Now that you have found the perfect Nanny, how do you make sure she stays? Mary O’Connor, former president of the International Nanny Association says “be a good boss”.
But, what is a good boss? What makes an employee loyal? What things does your employer do to upset you? Your answers may give insight into what your nanny needs to feel appreciated and secure.
Below we have compiled a list of the most important factors to ensure your nanny stays happy.
Offer a fair wage.
You wouldn’t be happy making below average salary for your work, and neither does you nanny. depending on the number of kids you have and the duties associated with them, along with your nanny’s experience and education, you could be looking at paying anywhere from $450 to $1500 a week or more for 45 hours of work.
if you are providing room and board for them, this figure could be lower. If you want your nanny to work more than five days a week or more than 8 hours a day, then you can expect to pay overtime.
To determine what a competitive salary is in your area, ask nearby parents with nannies what they pay or contact the International Nanny Association.
Provide good benefits.
To ensure that your nanny stays make sure to give her some good incentives that will make them want to stay. Make sure to outline which days they will have off, if they’ll have paid holidays, vacation time, etc. Some couples even pay for their nanny’s community college classes or gym memberships.
If you are willing to pay or their health or car insurance, make sure to mention that in the contract. If you nanny has children, allowing them to bring them to work can also be a huge benefit and make them proud to work for you.
Treat her like a professional.
Professional nannies take their job very seriously, and so should you. If you believe in their abilities, show it! Trust that they’ll do a good job an trust their decisions
If you like things to be done a certain way, then do not assume that they are wrong and you are right. be respectful of their approach and give suggestions without undermining their experience.
If you have any complaints or concerns address them in a constructive manner. Avoid personal attacks and focus on the issues.
Lay down ground rules and respect them.
Your nanny is there for you child, not to be your housecleaner or errand runner. Unless their contract explicitly states these things, make sure you you don’t ask them to do activities that are unrelated to childcare.
If they’re scheduled till 6 p.m., make sure you are home by that time (emergencies excepted). if they are forced to stay late make sure you are compensating them accordingly and not taking advantage of their kindness. Remember, they have lives that they want to get back to and other responsibilities that they must take care of.
Show your appreciation.
Showing appreciation for your nanny can go a very long way to make sure she is happy and continues to want to work for you. Anything from thank you letter, small gifts, to something as small as a simple thank you can go a very long way.
if you nanny has a birthday coming up, or a special event make sure to celebrate with her! Unexpected cash bonuses are also a great way to show appreciation.
Be communicative.
Communication is key, whether it be compliments or complaints, so make sure to be constantly touching base with them. If they feel they can talk to you and be honest, they’ll be more likely to approach you with their ideas or concerns
Spending a few minutes before or at the end of the day can be a great way to check in and make sure everything is going smoothly.
Back her up.
If you and your nanny have agreed on certain restrictions for your child, do not undermine her authority when she tries to enforce those restrictions. They are doing only what you tell them to do, and your child needs to respect that.
Restrictions that cannot be enforced because the parents constantly give in to the complaints of the child are gonna leave the nanny very unhappy and make their job much harder, ultimately making them quit.
Be concerned about your nanny as a person, not just as your employee.
Taking care of your child may be their responsibility, but they have lives of their own. If your nanny is young, she needs time during the evenings to see people their own age. If they have a family, try to not keep them overtime any more than absolutely necessary.
Get to know your nanny. Find out what their interests are without prying too hard. This can build a very strong connection between your family and them, which can go a very long way.
Respect her privacy and teach your child to do the same.
If you have a live-in nanny, make sure your family knows when their day is over. Their off time should be their own, and not filled with last minute chores that you need done. Your child should know this too.
