Establishing Healthy Boundaries Between Nannies and Families
Nurturing the nanny-family relationship is the key to creating a harmonious environment for nannies, parents and children.
The added bonus?
It also makes nannies want to stay with their work families for the long haul.
Read on to learn the 3 actionable steps nannies and parents can take to set up healthy boundaries in the nanny-family relationship.
Know Your Responsibilities
Nannies: as an employee, parents are counting on you to be punctual and to perform your nanny duties diligently with care and enthusiasm.
Parents: As employers, nannies are counting on you to respect and honour their work hours, timely payment of their salary, and duration of the work contract.
When both parties respect and honour their obligations, they both have peace of mind and trust.
Prioritize Communication
Nannies: Speak with your employers about any work-related questions or concerns you may have sooner rather than later. Be assertive and proactive.
Parents: Nannies are amazing, but they’re not mindreaders. If you like things done a certain way then you have to show your nanny, train them, and give them regular feedback and praise.
Remember: Lack of communication is the #1 cause of relationship breakdowns!
Be Realistic
Nannies: Be proactive in completing your work tasks and offer flexibility (additional time or tasks) to your employers when you can. But remember that your free time outside of work is valuable, necessary, and important too.
Parents: Give your nanny a reasonable list of daily tasks; be respectful and realistic when asking for additional responsibilities or additional work hours. Remember that your nanny has a life outside of work and needs downtime too.
By establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries, both nanny and family feel appreciated and respected.