Keeping Your Nanny Happy

This is a familiar scenario. A good nanny leaves a home even if she loves the kids, she’s doing her job well and she’s not able to find another job. For what reason would someone in this nanny’s position leave a job she loves? Maybe her employers are the problem.

Put yourself in your nanny’s shoes for a while and think of what you would feel if you were in her position. Nannies that are overworked and underpaid are unhappy. If they feel unappreciated, they become depressed. If they keep hearing bad things or you verbally abuse them, they will usually leave.

Good employees are difficult to find. It’s important to keep the best employees around when you find them. Although you may not have the budget to splurge on your nanny’s salary, there are some simple things you can do to make sure your nanny stays with you for a long time…

Three Things You Can Do to Keep Your Nanny Happy

1. Lend Her Your Authority

Nannies should be authoritative figures around the house. While kids shouldn’t fear them, nannies should at least hold a semblance of control over things when you’re not around. If you make your kids feel that the nanny is a subordinate they can order around, she won’t be able to discipline them when they do something wrong. The kids might think that you, the parent, will always take their side even if they’re in the wrong.

This situation can cause a great deal of frustration for the nanny. Moreover, you might end up confusing your kids. Is the nanny the boss of them? Are they allowed to do things because she’s “just another sitter”? Sometimes, the children question the nanny’s authority because you haven’t done your part in making sure the kids follow the nanny’s instructions.

2. Pay Her Well

Nannies know more about the rates than we think. They may have spoken with other nannies and found out that the rate you’re paying them is too low. Sometimes, a good nanny leaves a home because she feels that she can find better pay elsewhere. Take note of the rates for nannies in your area. If your nanny has stayed with you for a long time, consider giving her a raise.

Most nannies will not raise the question of salary with you unless you really are too dense to notice the signals of dissatisfaction. For instance, she mentions something about another nanny in the neighborhood getting more pay for the same level of work. It may be her way of telling you that she would like a raise. If she’s not confident enough to ask for a raise, be intuitive and think of a good way to compensate her.

3. Don’t Pile On the Housework

Your nanny is not a housekeeper. A simple instruction like “clean as you go” will suffice; but don’t expect her to do heavy work like vacuuming or mopping the floors. Sometimes employers will ask their nanny to do a great deal of housework, and this makes the nanny feel that her services are being abused. If you insist that she has to do more work on top of the light laundry, sweeping and meal preparation, make sure you compensate her properly.

How about privacy issues? Sometimes, nannies feel that they don’t have any free time at all. Worse, they feel that they cannot rest even for a minute because you have surveillance installed. This is particularly true if they know you’re watching them through a camera. Nannies who feel uncomfortable leave, it’s that simple. If you really want to monitor your nanny, you should find a more discreet way to do it. Also, if she’s a stay-in nanny, make sure she can go out and do her thing at least once a month.