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...

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thanks

until november, I had only ever employed British nannies (only two, i should say in our 1st eight years of parenthood) when I worked full time. I feel guilty about employing a Croatian nanny (two days a week) because - without even me asking her - she does more than my two adorable english ladies put together. She takes the towels out of the bathroom and washes them, cleans down the kitchen (i never leave it a mess but she makes it spotless). our last nanny - who was otherwise marvelous - would take one shirt out of the washing machine rather than wash it with a bunch of kids stuff then put it back after.

I pay Croatian lady the exact same as English women, not some cheap rate. Indeed, for reasons of language'homework I would rather employ a native English speaker. But I could not find one willing to be even slightly flexible to accommodate my irregular working patterns. Some were sniffy about thought that I'd ask them to nip down to Sainsbury if we were short of things.

Nanny Jo, you sound great, but there is that jobsworth attitude that you would rather - as a matter of principle - hand wash dishes you use rather than deal with anything in the dishwasher put in there by your employer. I can t be bothered with attitude. I pay a good rate, I am a very kind employer (nannies stayed for 5 and 3 years) and can you blame me for employing someone flexible, hardworking and helpful.

A teacher at top of pay scale, with no responsibility points, earns £27k a year. However in order to earn this they must have a degree and a PGCSE (or a BEd degree) - so will have 4 years of univeristy behind them. Think starting salary is about 17-18k. Supply teaching rates generally work out the same rate as permananent teaching posts - but the parmanent post is paid over 12 months. A supply teacher is not paid during holidays, and therefore gets more per day.

even 17-18k is more then i get so a teacher is better paid and yes i know they have a degree

Yes, VP, the key to good domestic employees is flexibility, flexibility, flexibility.

I see your point victoriapeckham and I have met several nannies who just flatly refuse to do simple things also.
But in previous jobs I have found that when I have been more accomadating like doing the dishwasher, family laundry, cleaning the house when it hasn't been part of the contract. I have been take advanatage of. I think the best thing is to put everything down in the contract and stick to it, even the sillest things.
Family laundry is now part of my duties and I don't mind, I actually enjoy ironing anyway. Although my charge is 6 so at school all day so I might feel differently if he was younger.
I keep the communal areas clean and walk the dog also.

You look after one 6-year old, Penny?

that's good of you to walk the dog! I do clean out the goldfish tank

I forgot to mention about hours, in one live in position I had I worked 7am - 6pm but the parents were always late home, intially they said sorry and I thought fair enough these things happen but then it became regular and no apology and not paid extra even when they came home a whole hour late. Another example of taking the piss with flexiablity.

I'm getting seriously overwhelmed now...

Don't teachers get a lot more holidays than nannies and shorter working hours?

victoriapeckam, i used to come in in the morning to find dishwasher full and cleaned(from me filling it night before) crap over every surface in a huge kitchen, bin overflowing, pasta on the floor ready to kill me in one slip, sink blocked up with last nights dinner and i was expected to sort it all out before i could get on with my job. I don't think that's called jobsworth, more like bloody slavery!!!

Stripey, it's not about the specifics of the job, it's whether they can afford a mortgage or not. There are plenty of jobs that don't support a mortgage and nannying is just one of these masses. It's nothing special.

why shouldn't i be allowed a mortgage don't i count?

why should nannying be in those masses??? is it not important looking after the most special things in this life??

They sound proper sluts, NannyJo. I can see why in that instance you drew up boundaries. I would never have done that to a nanny even when I was charging out the door for an 8.30am train.

Why do you think you are so special? What kind of education and qualifications do you have (rhetorical question) that makes you stand out from, say, key workers. That's the reality of life, I'm afraid.

The nannies that I am familiar with are basically young girls that have done GCSEs followed by a GNVQ in childcare. Should I be stunned by this level of "training". Nope - I, as a mother of five, am not fazed by it. Sorry.

There is no amount of money that a child's life is worth. When you put it down to money, even a Norland Nanny does not square up. What nannying comes down to is simple market economics.

I'm not a Nanny or a Teacher but I have a lot of respect for anyone who can dedicate themselves to looking after somebody elses children all day. I am a SAHM so I know how hard it is to keep children entertained. I think it does take a special person to go into either profession.

If I was looking for a Nanny I think I would prefer someone who would spend their time with my children rather than doing domestic chores.

thankyou it is nice to hear from a mum who understands and appreciates what a good job us nannies do

thankyou stripey, thats why i am a nanny because i love children and being a part of their upbringing not cleaning up after their parents.

It doesn't have to be either/or, though, Stripey. As SAHMs we all know that we incorporate the daily grind into our children's routines. We make stuffing the washing machine with smelly socks and taking out the garbage fun, don't we? Pretty please? Anyone????

Guys, it's not rocket science!

You're welcome