As an employer, we always have expectations of our employees, for example: be punctual, be hard-working, and be reliable; but what about the other way around? In what ways can people be better employers? Ensuring a harmonious relationship with your caregiver does not fall solely into the caregiver’s hands. A positive employer-employee relationship involves give and take. In order to promote a mutually beneficial relationship, here are a few tips to make your employee feel valued:

1) Offer a fair wage: For live-in caregivers, the wage has already been determined according to government standards. However, for live-out caregivers, the wage is negotiable. When offering your caregiver a wage, truly ask yourself, “What is required from this individual and what is a reasonable wage”? How many children do you have? Is there housework involved? Driving the children? Meal preparation? Your wage should fairly compensate your caregiver for the job’s requirements.

2) Treat her like a professional: If you are confident in your caregiver’s childcare abilities, you should trust her judgement. If you have any concerns, these should be addressed in private and not in front of the children; doing so will only undermine her authority. Try to respect her childcare approach and be polite in making suggestions. We all have different ways of doing things and there may even be a cultural element to your caregiver’s approach.

3) Respect her privacy: You should respect your caregiver’s personal space, especially a live-in caregiver. Even though they live in your home, this does not mean your caregiver is available all the time. When the work day is done, your caregiver is free to enjoy their time off; whether that is in the comfort of their private room, or out with friends, be respectful of their personal space.

4) Establish rules and respect them: Your caregiver’s job description has been clearly detailed in the employment contract. If you require duties beyond what has been described in the contract, please consult with your caregiver first. Furthermore, if your work day finishes at 5, try and be home at that time so your caregiver’s workday may end. If it is necessary for them to work longer, be sure to compensate fairly.

5) Show your appreciation: Positive feedback goes a long way in fostering a harmonious relationship. If you are pleased with your caregiver’s performance – let them know!

6) Be flexible: Life doesn’t always go according to plan – maybe your nanny needs a day off and can only provide short notice. Or perhaps, you need your nanny to work on a weekend and it’s a last minute request. As much as we all like to plan ahead, sometimes you need to bend a bit.

7) Be welcoming: While arriving in a foreign country is an exciting experience, it can also be terrifying. Take the time to show your caregiver around the house and explain how everything works. At the same time, you may also want to point out bus stops, grocery stores, banks, cell-phone stores, etc. Your caregiver will appreciate the gesture and your assistance will help build their confidence.

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Being professional is  important,   regardless of the kind of work. As a nanny, you have a responsibility not only to your employers, but to the children you care for as well. Taking pride in your work and acting in professional way will be beneficial to your current work relationship and to your future opportunities. Having a poor reference from a past employer will only harm your future chances of success.

That being said, here are a few general tips to follow in order to be a more “professional” employee.

Respect for Others

• Be polite and have good manners.
• Be punctual: if you start work at 7.a.m., you should be ready!
• Keep your employer’s private affairs confidential.
• Accept and listen to criticism – keep an open mind.
• Apologize for errors or misunderstandings.
• Do what is asked of you.
• Speak clearly – you may not be understood all the time, it’s best to check!

Take Responsibility

• Be honest!
• Be reliable and dependable – this is your job!
• Always give the best you can.

Of course, there are some tips which are more specific for nanny-work:

• Nannies should be mindful of childhood development and plan age-appropriate activities.
• Nannies should keep a journal to report any milestones in development or observations.
• Nannies must supervise children carefully and use common sense when responding to emergency situations.

Remember, being a nanny is a professional job and therefore requires serious attention and effort! If you feel your nanny skills have been lacking, make it a New Year’s Resolution to try some of these tips to make your work relationship more harmonious!

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The long-awaited arrival of your overseas nanny is an exciting addition to the family. But how do you ensure those feelings of bliss and relief continue, as your new caregiver begins his/her employment? Although many employers consider their caregiver a “member of the family”, the fact still remains that an employer-employee relationship exists, and as such, some guidelines need to be observed when communicating with your caregiver. Communication strategies for tackling business concerns are paramount, but business strategies alone are not enough; one must also consider the importance of recognizing cultural nuances.

The most important aspect of maintaining a good relationship is clear and open communication. Arriving in a foreign country is nerve-wracking enough for your caregiver, so it is vital that he/she feels comfortable enough to open up to you and address any issues should they arise.

When speaking with your caregiver in front of the children, it is important to speak with him or her politely in order to avoid undermining your caregiver’s authority. Furthermore, when correcting mistakes, remember to praise your caregiver for ways in which they have performed well. An effective way to introduce concerns is through the “sandwich approach”. Although this approach is frequently used in educational settings, it is a positive communication tool in other settings as well. Rather than introduce your concern outright, the “sandwich approach” advises starting first with a positive point, followed by your concern, and then ending with another positive comment. You can imagine two delicious slices of bread with some not-so-tasty cheese in-between! By using this method, you will create a more positive environment when discussing concerns.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that cultural differences often result in communication difficulties. For example, communication in Asian cultures is often very different than in Western Cultures. In order to avoid confrontation in many Asian cultures, there is a tendency to say “yes” to requests, when in fact the individual would rather say “no”. Not to mention, a smile should not be misconstrued as agreement or pleasure in what has been discussed. The smile can just as easily be used to hide embarrassment, annoyance or disagreement. When communicating with your caregiver, especially when first getting-to-know each other, it is very important not to assume that your message is clear. What may be clear to you might be easily misunderstood  by your caregiver.

Hopefully, with a little bit of work and focus on communication strategies, you can easily maintain a positive home environment with your new “family member”. Happy Communicating!

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Be welcoming:
Working in another country can be daunting as it is, working and living in your employer’s home even more so. Take the cultural barriers for what they are and provide her with as much information which will be of benefit. Things such as showing her how to work the appliances in the kitchen, giving her a tour of the area, including nearest bus stops and likewise will help her become more independent and increase her confidence.

Respect privacy:
Having a live-in nanny does not mean that she is available all hours of the day or night. Your nanny should have a room in the home which is hers alone, and both the family and the children should respect this. Appreciate that just like any other employee she is entitled to time off, even if she is in the home, and ensure that when she is not working; she is not working!

Establish boundaries:
Having a nanny become “one of the family” is great, but always be aware of the fact that you are her employer and she is an employee. Living and working in one place can mean there is always the risk of personal issues affecting her performance in the position; professionalism should always be maintained.

Fair pay system:
Be a good employer by paying your nanny in a suitable fashion. This means an appropriate wage, with a mandatory pay stub, and on time. A pay rise after the first year is recommended.You should also think about giving her the occasional bonus for good work; it doesn’t have to be money but a gift she might enjoy.

Show support:
You should never discuss your problems or concerns with the nanny in front of the children, nor do or say anything which could undermine her authority with the children. This will only make her job more difficult. And when your nanny is doing a good job, make sure you let her know; praise goes a long way to making an employee happy.

Be flexible:
Whilst reliability is important in a nanny, allowing her time off occasionally or with only short notice if need be can be a good thing. There will be times when you’ll need to call on her to work at the last minute.

Have reasonable expectations:
Providing guidance is a good thing, and breaking down tasks and structuring the day is essential when the nanny begins the employment if she is to become well suited with your family. However be aware that being a nanny is not like other jobs, sometimes it may be impossible for her to complete a daily schedule and care for the children.

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Do

• Be flexible with your employer. Being a nanny is not like working in a factory or an office, it is not always possible to start and finish exactly on time. Be willing to give your employer a little bit of leeway and they will provide you the same courtesy.
• Let your agency know if you are experiencing any difficulties with your employer, this is what they are there for. Chances are they will have heard of similar stories from other nannies and can provide great insight in how you can approach and fix the problem.
• Be pro-active. It is your responsibility to ensure your work visa is renewed on time, that your employer provides you with a payslip every time you are paid etc.
• Seek sensible advice from reliable sources. Canada Immigration, HRSDC, and all information regarding being a foreign worker in Canada can be found online. There are also many telephone lines dedicated to different departments who will be able to answer all questions and queries you may have.
• Get into the habit of writing things down, especially when beginning a new job. It is always better to have instructions written down to refer back to at a later time.
• Improve your skill set. Take the opportunity to learn new skills or strengthen and improve on the ones you already have. Canada has some great colleges and institutions where you can take courses and classes.

Don’t

• Take job advice from your friends. Being a good friend does not mean they will necessarily give good advice. If you are unsure about anything check with your agency who have experience in the matter.
• Lie to your employer. If you make a mistake, admit to it and apologise.
• Use your cell phone during working hours. You would not do this in another work setting such as an office so being a nanny should be no different. The same rule applies to watching TV or spending time on the computer; do it when you are not working.
• Be shy about asking questions. It is much better to ask than to keep quiet and make repeated mistakes. Canadian employers will see this as a good sign of your wanting to perform your job correctly.

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• Acknowledge that your nanny has arrived in Canada for the first time. You will need to teach her everything she is required to do, from how to use the washing machine to what to feed the children.
• Do not assume she will know what needs to be done. Just like in any other job where you are the supervisor you will need to delegate tasks.
• Understand that the culture shock may be overwhelming; the weather, the food, the size of the home, the appliances, the cleaning products, the language, the relationship Canadian employers have with their nannies and the way they raise their children will all be different. This may leave her completely at odds when trying to deal with a Canadian family.
• Be patient. It may take several months for the nanny to settle into her job and into your home.
• Be reasonable. Do not expect your nanny to be able to do more than you could.
  Create fair working conditions. This will help your nanny feel settled and secure in the knowledge that she is with a “good employer”.
  You nanny may also have unrealistic expectations of the position. Canada is sometimes seen as an attractive place to work because it is “easier” than other places. It is your responsibility to set the ground rules for the position and ensure your nanny knows what is expected of her.

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