How often in a year do you need to hire a new nanny? How long do your nannies work for you? If you think that your nannies quit rather soon after you hire them, something is definitely up.
A nanny should stay for at least an year. The earliest they should quit is after they have celebrated an universally with your family. If they are staying for less than one year, then they are quitting too soon.
You should not need to hire a nanny more than once in a single year. I have personally had a nanny for 3 years.
How can you avoid this? While the nanny can quit for totally personal reasons unrelated to work, other times there are things you can do to encourage your nanny to stay for longer.
Top Reasons why your Nannies are Quitting too Soon
1. You are Treating her Poorly
Do not ill-treat your nanny. It is one of major reasons why many nannies can’t stay with an employer. If your nanny does not feel valued, respected, and appreciated, she will leave and work elsewhere. If you have not been treating your nanny with respect and appreciation, it could be the reason why they leave too soon.
2. You have High/Unreasonable Job Expectations
Paying for a nanny can be quite expensive but having too high expectation on them may be the reason why you can’t keep them for long. Many feel they need to get the optimal value from the nanny by having them do other chores other than caring and nurturing your child.
However if you ask your nanny to do general housekeeping, pet care, garden care, livestock care among other things you will make her leave. These are too high and unreasonable expectations of a nanny and not the reason they are hired.
It may not matter to some if you are compensating them for the extra work but you will probably lose them soon.
Read: How to Create a Reasonable Nanny Description
3. Your Nanny will Quit if you Pay Poorly
Low pay is the main reason for many nannies resigning from their jobs. If your nanny gets a better offer elsewhere than what you are offering, they probably quit for this higher pay rate.
It is strongly believed that nannies are in this career because they love kids. They derive joy and peace from caring and nurturing kids. However, they need to pay the bills from this profession.
So after all they need the money and the pay they are getting from you matters at the end of the day. If the rate you are offering your nanny is too low that they can barely survive from it, they will quit soon for something better.
4. Delaying your Nanny Pay
We all work to make a living out of it and getting delayed on the pay is discouraging and will make some nannies quit . It makes no sense for someone to work but not have the money when you need it the most.
Nannies too have their needs and want their pay on time. If you have a habit of delaying your nanny’s pay for whatever reason, it may be the reason they are leaving you for other jobs. It is both unprofessional and inconsiderate and most nannies will not put up with it for long.
5. If you Deny Nanny off Days
If you have been denying your nanny off days, it could be the reason they are quitting too soon. No one wants to work nonstop as it is very unhealthy and unrealistic. Many nannies will never accept to bear the burnout and the strain that comes from working with no off days so they will quit soon into you hiring them.
The same goes when you offer no sick leave days. It leads to resentment, guilt, or shame between you and your nanny and they eventually quit.
6. You Micromanage your Nanny alot
Micromanagement is never a good idea, even in your household with your nanny. Let your nanny know what is expected of her and leave her to it or else they may start deciding to quit on you.
Hovering around and always interfering with her work will have her quitting soon. Doing so communicates to her that you do not trust in her abilities to do the work that you have hired her for. Many nannies cannot work under such conditions and hence quit.
7. You have Nanny Cams
Nanny cameras are very important to a working mom. They give your security that your child is safe by virtually checking what your nanny and the baby are up to. It is an ideal tool that helps working moms trust their child caregiver, especially if it is a new nanny.
However, this does not rub well with some nannies and most are known to quit for this reason. Indeed, a good nanny should not be bothered by a nanny camera but some nannies are bothered with the intrusion. They translate this to mean you do not trust them to do the job you hired them for and hence quit soon after realizing the cameras are becoming a problem.
Read: Pros and Cons of Nanny Cameras you Need to Know
8. You are Getting Too Personal With the Nanny
It is possible to feel that you want to know your nanny as much as possible. You may want her to feel like part of the family but this may be pushing too many personal boundaries.
Many nannies like keeping the jobs separate from their personal life. It includes showing up for the job, caring for the baby, and going home. They do not want you into their personal life. Just like you value keeping your personal life from your workplace, your nanny has the same desire.
So when you are trying to get too much into your nanny’s personal life, it will make them quit. It includes repeatedly asking them to join you for dinner, asking them to join you for vacation, wanting to know more about their personal life, asking about how they spend their off days, unnecessarily calling them during off-work hours among others.
These habits make it hard for your nanny to maintain a work-life balance and so they quit too soon after you have hired them.
Read: How to Set a Professional Work Relationship with your Nanny
9. Exposing Domestic Issues To Your Nanny
Keeping your personal life out of your nanny business is as important as you staying out of their personal life. It is that simple and failing to do this could be the reason why your nannies are quitting on you.
Keep your domestic issues away from your nanny. Your nanny cannot be your confidant, many detest that. Nannies don’t like witnessing domestic flights either. If you have been fighting in front of your nanny, it is awkward, unprofessional and makes them quit working for you due to the instabilities.
When you become too personal with your nanny, you are driving them away. Treat your nanny as a valued employee, not as family and you will find you are able to keep them for longer.
10. Your Kids are Disrespectful
It is very important that your children grow up respecting people despite their position in life. Children are learners and they will continue doing what you allow them to do.
If your children are disrespectful to your nanny and you allow it, you open your way to having your nanny leave. Most nannies will not care for a spoiled, rude, and uncontrollable child and therefore you should never allow such behavior.
11. You Do not Keep your Schedule
Time management is very crucial in all professions. That is why there is reporting time and leaving time in every office. Anything extra is regarded as overtime and must be compensated.
Similarly, your nanny expects the same. They expect that you will honor your schedule and relieve her on time so when you are not, they quit from the inconvenience created. It indicates you do not respect your nannies and have no value for professionalism in your relationship with her.
Read :How to Secure your Nanny Commitment for Long Term
12. Personal Reasons
Lastly, it may be all well on your side and your nanny may still quit for personal reasons. It does not mean you were necessarily a bad employer but that they had to move on to another phase in life.
Such reasons may include nanny being too old and quitting nannying entirely, quitting to join school, quitting to marry, quitting to move out of state, change in availability, and personal health complications among others.
Read: Reasons to Fire your Newly Hired Nanny
Secrets on Keeping your Nanny for Long
1. Never Disrespect your Nanny
Always treat your nanny with respect and appreciate her value. Welcome her to your home and make her feel comfortable working with you. Do not talk down on her and always have open and respectful conversation. Also teach your kids to respect your nanny.
2. Eliminate Unreasonable Expectations
Never ask your nanny to do something that is not within her role as a nanny. Her job is to care for and nurture your child and clean after their mess. Anything else is a mistake to ask them to do and you will avoid making her quit on you.
3. Pay your Nanny well to Stop them from Quitting
Don’t just stick with the minimal rate for your area. Go above the average expected. It is very motivating for your nanny. If you can afford, offer gifts and bonuses too. It communicates you are willing to pay to keep them with you and not quit for other jobs.
4. Don’t Delay your Nanny’s Pay
Always pay on time as agreed. Your nanny has financial obligations to meet too. It motivates them to work and you will prevent your nanny from leaving for other jobs.
5. Don’t Deny your Nanny Off- Days
She needs to recharge and reboot to serve you better. Giving her days to rest helps you keep her for longer and not quit. Further respect your nanny’s time and keep time. If you cannot make it one time, have some one else relieve the nanny off her watch
6. Avoid Micromanaging
Let go of the need to micromanage your nanny. Advice what is expected of her and give her the room to work. You will prevent her from quitting too soon on you. When you show that you trust her, they feel motivated to deliver their best.
7. Don’t Indicate your Trust Issues with your Nanny
If you have a new nanny you must be willing to show your nanny you trust her with her work. If you dont they will not feel confident working for you and will quit sooner.
8. Never Break Personal Boundaries
Prevent your nanny from quitting soon by setting and respecting personal boundaries. Keep your issues away from your nanny and it will help you keep them for longer.
Also always respect your nanny’s personal life. Stay out of her personal life so that she can enjoy a work-life balance.
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