How do you plan to show appreciation your nanny or au pair on Employee Appreciate Day?
I’ll just start by saying that I really hope that I’m preaching to the choir with this one. If you are in the choir, can I get an “Amen!”?
But, if you are not in my “Amen” corner, and this is something that maybe you haven’t thought of, I hope to encourage you to do so.
2-4-6-8….Who Should You Appreciate?
Having a “personal employee” can be a real uh…..let’s just call it “adventure”. You’re always tap dancing that line between setting boundaries and keeping relations friendly. Then there are the pet peeves (yours and theirs) that can make conversations and interactions awkward or even unpleasant. In fact, sometimes you deal with an employee with very strong personality traits that complicate simple interactions. Last, to state the obvious: you have a stranger so deeply intertwined in your personal and family dynamics that they could literally end you if they turned out to be an “evil Eva”.
First of all, God forbid!
Second, if your situation is that bad, please get a new care arrangement. ASAP! Although highly toxic household employee/employer relations do exist out there, it’s more likely that your situation is not so extreme. Your experience might be more along the lines of having to constantly weigh the “desired” vs the “undesired” and adjusting accordingly. Though such tensions can be frustrating or anxiety producing, they are also quite normal. With that being said, it is not necessary that your nanny or au pair be Mary Poppins or Maria (the nun from the Sound of Music) to be shown great appreciation.
“Wait, what?!?! Why should I appreciate my “mediocre” nanny/au pair?”
I’m sure you didn’t say or think that, but someone did. Here’s why….
Why Your Appreciation Matters
If your nanny/au pair is fulfilling the obligations of her/his position with your family, it is wise and good to express your appreciation regularly and often. Please remember that many people who choose this role or profession do so because of their utmost love and respect for children. The position can be very demanding and pay/benefits are often not commensurate with the responsibilities and stresses they face supporting a family. Nannies with families, often have to put the needs and well being of your family before their own. Additionally, they too are navigating the dynamics of your home life and even your personality quirks that you might not be aware of. They have learned your patterns and they know how you’re going to treat them as soon as they hear you walk up the front steps and open the front door. Trust me, the footsteps and key entry say more than you know. Lol! (YIKES!!!) No judgment friend, we’re all human and we all have those days!
Someone (not you) might ask: “Do you mean to tell me that spending all day with my beautiful, lovely, heaven-sent child(ren) is not equivalent to floating on cloud nine amongst angels? Their day could never be as stressful as mine. Besides this is the job they signed up for, right?
Yes. But also no. We all come into new job oppportunities with the hopes and fantasies of what could be and the ideal is what we sign up for. But the reality is usually nowhere close to the perfection we imagined. Plus, I think employer families would do well to recognize that some jobs do require more personal sacrifices than others – for the greater good. Teachers, firefighters, police officers, military personnel, all make great sacrifices because they are pulled toward serving others. And we appreciate them, right? I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic at all when I equate the work that your nanny does to that of those mentioned above. In my humble opintion, high appreciation is in order! Remember, your nanny/Au Pair is dedicated specifically to the needs of your very beloved and precious family.
I hope that I’ve got you thinking. If so, keep reading!
Appreciation: More Than a One-Time Event
The first thing I would suggest you do before figuring out how you will show your nanny/au pair appreciation this Friday, is: reflect on your current household employment situation.Take a look at the list below and honestly assess if any apply. Your nanny/au pair is more likely to feel appreciated if you are a conscientious employer.
Yes! One more thing to add to your Mom plate – conscientious employer. Insert fist pump here. So in the spirit of keep your home organization running like a well oiled machine, see the list of the top reasons nannies leave and then avoid them!
- Lack of communication
- Change of job responsibilities/job creep
- Growing schedules
- Lack of appreciation
- Being mico-managed
- Feeling isolated
- Different childcare philosophies
- Family dysfunction
- Wage and tax issues
- A better situation
Let’s bring it a bit closerhome a bit closer:
- If you are in management or leadership in your professional life, take a moment to think about the impact of this list on the organization(s) you lead. Do your employees thrive and produce their highest and best under such conditions?
- If you are not a manager or leader in your professional life, think about what grinds your gears at work and how those issues impact your productivity and investment in your company’s goals/vision/mission. Compare your woes to the list above.
Now for the big “so what”: Your nanny/au pair, though a personal employee, is still an employee. Are they producing their highest and best? Is there anything on the list that might apply? I would love to tackle each of the list items with specific game plans that would benefit both you and your nanny/Au Pair. But not in this post. Sorry!
Ways To Appreciate Your Nanny or Au Pair
If your nanny is currently dealing with any of the issues above, you might not be able to resolve it before Friday. But don’t worry, help is on the way! Employee appreciation day is on a Friday, ant that’s not for nothin’. Maybe you could….
- Give your nanny/au pair the afternoon off.
- Reduce or eliminate some of her/his duties for the day.
- Plan for or give a pay increase or bonus if you know that it would be right and appropriate for your care situation.
- Allow your nanny/au pair to come in a little late so that they can have breakfast with their loved ones or enjoy a self-care activity.
- Give a gift card for a self-care activity.
- Give a thank you card.
- Ask for feedback from your nanny or au pair.
- What do you need from me to be the most effective in your role?
- Is there anything that you have asked for that I might have forgotten to deliver?
- What communication improvements would you like to see?
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you decide to ask for feedback, please take it and do something good with it. If you’re not sure how, let me know and we can talk/type through it.
Finally, if you truly appreciate your nanny, please try to honestly reflect on yourself as employer. Assess if there are ways you can treat <insert your nanny/au pair’s name here> with more appreciation throughout the year. Of course, it’s up to you to decide which changes you will make. I believe in you and have confidence in your desire to make the best environment for everyone in your home!