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You’ve hired a nanny and you think she’s a perfect fit for your family. Great references and experience. You and your kids get along with her well and things are seemingly working out great. But then, she gives her notice. What went wrong? Maybe it’s not her, but it’s you. Here are some reasons why good nannies and caregivers often quit their jobs.
#1: Their good work was not recognized or rewarded.
An undervalued employee is someone that oftentimes feels disrespected or not valued enough as a person. Words matter! If you don’t encourage your nanny or caregiver that they’re doing a good job along the way, they may feel like you haven’t seen or don’t appreciate their good work.
#2: They’re overworked.
If you’re continually coming in late without notice, or just assuming that your nanny or caregiver can stay late during certain days of the week, they will likely feel like they’re being taken advantage of. Nannies have a life outside this job, and it is disrespectful to add hours without consideration for her plans. They probably won’t tolerate being overworked for long before you hear about their frustration or see their notice to leave.
#3: You’ve added more duties to their initially assigned role.
If you’ve hired a nanny or caregiver, chances are, you’ve had some discussions about what their role should be. But, once that role starts, you cannot expect to add extra duties on without running it by them or compensating them for it. For example, if you hire someone to care for a loved one, but then you start asking them to clean, cook, and run errands that may interrupt their primary responsibilities, they will probably be frustrated.
#4: They feel micromanaged.
Working under a boss that micromanages can be draining and stifling. Caregivers and nannies that are being micromanaged could stifle their creativity in how they care and relate for your kids or other loved ones. Good caregivers and nannies have an innate desire to create and contribute to the lives of your family members if you let them.
#5: They’re not being paid enough.
Fair compensation is key. If you don’t compensate your employees well or acknowledge overtime when they work late, you can’t expect them to stick around for long. You cannot expect your employees to work for free after their assigned hours. If you are running late, use the 15 minute rule and add the time to her paycheck.
#6: Commitments are not honored.
Can your nanny schedule her vacation when she wants to or do you always have a reason that the time she chooses isn’t good for you? Did you hire her for five days a week, then cancel at the last minute when you go out of town and dock her pay? If you commit to something, stick to it, or else your nanny won’t trust that your word will be honored. And get it in writing right from the start in your written work agreement so everyone remembers the agreement!
Finding a good nanny or caregiver is very doable if you do your research and ask the right questions. However, keeping a good nanny or caregiver requires additional hard work on your part and it’s worth every minute.
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