Assistant Vent

[Unregistered]

I am a registered user but signed out for privacy reasons...

I have an assistant that is having problems getting the hang of the job. It's been a little bit over a month and i continue to give her daily feedback, but some of the things are beginning to really get to me.

Well, usually during lunch she uses my computer to check her email. She forgot to sign out and when I turned the computer on after the day was over, it was open to an email... Horrible, but I read it. It was short and it was about how she has been working with an agency to get a nanny job....

Part of me is relieved. Is that bad????

[sharlan]

Start looking for a replacement.......

[nannyde]

what problems are you having with her?

[Abigail]

Has this assistant had previous experience with children? It only took me a few weeks to become comfortable at daycare with 12-18 kids daily. I was nervous about remembering their names and the correct "terms" that other people used with them. I would definitely look for a replacement and tell her as soon as you find one that it's not working out and give her a one week notice or something for her job security. Let her leave if she wants immediately and offer to be a job reference so it's not a bad goodbye. Sounds like she is decent, just not a good fit.

[Kaddidle Care]

I am a registered user but signed out for privacy reasons...

I have an assistant that is having problems getting the hang of the job. It's been a little bit over a month and i continue to give her daily feedback, but some of the things are beginning to really get to me.

Well, usually during lunch she uses my computer to check her email. She forgot to sign out and when I turned the computer on after the day was over, it was open to an email... Horrible, but I read it. It was short and it was about how she has been working with an agency to get a nanny job....

Part of me is relieved. Is that bad????

No it's not bad that you feel relieved. It's obvious she's not the sharpest tool in the shed because of what she did. It almost sounds like she wanted you to read it.

Password your computer, she shouldn't be using it and find a replacement that actually works for you. Good luck!

[Unregistered]

problems:

* leaves the garbage by the door. When I explained that taking garbage out meant getting it in the trash, she leaves it outside by the gate and I noticed it later on in the evening. Had the conversation AGAIN, thinking maybe I wasnt very specific the first time that I mean Inside the trash can

* mumbling under her breath about how the kids are all misbehaved. I usually say 'what?' to make sure what I heard and she always laughs and says that she was kidding or didnt say anything.

* opening the fridge and helping herself to my soda. (I sort of called her out on it and said I thought you brought another brand. She gives some lame excuse about how she mixed up and grabbed the wrong one. Then yesterday, does it again!)

* Not brining lunch and then asking 'what's for lunch?'. I had numerous conversations about how I do NOT provide lunch.

* gets annoyed when it's a messy day. I have mostly 18mos old, it's always a messy day!

[PeanutsGalore]

problems:

* leaves the garbage by the door. When I explained that taking garbage out meant getting it in the trash, she leaves it outside by the gate and I noticed it later on in the evening. Had the conversation AGAIN, thinking maybe I wasnt very specific the first time that I mean Inside the trash can

* mumbling under her breath about how the kids are all misbehaved. I usually say 'what?' to make sure what I heard and she always laughs and says that she was kidding or didnt say anything.

* opening the fridge and helping herself to my soda. (I sort of called her out on it and said I thought you brought another brand. She gives some lame excuse about how she mixed up and grabbed the wrong one. Then yesterday, does it again!)

* Not brining lunch and then asking 'what's for lunch?'. I had numerous conversations about how I do NOT provide lunch.

* gets annoyed when it's a messy day. I have mostly 18mos old, it's always a messy day!

Uhm...WHY does she want to be a nanny? In this day and age, nannies function as household managers, which means they are possibly asked to cook, clean and run errands, as well as take care of the kids and make sure the house is in good order when the parents return home. And just because you're in the house with the kids, doesn't mean you have free reign to clean out the fridge for your own personal use or use their computer for whatever you want.

Sounds like a bad fit for a career, period.

[nannyde]

problems:

* leaves the garbage by the door. When I explained that taking garbage out meant getting it in the trash, she leaves it outside by the gate and I noticed it later on in the evening. Had the conversation AGAIN, thinking maybe I wasnt very specific the first time that I mean Inside the trash can

* mumbling under her breath about how the kids are all misbehaved. I usually say 'what?' to make sure what I heard and she always laughs and says that she was kidding or didnt say anything.

* opening the fridge and helping herself to my soda. (I sort of called her out on it and said I thought you brought another brand. She gives some lame excuse about how she mixed up and grabbed the wrong one. Then yesterday, does it again!)

* Not brining lunch and then asking 'what's for lunch?'. I had numerous conversations about how I do NOT provide lunch.

* gets annoyed when it's a messy day. I have mostly 18mos old, it's always a messy day!

She's looking for a deal where she gets to sit and watch kids play toys.

Can I ask if she has any health issues?

[wdmmom]

I think you are overreacting some on this. When I have someone work for me, I supply any food and drink they ask for.

Why is this a big deal???

The trash would make me mad. But the mumbling under her breath...I do that too. There's just some things that shouldn't be said out loud sometimes.

I might consider laying out her expectations a little better or making a daily task sheet for her to follow.

But as Nannyde mentioned...you might want to start looking for someone else now.

[sahm1225]

I think you are overreacting some on this. When I have someone work for me, I supply any food and drink they ask for.
.

I'm surprised about this. I have never had a job where the meals were provided for me, even when I worked at a restaurant the food wasn't free. I have never had an assistant expect me to feed them, and honestly it wouldn't occur to me that their lunch/meals are my responsibilities..

Am I the only one? Do all of you feed your assistants? And Im not talking about hiring your family or children, anytime my mom works with me then of course I would offer lunch.

[Unregistered]

I've been at a couple daycares (one closed, and still at the other) Both daycares provided lunch and snacks. I always feel bad eating the snack though, so usually don't. Lunch I do go ahead and eat, but still feel kinda bad, since it does cost money. The owner always insists though, saying it's just part of my pay. Even if I'm leaving right after lunch... so maybe that's what she's used to. Although, if you specifically told her you don't provide lunch, she should get it by now. The issues don't sound like that big of a deal, but there's probably more to it than you were able to write out. It does sound really annoying, though! I also wonder if she's had experience working in daycare before?
If you would like to replace her, and she's not helping you out any, then I don't see anything wrong with being relieved. It sounds like it may work out a lot better for you. At least then you won't have to worry about what to do with an assistant that isn't helping out very much.

[cheerfuldom]

I don't provide snacks or lunch for my assistant BUT I do think you need to make sure that the expectations are clearly layed out. Skip the subtle comments and just straight out tell her to stop drinking your soda, etc. She sounds a little immature but none of the issues you mentioned are that big of a deal. You do have to give on some things in order to work with someone else. No one is going to be exactly what you want so the important thing is to find someone that meets your main expectations and is willing to follow further instructions. My assistant is pretty soft on the kids, doesn't clean up like I would and various other small things BUT she is dependable with an upbeat attitude and the kids like her so that makes her great in my book. Some things I remind her of and the rest I just let go. It took me months to find her and I am not about to lose her if I can help it!