly £430 a week take-home and 6 weeks' holiday a year. (In response to the whole mortgage thing earlier, by the time I've paid the rent on my tiny studio flat and bills, it's only since my pay rise that I've been able to start putting anything away for the future, and I'll be 30 on Friday...)I didn't ask for this figure, my bosses offered it to reflect the long hours I'm putting in and being pretty much at their beck and call. They've happily told me that they're stretching things by doing this, but that they just as happily do it because they've had peace of mind that their little one's safe and sound (and just as importantly to them, happy) since the first day mum went back to work, and they respect the time & effort I put in. In all my jobs I've never been shy of 'mucking in' and getting on with things that need doing, as long as my charges needs aren't interferred (sp?) with. I readily admit to sitting down & watching 60 minute makeover with a cup of tea while the little one's asleep, and my bosses encourage this so that I'm refreshed for the afternoon, as I'm up at 5:30 am at least twice a week to get to work for 7 so that they're not late in to do their operating lists. Just in case it sounds like I'm making it sound like they should be grateful to have me, that's not what I'm saying. I'm a brilliant, professional nanny who adores her job (present and past!) and I'm also not saying that that's because I'm British! I think what gets up our noses a bit is that we get so much bad press, and most of us just aren't like that... so any time we hear anyone even slightly implying that we're not worth what we 'think' we're worth, we get all defensive. After all, as someone said earlier, most of us worked bloomi' hard to get where we are, and it's our career after all! (I just hope I've put my case across as I hoped, and that no-one will find anything negative in it!)

OMG, Do you know Kit that you cost your employer over £56000 per year just to pay your salary? See, this is where it comes to the market, I couldn't possibly pay that even if I wanted to.

Your markey is obviously the wealthy. Some nannies are employed by middle class families and they could never pay that salary.

So, no care of my child is worth that much money to me... not even if you train her toba an astronaut by age 3.

56k? My manager doesn't earn that much! WOW I'm genuinely impressed. Your family must obviously appreciate you very much

Uwila - you've got your numbers wrong, by quite alot. 430 x 52 = 22,360. Tax and national insurance on top don't amount to almost 34,000.

But if both your employers are surgeons then they must have a whacking combined income anyway......so can quite afford what they are paying you. Its all relative

of course it's all relative but I'd even be happy with 34k

No one here has even attempted to answer why an average British nanny is superior to an average Euronanny. Instead 1) the questions have been turned around and dressed up in emotional references to your most precious assets, 2) we have been called bitches, cows etc just for asking a question, and 3) when all else fails, they've compared themselves and their work to au pairs. The adolescent sniggering on Nannyjob really doesn't do any justice to your cause - don't you have hidden boards where you can have those kinds of conversations?

Why the need for personal attacks, ladies? Why can't you just address the issues instead of criticising those who ask. Other people don't need to be told that I might be a cow, bitch or whatever - they can draw their own conclusions on reading my posts. But I'd love to know on what basis I am those things.

No one here, as far as I can recall, has criticised the work ethic or dedication of British nannies. It's not about that at all. It's about the relative merits of Euronannies, who are not here to "steal your jobs" - firstly, you have no entitlement to any particular job, and secondly, they are just as entitled to you to apply for jobs in this country (as you are in their countries).

As to actual pay rates for foreign nannies - there are two things going on. For those who are in the country for a year or two, they seem to be part of the grey economy, which I don't think anyone here is going to condone. But there are other foreign nannies who do things the legal way, but are still earning slightly less than what a British nanny would expect, and also willing to muck in around the house when their children are not requiring their intensive supervision.

The job market for nannying is just that. It's the same as when I want to get work done on my house - I interview the builders, get their quotes, and may or may not offer the job to the lowest one. It depends on more factors than that.

Oh, and you can't compare your child to any amount of money. Not £100 a week, not £500 a week - they are priceless.

Sorry, didn't mean to go on so long. /snore

Earlybird - don't know the figures, but there is tax and NI for the nanny, and tax and NI for the employer, so the gross salary requirement will be rather amazing.

I don't know what the final annual cost would be to kitschnanny's family, but in my rather badly worded reply, I was attempting to say that there wouldn't be 34,000 tax/national insurance bill on a 22,000 net wage.

Earlybird - Uwila's figures are pretty correct (I'd have approximated it at £48000, but Uwila may have worked it out in detail). Kitschnanny grosses £30750. Her employers must earn the extra in order to pay their own tax (partly at 40%) and national insurance to leave them with £30750 net to pay her.

Americascot2005, your last post was a joke, right?

"why the personal remarks?"
Earlier on you told Scotsnanny to keep taking the tartan tablets! Then you refer to the nanny board condesendingly as "adolescent sniggering"....

Pot and kettle springs to mind!

How's that personal. She delivered the usual mantra, so it's a pretty usual response. Yes, dear....

So you can give out critisism but not take it yourself?

Sarcasm is very different from personal attacks.

I was even called a racist for that one - honestly!

Note to self: don't attempt any self-depracating humour when having a debate with nannies.

Americot2005, I'm sad to here that. I realise you have being trying to keep the debate going but at times you have been very patronising and I for one think the 'tartan tablets' comment completely out of order. If I were a Scot, which I'm not I would also take offence. Your apology came acoss IMHO as patronising and I understand though don't condone the response you have been receiving on here and on Nannyjob. I agree the pot and kettle picture does come to mind

Amerciaot2005 I don't think your humour was self depreciating but depreciating of others in many cases.

'Can't expect the nanny to miss Neighbours by having to run the hoover around the living room, eh? ' Just one example.

Oh for goodness sake, Nannypop!