Okay, we all want the people taking care of our children to take the job seriously. We want to trust them. We want to know they'll give our kids the best possible care they can. We want to know they're mentally healthy and reliable. So, you know, when picking out a daycare or hiring a nanny, you should probably ask a few important questions.
But 65 questions? A couple in New York City who want to hire a nanny for their two children created an online survey with 65 mother-lovin' coconuts questions. Some of the questions make sense -- like "Are you an American citizen?" and "Are you certified in CPR?" But others ... lord have mercy. You've got to see some of these questions.
- How often do you bathe/wash your hair?
- Would you be comfortable not using scented perfumes or scented body washes while under our employment?
- Would you be willing to maintain short, neat fingernails while under our employment?
- How often do you have a hangover?
- How many siblings do you have? Where do you fall in the birth order?
Oh yeah -- and they want to know all about the prospective nanny's drinking and smoking habits, and under which circumstances (circle any that apply from a long list) you would wash your hands. Like someone would volunteer that they don't wash their hands after using the toilet. And how much housework are you willing to do? Specifically.
And the kicker? This is for a "Mary Poppins" who works TWO days a week, from 11:30 a.m. to around 5:00 p.m., for $15 an hour. So, you know. Loads of personal information for a very part-time job.
Who are these people?!? If I were looking for a nanny job, I'd be saying, "NEXT!" A questionnaire like this is a red flag: Crazy-ass, entitled, high-maintenance family. Alert! Alert! Neurotic, nit-picking parents. Alert! It sounds like maybe they've had some bad experiences in the past -- maybe that's why the list is so long. But jeebus crunch, think their expectations might be a little too high?
Do you think this nanny survey is out of control?
Image via starynight_012/Flickr
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Comments 32
Questions regarding competancy are excellent, even requests regarding no-scent policies are fine, but to ask a person to list every single thing about themselves is uncalled for. No other employer would be able to do such a thing. An interiew, several excellent references, a background and driving check and a couple of trial days should be more than enough to establish the qualifications of a nanny.
Finally, $15/hour in Queens is not nearly enough. If you want quality child care, pay quality wages and don't ask your nanny to be your housekeeper also.