Let me be honest right from the start. I have only had a contract with one of the families I have ever worked for. It was with a family whose mother worked for the government so she was safe guarding herself. It wasn't necessary at all. We all got along great and the only reason I am not still working for that family is because my visa ran out and I needed to leave the country.
Honestly I have been really lucky with the people I have worked for. There have been bumps along the way, but all in all it has been a good journey. That journey came to a crashing halt within a few weeks of joining the family I am now working for.
Within in two weeks I knew that I had been naive to trust people at their face value. Without a contract the family took that as an open opportunity to use me, burn me out and then act surprised when I wasn't happy being there any more. (All of this without so much as a raise or over time I might add).
So from now on in the word 'Contract' will be my best friend. I will no longer be embarrassed to ask a nice sounding family down the telephone line that I need to have a contract. In fact I will have it written in black and white on my nanny profile that I need to have a contract before I will even consider looking at a position.
There is no tried and true format for a contract. Every family/nanny pairing will need something that is tailor made for themselves, but there are basic formulas that can be used to make a contract that is perfect for you and your employers. So here goes nothing!
Some simple rules for contract making:
1) It seems to be common thought that the contract should be spelled out by the family as a way to protect them from a nanny coming into their home. And partially it is, but it is also a piece of paper that, if written properly, can become a nanny's best friend.
a) You should have as much input in the making of the contract as the family does
b) Be prepared to bend, as the family should bend as well, but if you feel uncomfortable at any time with anything they want you to agree to, then you need to rethink your accepting the position. DO NOT SIGN UNLESS YOU CAN LIVE WITH EVERYTHING WRITTEN IN THERE.
c) Look into the laws in your area to see if everything offered or expected of you in the contract is within the laws. (ie number of hours worked, days off, paid sick leave)
2) Make a list of your expectations, what you are willing to do, what you aren't willing to even consider, etc.
a) are you willing to clean? light, only for children or deep cleaning.
b) do you need to be paid an hourly wage or a salary?
c) how many hours a day/week are you willing to work?
d) how do you handle overtime? 1.5 pay or an equal amount of time off in the future?
e) how often do you need to be paid? Once a week, bi-weekly, monthly?
f) will you be live-in? do you need a private bathroom?
g) are you using a family car or your own? gas reimbursement and insurance need to be considered.
h) will the family pay for health insurance?
i) nanny taxes, will you pay the whole lot, half and half or the family pay the whole thing?
j) will your sick days, holidays and vacations be paid for? how many a year? will you get to chose your vacations or will the family?
k) do you have access to the internet? cable?
l) will the family provide you with a cell phone? if not will they pay for part of you bill/minutes a month?
m) if you are live-in do you have the freedom to come and go as you please on your time off?
n) if you live-in will the family provide food for you? all week long or only when you are working?
o) when you are out with the children does the family pay for all meals, activities, treats or are you responsible to pay for them and get reimbursed?
p) how long will you be willing to commit to this position? a year? more? (this doesn't mean you can't give notice if something isn't working.)
q) a get out quick clause in case something goes wrong. You shouldn't be penalized for walking out when the other side breaks the contract, behaves inappropriately or the situation becomes dangerous.
3) Be realistic. There is no way that you are going to be able to work almost no hours and get paid big bucks. You have to be willing to put in the work to get the reward. But the same goes for the family. If all they want is for you to be working and they don't want to pay you for that work... then this isn't going to work.
4) Don't be afraid to negotiate. This doesn't mean give in to everything, but be willing to discuss some things between the two of you.
5) Be comfortable enough to say 'we have hashed out this contract, let's take a day or two to look it over before we sign it.' If your feelings change, or there is something you can't live with talk to them or walk away. Better to find out now then to find out after you have started to work for them.
Of course this isn't everything for everyone. I am sure that there are lots of issues that I haven't remembered on here... but that is exactly why you should never rush into making a contract. Don't ever just accept the contract laid down on the table by your employers because nine times out of ten it will be in their best interests and not yours.
When you are finished and ready to sign that hard earned contract, you should be confident that you aren't walking into this situation blind. And if the worst should happen? Well you will be covered for that!
Have a great week!
Next Blog Topic:
Keeping in Contact, the Art of a Graceful Exit
Feel free to comment on my blog, or write to me about my next topic.
Or just write me!
ThroughMyEyesBlog@hotmail.com
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Starter Nanny Tips
Don't you wish that you had a Fairy God Mother (F.G.M.) ? Someone who would tap you on the shoulder/bash you on the head and try to warn you before you get in WAY over your head. I sure as heck wish I did, not that I would listen to her, I of course know EVERYTHING!
When I decided to become a nanny I didn't go into it with eyes wide shut, but I may as well have. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just figured that my skills and natural talent at child care would be enough to carry me to a great family where I would spend my days playing and teaching children from my infinite wealth of knowledge.
HA! I pretty much got eaten alive out there! My first 'real' nanny job was a placement in England (yes I went international!) with a family that was obviously used to hiring nannies. I interviewed and they all but jumped on me to ensure that they would get me. (They could probably smell the naivete off of me from 500 miles away!)
I knew within a month that I was nothing more than chum in a house full of sharks. This came to me as the 8 year old boy (as tall as me!) shoved me across the room and I responded with 'Please don't push me ---! I don't like it and it hurts my feelings. If you do it again I am going to have to put you on the naughty step.' He looked at me like I was a joke (which I kind of was) and walked away to do what ever he wanted to do.
I finally left after being asked to clean up the urine of said previous boy after he decided he didn't 'feel' like peeing in the toilet. (Rolls Eyes) I gave my notice that day and checked it under lesson learned.
So I am here to be someone else' F.G.M. Here is a list of things I have learned over the past decade. (Trust me I am sure that there are more things I have yet to learn!)
1) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
2) Ensure that the hours are listed and that any over time is paid.
3) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
4) Advertise only what you are REALLY willing to do (ie. If you can't picture yourself cleaning the whole house every week don't say you are willing to do so)
5) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
6) Realize that just because you are great with children doesn't mean you are great with all ages. You could be great with school age but the concept of sitting around with a baby that doesn't do anything could bore the pants off of you or vice versa.
7) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
8) Ensure that you get confirmation of the exact number of children you will be taking care of and that if more are added you WILL be paid for them.
9) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
10) Have a contingency plan in case that 'perfect' job becomes not so perfect (even if that means a plane ticket home, or emergency money in case you need to leave in the night and can get a hotel room)
11) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
12) Speak your mind. If something isn't right, let the family know right away.
13) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
14) Be in control of the situation. Don't let the children 'smell' your fear... if they do you are toast!
15) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
16) If you live-in please ensure that your 'quarters' are up to what you expect (do you need a private bathroom? television? larger bed?)
17) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
18) Don't get sucked in with their 'like a part of their family' ploys. Although there are some legitimate families out there, most of them use this ploy to get you to do 'little' extras for them since you are 'part of the family' while ensuring that it doesn't cost them anything.
19) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
20) While it is always good to get bonded with the children under your care, it is healthy to step back at the end of the day and realize that in the end it is just a job.
21) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
22) Taking time for yourself will help to stave off burn out symptoms.
23) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
24) Always avoid gossiping about your employers (word always gets back around)
25) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
26) Don't be afraid to move wherever a great family is, they are few and far between.
27) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
28) Unless there is a desperate reason to leave the family, staying at least a year at each position shows future employers that you have 'staying' power.
29) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
30) References are important, having between 2-3 reliable job references will help you breeze through the interview process.
In case you haven't noticed or are totally clueless I tended to repeat the importance of detailed contracts. I am only now realizing what can happen when you don't have a detailed contract and let me tell you that it ain't pretty! What it means is that the family does not have to stay within a certain boundary. They tend to 'job creep' you, (ie. slowly adding more and more jobs to your plate) and are rarely home on time without the benefit of overtime payments.
If there is only one thing you take away from you F.G.M. then please let it be the contract. Everything else can be learned pretty painlessly... but the contract will rip your heart out.
Have a great weekend!
Next Blog's Topic:
How-to Write a Contract.
Feel free to comment on my blog, or write to me about my next topic. Or just write me!
ThroughMyEyesBlog@hotmail.com
When I decided to become a nanny I didn't go into it with eyes wide shut, but I may as well have. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just figured that my skills and natural talent at child care would be enough to carry me to a great family where I would spend my days playing and teaching children from my infinite wealth of knowledge.
HA! I pretty much got eaten alive out there! My first 'real' nanny job was a placement in England (yes I went international!) with a family that was obviously used to hiring nannies. I interviewed and they all but jumped on me to ensure that they would get me. (They could probably smell the naivete off of me from 500 miles away!)
I knew within a month that I was nothing more than chum in a house full of sharks. This came to me as the 8 year old boy (as tall as me!) shoved me across the room and I responded with 'Please don't push me ---! I don't like it and it hurts my feelings. If you do it again I am going to have to put you on the naughty step.' He looked at me like I was a joke (which I kind of was) and walked away to do what ever he wanted to do.
I finally left after being asked to clean up the urine of said previous boy after he decided he didn't 'feel' like peeing in the toilet. (Rolls Eyes) I gave my notice that day and checked it under lesson learned.
So I am here to be someone else' F.G.M. Here is a list of things I have learned over the past decade. (Trust me I am sure that there are more things I have yet to learn!)
1) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
2) Ensure that the hours are listed and that any over time is paid.
3) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
4) Advertise only what you are REALLY willing to do (ie. If you can't picture yourself cleaning the whole house every week don't say you are willing to do so)
5) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
6) Realize that just because you are great with children doesn't mean you are great with all ages. You could be great with school age but the concept of sitting around with a baby that doesn't do anything could bore the pants off of you or vice versa.
7) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
8) Ensure that you get confirmation of the exact number of children you will be taking care of and that if more are added you WILL be paid for them.
9) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
10) Have a contingency plan in case that 'perfect' job becomes not so perfect (even if that means a plane ticket home, or emergency money in case you need to leave in the night and can get a hotel room)
11) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
12) Speak your mind. If something isn't right, let the family know right away.
13) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
14) Be in control of the situation. Don't let the children 'smell' your fear... if they do you are toast!
15) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
16) If you live-in please ensure that your 'quarters' are up to what you expect (do you need a private bathroom? television? larger bed?)
17) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
18) Don't get sucked in with their 'like a part of their family' ploys. Although there are some legitimate families out there, most of them use this ploy to get you to do 'little' extras for them since you are 'part of the family' while ensuring that it doesn't cost them anything.
19) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
20) While it is always good to get bonded with the children under your care, it is healthy to step back at the end of the day and realize that in the end it is just a job.
21) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
22) Taking time for yourself will help to stave off burn out symptoms.
23) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
24) Always avoid gossiping about your employers (word always gets back around)
25) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
26) Don't be afraid to move wherever a great family is, they are few and far between.
27) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
28) Unless there is a desperate reason to leave the family, staying at least a year at each position shows future employers that you have 'staying' power.
29) ALWAYS GET A DETAILED CONTRACT!
30) References are important, having between 2-3 reliable job references will help you breeze through the interview process.
In case you haven't noticed or are totally clueless I tended to repeat the importance of detailed contracts. I am only now realizing what can happen when you don't have a detailed contract and let me tell you that it ain't pretty! What it means is that the family does not have to stay within a certain boundary. They tend to 'job creep' you, (ie. slowly adding more and more jobs to your plate) and are rarely home on time without the benefit of overtime payments.
If there is only one thing you take away from you F.G.M. then please let it be the contract. Everything else can be learned pretty painlessly... but the contract will rip your heart out.
Have a great weekend!
Next Blog's Topic:
How-to Write a Contract.
Feel free to comment on my blog, or write to me about my next topic. Or just write me!
ThroughMyEyesBlog@hotmail.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Babysitter, what?
Every time I hear the word 'babysitter' I picture myself at the age of 12 getting ready for my first babysitting job. Long hair in a pony tail, my head filled with too many issues of Babysitter's Club books, and my arms filled with a box full of half used coloring book, broken crayons and games missing most if not all of their pieces.
As I approached the door I could hear the sounds of screaming and bloody murder going on, but I bravely knocked on the door and did not recognize the relief in the mother's eyes as she swung the door open. Clingy hands ripped at her jeans and peanut butter smeared faces smiling up at me with half joy and half suspicion.
I was taken on a tour of the house, stepping over fallen G.I. Joe and ignoring the stack of dishes in the sink. I could tell that the mother was embarrassed, but being 12 none of this seemed all that important.
So before long the mother had left and I spent the next two hours jumping on couch cushions, coloring outside of the lines and tickling arm pits like it was my job! After ordering a large peperoni pie I finally wrestled the children down in front of a Disney and plopped down on the couch exhausted.
Four hours later I was at home in bed and I was hooked.
I am now college educated in Early Childhood Education. I have a decades worth of experience. I have traveled all over the world taking care of children. So why does it bother me when people ask me if I am a babysitter?
It doesn't have anything to do with the question, it doesn't even have anything to do with being called a babysitter (I know there are people who don't even know what a nanny is). It is more about those people who look at me like I am something that doesn't even belong on the bottom of their shoes while they say the word 'babysitter'.
These are the snobbish people that think the people who look after their children aren't good enough to stand next to. As if taking care of children were some sort of punishment for a life of crime etc.
These are the very same people that would be willing to pay more for their dry cleaning bill than they would be willing to pay for their children's care.
Anyways, rant over. It just irritates me when people try to make me feel bad about spending my days teaching children and helping them grow into loving and caring adults.
I have compiled a list of what it means to be a nanny:
As a nanny it is my responsibility to:
* engage my charges in developmentally appropriate activities through out the day
* encourage my charges to attempt new things for themselves so that they can learn and grow
* provide them with the ability to experience new and excited activities
* socialize them with children their own age, older and younger so that they learn to be gentle but also learn to handle themselves
* cook and feed my charges healthy and nutritious meals and snacks through out the day
* ensure that my charges are well groomed, well dressed and with a clean diaper on
* twice a week cleanings of my charge's clothing and once a week cleaning of my charge's bedding
* providing many opportunities for reading my charges books
* taking my charges out in the fresh air. To the park, swimming pool or just walking. (weather permitting)
* engaging my charges in art and creative projects the allow their creativity and imagination to grow
* hugging, cuddling and modeling loving and caring behavior
As a nanny it is NOT my responsibility to:
* Clean your house (other then cleaning up after myself and my charge)
* Do your laundry
* Run your errands, grocery shopping or mailing your letters
* Run your household (supervising contractors, maids or other hired help)
* Listen to you run on about how hard your job is and how tired you are and how you need a vacation (I have just worked a 12 hour day, I don't want to hear about how tired you are sitting at a desk all day)
* Get up at night with charges
* Buy my charges meals with my own money while out at scheduled social times
* Buy books, clothing or toys for charges with my money
I reserve the right to add on as I see fit! If you have any that I don't have written here, please let me know!
Have a great weekend!
Nanny
Next post topic:
Starter Nanny Tips (ie. what you wished you knew when you became a nanny, and no one bothered to tell you)
Please feel free to email me with points on this topic.
ThroughMyEyesBlog@hotmail.com
As I approached the door I could hear the sounds of screaming and bloody murder going on, but I bravely knocked on the door and did not recognize the relief in the mother's eyes as she swung the door open. Clingy hands ripped at her jeans and peanut butter smeared faces smiling up at me with half joy and half suspicion.
I was taken on a tour of the house, stepping over fallen G.I. Joe and ignoring the stack of dishes in the sink. I could tell that the mother was embarrassed, but being 12 none of this seemed all that important.
So before long the mother had left and I spent the next two hours jumping on couch cushions, coloring outside of the lines and tickling arm pits like it was my job! After ordering a large peperoni pie I finally wrestled the children down in front of a Disney and plopped down on the couch exhausted.
Four hours later I was at home in bed and I was hooked.
I am now college educated in Early Childhood Education. I have a decades worth of experience. I have traveled all over the world taking care of children. So why does it bother me when people ask me if I am a babysitter?
It doesn't have anything to do with the question, it doesn't even have anything to do with being called a babysitter (I know there are people who don't even know what a nanny is). It is more about those people who look at me like I am something that doesn't even belong on the bottom of their shoes while they say the word 'babysitter'.
These are the snobbish people that think the people who look after their children aren't good enough to stand next to. As if taking care of children were some sort of punishment for a life of crime etc.
These are the very same people that would be willing to pay more for their dry cleaning bill than they would be willing to pay for their children's care.
Anyways, rant over. It just irritates me when people try to make me feel bad about spending my days teaching children and helping them grow into loving and caring adults.
I have compiled a list of what it means to be a nanny:
As a nanny it is my responsibility to:
* engage my charges in developmentally appropriate activities through out the day
* encourage my charges to attempt new things for themselves so that they can learn and grow
* provide them with the ability to experience new and excited activities
* socialize them with children their own age, older and younger so that they learn to be gentle but also learn to handle themselves
* cook and feed my charges healthy and nutritious meals and snacks through out the day
* ensure that my charges are well groomed, well dressed and with a clean diaper on
* twice a week cleanings of my charge's clothing and once a week cleaning of my charge's bedding
* providing many opportunities for reading my charges books
* taking my charges out in the fresh air. To the park, swimming pool or just walking. (weather permitting)
* engaging my charges in art and creative projects the allow their creativity and imagination to grow
* hugging, cuddling and modeling loving and caring behavior
As a nanny it is NOT my responsibility to:
* Clean your house (other then cleaning up after myself and my charge)
* Do your laundry
* Run your errands, grocery shopping or mailing your letters
* Run your household (supervising contractors, maids or other hired help)
* Listen to you run on about how hard your job is and how tired you are and how you need a vacation (I have just worked a 12 hour day, I don't want to hear about how tired you are sitting at a desk all day)
* Get up at night with charges
* Buy my charges meals with my own money while out at scheduled social times
* Buy books, clothing or toys for charges with my money
I reserve the right to add on as I see fit! If you have any that I don't have written here, please let me know!
Have a great weekend!
Nanny
Next post topic:
Starter Nanny Tips (ie. what you wished you knew when you became a nanny, and no one bothered to tell you)
Please feel free to email me with points on this topic.
ThroughMyEyesBlog@hotmail.com
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