Nanny Confessions: Keep Your Ego in Check

Work Relationships Require Compromise
Do you know nannies making less money now than they did years ago? Do you know arrogant nannies that think they know more than the parents that hire them?

Parents like hiring confident nannies but no one likes egotistical employees. Despite many years of experience and education that nannies may have, the parents are still the boss and they make the decisions on how to raise their children.

Ego comes into play when caregivers are looking for nanny jobs as well. Nannies should set realistic expectations about what they will earn and the services they can provide. If the area where the nanny is looking for a job is hard-hit by a struggling economy, they may need to keep their egos in check and understand that they may not command the salary and benefits they did a few years ago. Nannies should also realize that having to compromise on their salary or job description is not a personal reflection on their abilities. They are not alone. Many workers are facing the same harsh reality.

All relationships require compromise, including work relationships. When parents cannot give nannies a raise or the exact hourly rate they want, nannies should try to be creative in the ways to find benefits or perks of value. Nannies need to figure out what they need and what is negotiable and be willing to compromise to create a salary and benefits package both the employer and employee are happy about. Extra vacation time-off during the work year, personal use of the family’s car, or separate living accommodations (such as living in a guest house or carriage house) are great examples of ways to make nannies happy by providing perks of monetary value, without making employers dish-out more money.

Do you know arrogant nannies that think they know more than the parents that hire them? Do you know nannies making less money now than they did years ago?