These nannies have seen it all and now they have thoughts about their work boundaries.
There are2.2 milliondomestic workers in the U.S., and a lot of them arenannies.
Nannies have busy, demanding jobs with tasks that can completely vary from family to family.
They may be responsible for driving children to school, making meals or live-in caregiving.
These are their hard-earned lessons.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
I wont accept money under the table.
Ive been in the industry for over 25 years now.
It was really weird.
At the time, I was young and I did not understand the whole business of it.
It definitely was done and its still done even though its illegal.
People still make a run at pay you under the table.
Its a big no for me.
I wont be paid less than a livable wage.
A lot of people undermine our education and our professionalism because they assume its a little girls job.
Cocoin Scottsdale, Arizona.
(Cocos last name has been withheld for privacy reasons.)
I wont forbid a nanny from answering a phone or leaving the house.
I would never tell the nanny they cant take the child outside or cant answer their phones at work.
People have to realize that nannies work during the day when most calls come in.
A lot of people, they feel like nannies need to be on all the time.
That could be exhausting and wear your nanny out really quick.
[I would never] assume that they dont have emergency calls that may come in.
They dont want me to take the kid to the park.
I just sit in the house all day with them until they come back.
And thats just not normal.
I wont assume a nanny isa housekeeper.
Its not my job to wash your windows.
Its not my job to clean out your pantry and your fridge.
Something like that, to me, is inappropriate.
I live an hour away, and Im not going to drive an hour to water your plants.
This job is very weird because you might be family with your bosses.
I wont contradict a familys decisions.
As a nanny, I wont contradict my employers, even in the smallest ways.
Parents deserve to be respected in their absence, and my role is to be a supportive team member.
I may offer advice or information, but ultimately will defer to the parents judgment.
I will not work without guaranteed hours in my contract.
But then every once in a while, the parent might get home early.
But that affects your pay at the end of the day.
So those guaranteed hours just keep you safe in case they do send you home early.
Vacations thats a big one as well, especially with spring break coming up right now.
Maiya Mosleyin St. Louis.
I will not hire a nanny without meeting them.
Luckily for me, Ive never had any issues.
But I always think its crazy when people are like OK, come over tomorrow night and watch them.
And Im like: OK, you havent even met me yet.
Calling references, too you want to do your due diligence.
I will not arrive home late.
I wouldnt come home late.
Being a nanny can often seem like, to a family, that youre beholden to them.
Thats a big one that comes up for nannies.
Danny Rosenthal, the owner ofUnited Nanny Agencyin Chicago.
I will not assume a nanny knows what I need.
Most families dont realize that hiring a nanny means opening a small business in their home.
If you want a nanny to do something, you oughta show them.
This post originally appeared onHuffPost.
