Should I stay or should I go???

Question

This is kinda a long story so bare with me. I had an interview on Monday for a nanny job. They hired me that day & I started on Tuesday. I've worked all week and get the weekend off. I care for a 9 month old baby girl and occasionally a 4 year old when she's not in pre-school. The problem is that they are from India. I am of course not from India. I'm NOT racist at ALL, but I feel out of place over there so bad. The mother-in-law is there from India & doesn't speak English, so it's hard to communicate with her & she watches my every move every day. She will go back to India on September 3rd. I just don't know what to do because they promised me a set schedule, and all week so far they had me come in all different hours. Not to mention it's not all that close to me. I have to be there at 7 or 8 in the morning, & be there til about 5 (sometimes earlier). I just feel so out of place (like I'm an alien or something). They treat me like I'm stupid and boss me around like a little kid. I'm 20 years old, and have cared for PLENTY of kids. I even had references with 15 people on it to prove it. I'm just thinking about quitting because they treat me with no respect. I'm supposed to be making around $400.00 a week, but I don't see that happening. Then today I got mad because I had to be in there at 8, and the mother didn't even go to work. So, I had to slave around for nothing when she could have done it. Plus they barely talk to me and practice their religion around me and I don't like it. So should I stay or is it worth the money?

Answer 1

why not hunt for another position while keeping your current gig.

Answer 2

Honey, If your not Happy, I think you should start considering leaving.  If i were you i would hang on until the granmother leaves in september. Wait a week and see how things go.  Or another option is to confront them about this respect issue. tell them how you feel, and how you want things to change. tell them if things dont shape up in 2 weeks  your leaving.  There are plenty of other jobs that have to do with kids, i myself have considered becoming a nanny, but realized that being a nanny wont keep me happy for long, and decided to look at different career paths.  Be strong, i applaud you for becoming a nanny and doing such a selfless thing.  Hang tight for a couple more weeks, good luck!

Answer 3

If you feel comfortable, unsafe to work there, or the environment doesn't seem suitable, then try to look for another position. What I would do is hold on to this position until I really find another position and then quit that job. That's just my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

You have every right to question your hours when they promised you would have set hours!  If you feel uncomfortable and do not have set hours, then I would move on with a job that will be more set and comfortable.  With religion practices that you are not used to and other things, I think you would be better off leaving this situation.

Answer 5

Let's look at this objectively:

1) They promised you a set schedule and that hasn't happened

2) They promised you $400 per week and that doesn't seem to be happening

3) You feel you're not being treated with respect

Putting everything else aside as a cultural issue, these three items add up to trouble. It's quite possible for people of different religions who speak different languages to have communication problems, but still show respect for each other. The fact that this is not happening, probably makes this job a bad match for you.

Normally, if the employer starts dinking around with your schedule and salary the first week, things don't get better from there. Know what I mean?

(PS As far as the mother having you come in at 8 am...this is not that unusual for a nanny. Maybe she just wanted a break. Or, maybe she took some advice from a parenting magazine, to spend time around you and the kids, to make sure you're handling things well.)  

Answer 6

It doesn't sound worth it to me, it sounds like you know that too deep down. You're going to have to spend most of your life working, so pick something that is not going to drive you nuts. And yes I hate it when people talk down to me too, I feel your pain.