Nannies message me weekly on Facebook complaining about job interviews in which parents don’t want to offer paid time off (PTO), overtime pay, or guaranteed hours. 

Here are some of the reasons I tell nannies to consider explaining to parent employers why they deserve PTO, overtime pay, and guaranteed hours. Career nannies have chosen childcare as their profession and are not casual babysitters. Nannies work to pay their bills and to do that they need fair pay. 

Paid Time Off (PTO): Every employee needs time to rest, recover from illness, attend appointments, and spend time with family. Paid vacation and sick days help prevent burnout, improve job satisfaction, and allow nannies to return to work refreshed and able to provide the best care possible.

Overtime Pay: Caring for children is physically and emotionally demanding work. When families need a nanny to work beyond their agreed-upon hours, those extra hours should be compensated fairly. Overtime pay recognizes the additional time and energy required and encourages a healthy work-life balance.

Guaranteed Hours: A nanny reserves specific hours each week exclusively for one family. If the family goes on vacation, grandparents visit, or parents decide they don’t need childcare for a few days, the nanny has still kept that time available and cannot simply replace those lost hours with another job. Bills, rent, groceries, and other living expenses don’t stop because a family chooses to travel. Guaranteed hours provide income stability while ensuring the family has reliable childcare when they return.

Professional nannies rely on consistent income just like any other professionals. Benefits such as PTO, overtime, and guaranteed hours aren’t special perks, they’re standard employment practices that recognize childcare as a skilled profession and help families attract and keep  experienced, dedicated caregivers.

These benefits create a fair, respectful employment relationship that benefits both the nanny and the family. A nanny who feels valued and financially secure is more likely to stay long-term, providing children with the consistency and stable relationships they need to thrive.

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