5 Reasons Your Nanny Wants To Quit … And It’s Not The Money!

If your nanny has quit – or you suspect they might – your first reaction might be to re-examine their pay. However, there are several reasons your nanny might decide it’s time to move on that aren’t directly related to their compensation. Changes in their own life, their perception of the work environment and their workload are all reasons your nanny could be quitting. Below are 5 common reasons your nanny has decided to quit.

Change in responsibilities

If the original agreement you established with your nanny isn’t aligning with their current responsibilities, your nanny might feel misled. Your nanny’s first responsibility is to care for your children, but if you’ve also asked her to take care of cleaning, cooking, laundry and other household duties without first reaching a mutual agreement, your nanny might decide to seek other employment. When signing a new contract with your nanny, ensure any new responsibilities are clear.

Personal life changes

Often, a nanny might decide to quit for reasons unrelated to you, your children or the work environment. Major life changes, such as engagement, starting their own family, going back to school, relocating and more could all drivers behind your nanny’s decision to leave.

Feeling underappreciated

Your nanny commits a great deal of time and energy toward caring for your children. If they go above and beyond in their position and complete requests outside of their job description, forgetting to say a simple thank you could be enough to make your nanny feel underappreciated. As well, not allowing your nanny to take days off can lead them to feel negatively about their work environment.

Different opinions

You and your nanny might not see eye-to-eye when it comes to taking care of your children. If these differing opinions are significant enough, this could cause your nanny to seek other employment options. Have a discussion with your nanny beforehand about your preferences, and ensure you have a mutual understanding.

Workload

Requesting your nanny perform duties on their off-time or to work longer hours than originally agreed upon could lead to your nanny deciding to leave. Your nanny might feel that the workload is too demanding, especially when combined with little positive reinforcement.

By understanding why your current nanny is leaving, you’ll be able to have a better working relationship for your future nanny, and foster a more long-term agreement. Money is not always the deciding factor in your nanny’s decision to leave – a change in responsibilities or a demanding workload with no positive reinforcement are also deciding factors, but your nanny could also be undergoing a major life change.