Nursery World - The big issue

Some employers are so set in their own ways that they seem to have their heads in the sand about how they treat their nannies. Helen Kewley hears how a few handled it During 19 years of running an agency I have spent a fair amount of time supporting nannies who have had problems with their employer. The three main issues seem to be bad timekeeping, money payment or a personality clash that only comes to light after the nanny has started work. Usually these can be resolved by negotiation, but many nannies find that in a long line of jobs, statistically there is bound to be one that just doesn't work out.

During 19 years of running an agency I have spent a fair amount of time supporting nannies who have had problems with their employer. The three main issues seem to be bad timekeeping, money payment or a personality clash that only comes to light after the nanny has started work. Usually these can be resolved by negotiation, but many nannies find that in a long line of jobs, statistically there is bound to be one that just doesn't work out.

Lucy Moss recalls, 'When I took my first job, my parents were impressed by the employers' huge house and garden. The salary had been agreed by the agency and we didn't discuss details of how I would be paid. I liked the couple, so it was hard to say anything when they both started to come home later and later. Then I hesitantly mentioned it to the mother and she said I must let them know if I had anything special on of an evening and one of them would be home early. But after four weeks I still hadn't been paid.

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