By: Scott Munden
As nannies prepare to return to work, they need to keep one key thing in mind:
Parents are nervous.
Like the rest of us, families who employ nannies have been psychologically scarred by COVID, quarantine and pandemic fears. Those scars will not heal quickly. Families will seek reassurance and safeguards from the individuals they hire. Safety has always been priority number one whether the employee is a nanny, private chef, household manager, etc. The difference today is one of degree.
The reassurances families will seek as they review resumés and interview candidates, will be augmented to a level to which nannies should be prepared. Once hired, nannies will enter a transformed work environment with different expectations, altered rules and protocols, shifts in daily work rhythms and modified relationships. Adaptation will be essential.
The skills and aptitudes of before will remain important, however, nannies will be tested on their ability to work during a post-lockdown pandemic. They will pass or fail. The dangers of failure preclude it as an option.
So, what does this mean for nannies applying for work? What has changed? What should they be doing to re-tool resumés and prepare for interviews? What new skills can be added? How do they transform themselves from an exemplary pre-COVID nanny, to a nanny who will reassure a nervous parent during an ongoing pandemic?
Here are suggestions:
- Be aware of COVID’s impact on your day-to-day job responsibilities
- Read, read, read. There are many credible sources offering free, good-faith advice on best practices for keeping children, families, co-workers and home environments safe. The International Nanny Association (INA), for example, recommends that agencies and care providers consult with the CDC, WHO, credible medical advisors and jurisdictional authorities to learn practices for safely working through a pandemic. A good nanny is an individual who embraces the belief that learning never stops regardless of one’s age.
- Make use of your network. Ask questions. Seek advice. INA, for example, has a YouTube video series in which nannies around the world share experiences and offer advice. It is a warm, friendly and informative space.
- All homes have COVID hotspots like telephones, keypads, switches, door handles, etc. But a nanny physically gets to the level of children in order to identify their hotspots. It is the nanny’s responsibility to make sure these are sanitized regularly throughout the day. Many, if not most, parents will be unaware of these opportunistic points of transmission. As a professional, a nanny makes parents aware and reassures they have matters under control.
- Nannies know that children are not great verbal communicators when not feeling 100%. Hyper-vigilance is important. Be aware of COVID warning signs. Communicate with parents so they are kept aware and can make necessary decisions.
- Be aware of co-workers. If they seem under the weather, they may pose a threat to children, family, co-workers and yourself. Act on your concerns but do so with compassion.
- Remember, you cannot provide care if you do not care for yourself.
Finally, resumés should demonstrate this deeper knowledge base reflecting a nanny that has taken measures to prepare for a return to work during a pandemic. Nannies should write a cover letter that reinforces the message. Cover letters carry weight.
The objective is to win that interview and to leave parents confident in the nanny’s ability to keep their family and home safe. That will be the parents’ bottom-line concern.
Keep in mind: The priorities of yesterday are different from the concerns of today.
Scott Munden is the President and Owner of Portico Inc. — a firm that places exemplary private service staff in the homes of high and ultra-net-worth-families. With almost 25 years’ experience working in the residences and providing services ranging from consulting to project management to recruiting, Mr. Munden’s firm is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of UHNWIs as well as the individuals who work for them. Leveraging his many years of experience, Mr. Munden frequently writes on matters pertaining to the private service industry.
* THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL NANNY ASSOCIATION. THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG POST ARE INTENDED TO CONVEY GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR OPINIONS. THE CONTENTS OF THIS POST SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS, AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE IN ANY PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE OR FACT SITUATION. THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS POST MAY NOT REFLECT THE MOST CURRENT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS. NO ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST THE INA DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY IN RESPECT TO ACTIONS TAKEN OR NOT TAKEN BASED ON ANY OR ALL OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS POST TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. THE INTERNATIONAL NANNY ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS THAT AN ATTORNEY SHOULD BE CONTACTED FOR ADVICE ON SPECIFIC LEGAL ISSUES.