Mary Pat doesn't fly around with a black umbrella, but she does have over 20 years of experience as a Child Development Expert. This column will answer questions about child development concerns & managing your employee/employer relationship.

Q. Is it appropriate to text message while on the job? -Miriam

A: Dear Miriam,
Before you begin working with a family, you should have a discussion with your employer about cell phone usage while at work. You may want to ask them if it is okay to make a call, check messages, or text if you have down time such as the child's nap time or waiting outside school for a pick up. Also, remember that it is illegal to write, send, or read text messages or to use a hand held phone while you are driving in California!

Having your cell phone handy to communicate with your employer or to make a call or text for something related to the job is acceptable, and a good idea. Many parents like to be able to check in with their Nanny throughout the day and appreciate the access.

When you are working as a Nanny, your focus should always be 100% on the job. The care and safety of the children is your top priority. When parents call Town & Country to hire a Nanny, the one consistent requests we hear is, "I don't want a Nanny who is on their phone when they are supposed to be watching my child." Frankly, parents are paying their Nanny to care for their children, not be on the phone. I'd recommend that you keep you phone on silent and save all personal calls and texting for after work hours.

 

Q: My employer asked me to travel with them for their summer vacation. How do I handle this? -Tabitha

A:  Dear Tabitha,
Travel can be one of the many perks about being a Nanny. We work with Nannies who travel to a wide range of locations all over the world. But, no matter how exciting the destination or luxurious the accommodations, remember that you will be working, not vacationing, on this trip.

I strongly recommend that you discuss the expectations for the trip, including pay, with your employer before you leave. We often hear from Nannies after they get back from a trip, asking us what they should be paid. It is challenging to negotiate pay after the job is done. Avoiding this talk up front can lead to a lot of disappointment when you are thinking one thing and your employer is thinking something different.

When discussing the trip expectations with your employer, talk about the entire vacation schedule and confirm which hours you will work and which hours will be your time off. Discuss the drive/plane arrangements, where you will be sleeping (alone or with children), whether you will eat with the family or if they will give you spending money (and how much) for food, what is the appropriate clothing that you should bring for this particular location, and if there will be any additional children for you to care for if you are meeting up with other families.

Travel salaries can also vary depending on workload and the circumstances. We always recommend the employer pay for all travel, housing, food, and any pre-approved activities for their Nanny. For instance, if you take the children to the movies or skiing, your employer will pay for your ticket.

We understand that these situations can be difficult to approach and negotiate (on both sides). Feel free to call or email us to discuss this further.

If you have a question you want answered, you can send an
e-mail to: marypat@tandcr.com and it will be covered (anonymously) in an upcoming newsletter.

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