The What to Expect Baby-sitter's Handbook
2004/08/17 | Heidi Murkoff
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Overtime
Q “The parents are always coming home 15 minutes late—which cuts into my evening with my own kids. They also don’t offer me overtime. Should I say something?”
A Sometimes even the best-intentioned parents are so busy worrying about their own schedules that they forget their baby-sitters have schedules, too. It’s time for a gentle but firm reminder at the next meeting (call one soon if there isn’t one on the books for several weeks). Explain that you understand (all too well!) how hard it is to balance family and work—and that you don’t mind if they return home a few minutes late now and then because of an unexpected traffic jam or a meeting that ran over. But also explain that because you have family commitments of your own, you’d like them to keep to the arranged schedule as much as possible. And that when they can’t keep to it, you’d appreciate a call in advance (if possible). Another item that needs to be on the agenda is fair compensation for those late nights, whether it’s extra pay or being able to leave early (or come in late) once in a while. But don’t be too hard on the parents (especially since you’ve been there and done that yourself); try to be somewhat flexible in your own schedule.
Nanny-Cam Anxiety
Q “The parents I work for have put in a ‘nanny cam.’ They didn’t tell me about it, but I’ve seen it. I’m uncomfortable—not because I’m afraid they’ll see me do something wrong, but because I wish I could talk to them about it. Should I bring the subject up?”
A More and more parents are choosing to place nanny cams around the house. Some tell babysitters up front that they’ll be videotaping; other may do it on the sly. Laws about hidden cameras vary from state to state, but in most cases it’s legal for parents to videotape a nanny in their home without her knowing.
If the nanny cam makes you uncomfortable, it’s best not to keep your feelings to yourself. Bring it up at your next meeting (not at the beginning or end of the day, when conversation is rushed). Tell the parents that you’d be more than happy to address any trust issues, but you’d prefer to do it through open, honest communication. If you feel the nanny cam violates your privacy, speak up about that, too; although the parents may have the right to videotape you, you have the right to express your concerns about being watched.
Excerpted from The What to Expect Baby-sitter’s Handbook © 2003 By Heidi Murkoff. Excerpted by permission of Workman Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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