Protecting Personal Info?

[Metrobaby]

Just wondered whether any families who have au pairs or nannies keep their personal information such as bank info, passport details, payslips etc locked or hidden away. Or am I being overly cautious??

Very good idea. I wouldn't like to have stuff like this sitting about with even a babysitter (who wouldn't be familar with the layout of the house, wouldn't have time to search properly, etc.).

It depends on what your nanny does for you. I know where everything is and have access to it all (except the safe). I organise all paperwork etc so need to access birth certificates, passports etc. I know where my bosses payslips are but have no desire to look so why bother. If you cannot trust your nanny with a bit of paper can you trust them with your children?

My personal information is locked away in the study. I trust my nanny with my child, but I also like my privacy. I wouldn't leave things around for my family or friends to see either. Also, my job means I have to keep work related things locked away so the study is off limits to her.

part of me thinks you are being overly cautious

if you trust your nanny to look after your kids, you should trust her not to nose about about in your personal affairs

but also nice to have a bit of privacy

As a nanny I used to know where stuff was in theory - usually because they were in files in a study that were labelled - but I never looked at anything I didn't need to. Occasionally I would need a child's red book or proof of parent's address so would go and get them but don't understand why a genuine nanny would go poking around your private papers. Surely a) you would notice if someone had rifled through your stuff and b) they would be the first suspect.

I don't have a nanny - I have an au pair. I do trust my AP to look after my children and they like her a lot.

I guess I am just worried as I have seen past threads where sadly there has been been reason to doubt someones honesty.

Mmm au pair I might be a bit more cautious. They have less to lose IYSWIM and might be less professional about respecting your privacy.

But equally they might not be!

Dunno if this is entirely relevant or not, but when I was a kid, a baysitter (our neighbour) stole books (from my parents' bedroom), popcorn and a box of 36 Creme Eggs . Needless to say, we never had her back again. Parents didn't want to mention it to her parents, too awkward as they were our neighbours! So now I'd be very wary of who I allow in the house and what they have access to.