Top Reasons Why Nannies Quit
Top Reasons Why Nannies Quit
Time Abuse: When nannies are hired they are normally hired for say 10 hours a day. One of the top reasons given us for nannies leaving is that the parents regularly stroll in anything from 30 -60 minutes late without excuse or payment of overtime.
Job Creep: This is where the nanny’s job now bears no resemblance to the original job she was hired to do. This happens when extra duties are piled on steadily until she’s doing twice the original work she signed on for. It can mean now cooking for the whole family and not just for the kids. It can mean laundry for the whole family not just kids’ laundry and so on.
Pay: While the salary was agreed between both sides at the outset there are often different expectations on things like overtime, raises and bonuses unless there’s a formal agreement. This happens when a 2nd or 3rd child comes along also. Unfortunately, in this field there are no set salaries – although it seems that $15-$20 per hour DOE take-home is now common in NYC. Bonuses are a whole subject in itself – like Wall Street, there is generally a lot of turnover of nannies in January.
Other monies: This can happen when a nanny ends up dipping into her own pocket regularly to pay for snacks and other errands she’s asked to run and is not readily reimbursed. This comes up often as a reason for a nanny leaving.
Lack of respect: This is where the nanny just feels treated badly by either or both of the parents. She feels her suggestions are ignored and that she’s looked down upon. This can also manifest itself where the parents contradict her in a disciplinary issue with the kids where she’s right.
Mother at Home: In some cases, mothers at home can tend to micro-manage and this creates an extremely difficult working environment. I equate it to having your boss work with you in the same office/cubicle. It drives some nannies nuts if they’re not used to it.
Lack of recognition: Considering the enormous responsibility nannies have, it is very important for parents to acknowledge their contribution by thoughtful praise and token gifts – when they see their peers getting this and not them, it makes them feel unappreciated.
Family Tensions: It goes without saying that if there is domestic tension between spouses and an overall lack of harmony for whatever reason then nannies are inclined to want out of there, fast.
While some nannies want to stay to help the kids cope, sometimes the home environment becomes too toxic to stay.
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4 Responses to “Top Reasons Why Nannies Quit”
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Comment made by Lisa on May 14th 2012 at 2:27 pm:
I can add to reasons why nanny leave. I have had three jobs that I have hired into with assurance of at least two years at full time with no changes. None of these had anything to do with my performance. First one: after three months they decided to put one year old into daycare. They told me they were waiting for an opening to come through. They did not state that upon hiring me. Second one: I left a full time job for this one. The mother was working at home. The second day, she observed me change a diaper in seconds without her son making a peep. She said she has not been able to do that, ever with him. Husband asked to check more references on me. I asked why, that he had already hired me and I left a full time job, what happened? He said, things are not what we thought they would be. What happened is his wife, the mother, was intimidated of my childcare skills. I diapered her baby in seconds whereas she had to battle him. Third job: I am in this job right now. They gave me a nanny contract that shows full time hours for a two year period. Two weeks ago, mother went part time and now my hours are cut to part time. I asked. She said she needed to put in her six months to qualify for part time status. So, now I’m looking for work again. Families wonder why I do not have years with a family. It is because I get used for their convenience and drawn in with promises of long term. It’s not right and I’m starting to think that this is not the kind of work I should be doing.
Comment made by alley3832 on Jul 18th 2012 at 8:16 am:
Lisa~ I can So relate!
Comment made by nanny on Jun 24th 2012 at 2:56 pm:
Could it be you are a little weird nanny who commented in May? Perhaps your personalities didn’t mesh Lisa. Sommetimes parents don’t know if the caregiver is a good fit until after the job starts. Hate to say it, but perhaps the parents were just finding excuses too let you go in a nice way because it was not a good fit
Comment made by alley3832 on Jul 18th 2012 at 8:22 am:
“Nanny”~ Honest communication is of the utmost importance in a nanny/parent relationship.
If this was the case, they should have simply been up front with her and not “beat around the bush”, making her feel as if she was not credible enough.
One question…what does “little weird nanny” imply? :/