This week we decided to bring in a guest blogger to talk about HER take on male nannies and what she feels they can bring to the household. Enter Kathy Copcutt AKA @belairmommie! Mommy blogger and influencer, single mom to her 2 year old son and perfectly placed to weigh in on the topic of males in childcare; thank you Kathy!

 

Mannies vs Nannies

Mannies vs Nannies, it’s really not a war or who’s better at watching our little ones. It’s about who can do the job, experience, glowing referrals and a clear background check.

Give me a female!

When hiring a nanny the first qualification we look for unconsciously is someone with maternal instincts, a woman. We’ve been raised in a society that profiles male nannies as wimps. Let’s step into 2016 and progress like our technology, medical breakthroughs and expand our minds a little more.

It’s weird…!

Whenever I think of Mannies, the Friends episode comes to mind. Ross and Rachel are interviewing Sandy, a male nanny and he’s (practically) perfect in every way. Ross on the other hand is having a rough time swallowing the concept and proceeds to ask ridiculous questions and let’s Rachel know how weird it is to have a male nanny! The episode will bring you to stitches, it brings to light people’s impressions, or should I say, misrepresentation, of male nannies.

They can do it all.

When you come across a Manny with experience, education, understands the importance of social work, is coaching a sport, or who has a college degree, you’ve struck gold. Remember the majority of Mannies are coaches, teachers getting started, it’s difficult to get hired when you’re fresh out of college.  Mannies are happy to run outside and toss a ball around, go for a swim, race cars, rough house, experiment with science projects, all the things young boys like to do. Not only this, they also have the ability to cook, clean, play dress-up, tidy house. Don’t expect it to only be ‘guy things’ they’re capable of.

Follow your Instincts

Parents, when you’re looking for a manny or nanny you need to follow your instincts. Hire the person who is the best fit for your family, the role model you’d like your child to interact with daily, look for the positive in the person, not gender. My one solid advice, go through a reputable agency to hire your newest family member, having peace of mind is priceless.”

 

 

Pay: $20-$25/hour
Days: Tuesday – Friday
Hours: 11:30-6PM

Part Time Engaging, Creative Nanny Sought for a 5 year old boy in Mt. Washington.
We are helping fantastic a pair of creative, down to earth parents find an engaging nanny for their son who is just about to turn 5. The position is part time, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends a hugely appreciated plus.

The family is comfortable guaranteeing 15 hours per week, Tuesday through Friday; rough hours 11:30pm-6:00pm
The primary responsibilities for the nanny would be transportation to and from school, gymnastics, swimming lessons, and other activities. That said, a reliable vehicle and valid license are requirements. A nanny that can engage their child during down time with art activities, reading, being outdoors, music, gardening, etc would be ideal for this family. Reading is currently a large focus, so the ability to lead story time and reading aloud in English is required (other languages are also a plus!)

Parents are artists of various mediums, so someone that can fit into their home’s creative philosophy would be wonderful. Most important to this family however is that you be responsible, trustworthy, competent, kind, and that you mesh well with their son.

Please apply with your formatted resume, any letters of recommendation, references, and certifications. All applicable nannies will be contacted. Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon!

Register here or if already registered, show interest by emailing jobs@angelesmannies.com

Caregiver must be aged 21+
Caregiver must be Fluent in English
Caregiver must be able to drive and have own vehicle
Caregiver must be a US Citizen or Legal Resident
Caregiver must have infant experience
Caregiver must have outstanding references
Caregiver must be willing to complete TrustLine Registration upon hire
Caregiver must have a clean criminal record and motor vehicle record
Caregiver must hold a current CPR, First Aid/AED Certificate (or complete upon hire)

Being a nanny (or any other caregiver position) is a job, and depending on your commitment to the craft, it’s a profession.  It’s a demanding, exhausting, mentally and physically taxing job with an immense moral reward – shouldn’t the financial reward be the same? Nothing should deter from answering a unanimous, “YES” to this query.

There is no reason that your childcare position should be treated differently than others’ simply because you are in someone’s home as opposed to the office. The same offerings are expected of your employer: An agreement or contract, health benefits, and a realistic hourly wage commensurate with your experience. Additionally, most businesses have in place quarterly and annual reviews with the opportunity to discuss a raise, your nanny position should be no different.

If you are a nanny reading this, please know that if you have been with a family over a year, you deserve a review and very possibly a raise. Below are some important points to consider when asking for a raise.

Nobody will hand you a raise out of the blue

You may work for the most amazing family in the world. Perhaps they constantly remind you how appreciative they are of your work, and shower you with praise daily. That said, chances are nobody is going to take it upon themselves to sit you down and hand you an increase in your hourly pay; this is something YOU will have to initiate. 

Bite the Bullet – Ask!

Asking for a raise is tricky business in any career path – add onto that the closeness of being a nanny, working in their home, with their children.  You are in most cases part of the family, and for some people it can be a very difficult topic to approach. The biggest advice I can give is to make a mental decision that you WILL ask for a sit down with the parent/s to discuss the possibility of a raise. Once you’ve made that decision in your head, tell a few people close to you that can hold you accountable to it, and not let it fall by the wayside.

Be prepared, have supporting documentation and show your worth

Now you decided you deserve a raise, you have to be able to clearly demonstrate WHY you deserve it. For most people, duration with the same family is a very important factor to consider. An extra year with your family adds an extra year of professional nanny experience to your resume which needs to be considered. Also, think about how your duties have changed since you’ve been with the family – are you required to cook more now? Have you taken any courses related to being a better nanny or assistant that have improved your skill-set? Is there a new baby? Do you perform any house manager tasks? Any additional duty that has been added since the inception of your position could be used as a justification for a wage increase. Also, consider the natural rate of inflation in your economy, gas prices increase, cost of living going up, if you’re locked into a rate while everything around you is getting more expensive, it will become increasingly difficult to keep up.

Pick the right time

Now that you’ve decided you deserve a raise, you have to pick the right time to bring it up to them. Most parents are excessively busy for most of their lives, hence the need for a nanny! it’s crucial you find a slice of downtime to approach them face to face. Around the year mark is a great opportunity to ‘raise’ the topic, as it’s a common practice in most industries to negotiate compensation after one year. Additionally, asking for a raise after you’ve completed major accomplishment is also a good time to present your expectations.

Make your intentions clear – no surprises

Now you know the perfect time to ask the parents, do not avoid the big question you eventually want asked. It’s so much easier to ask for an ‘annual performance review’ than a ‘raise review’ so ask for both! Whatever path you take, make sure to manage their expectations so they are not caught off guard. Depending on your relationship with the parents, you might say something like:

“Would you happen to have some time this week to sit down together to discuss how things have gone this past year with my position, and the prospect of a raise in my pay?”

For most people, reading or even saying these words in your head makes you feel uncomfortable and awkward – I completely understand that. Unless you found your family through an agency that can handle this awkward minefield on your behalf then I am lead to my next point….

Be confident!

Know your worth, know that you give your all and you work hard for this family. Know that if you have been with them a year, you are continually doing the right thing day in day out and they want to keep you around. You have formed a strong bond with their children and with the parents. You are irreplaceable – there is no other you! They respect your hard work and know that a raise is more than deserved. Additionally, chances are your employers are no strangers to a corporate or business structure – they know you deserve a raise and it’s expected of you to ask!

Send an email…

Still not feeling bold and empowered? That’s ok, nobody said it was easy. Maybe you would feel more comfortable reaching out via email (which would be best because they’re so busy and you barely ever see them and you don’t want to catch them in a bad mood, right?)

If you’re hitting a wall crafting what to write to them, here’s a great tip: Have a close friend or family member write the first draft of the email for you. It removes any anxiety, provides a great starting point, and you can edit from there.  Most likely, your friend has far less hesitation about describing your value on paper.

Angeles Mannies has composed many ‘Raise Request’ emails and we would be happy to do the same for you, drop us an email with a few details on your situation and we’ll reply with something you can forward directly to your nanny family!

Be realistic about you may get

Don’t set your hopes too high and don’t ask for $0.25 per hour raise. I’ve seen increases range from 5-40% after the 1^st year, so decide where you would like to be on that scale. If you currently earn $15 per hour and want to make $18, that’s a 20% wage increase ($3); $16.50 is 10% wage increase. I would suggest you speak with local nannies in your area to get a feel for what they make, and check if your experience and responsibilities line up; local agencies can also help with this.

I asked, they said no, now what?

If they said no, ask why. Without letting emotions get the best of you, listen to their reasons; ask them if it would be possible to set up another review in a couple of months to approach the topic again after you make adjustments per their feedback (within reason of course). Check if there are other responsibilities to take on that could see your hourly wage increase accordingly. There are many reasons why a family won’t or can’t offer a raise, and it’s important to understand what they want moving forward. Perhaps providing an increase is not within their financial capability, which means you may want to reconsider working with this family for the long term.

For parents that possibly can not afford a raise, an alternative could be to ask if they would consider paying for courses specific to your job or sending you off to a nanny conference (INA) and assisting with hotels and airfare. There are many alternatives to a financial raise to consider that can help save you money and demonstrate to the family your dedication to your job.

If you have prepared your reasoning well, presented yourself professionally and with confidence, there is no reason why you won’t be treated as a professional and receive the raise you ask for.

 

If you have any questions about this article or need more direction, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@angelesmannies.com

Find out why a manny may serve your needs.
By Daniel Butcher

“A manny? As in, a male nanny? Oh! That’s great!”

I’ve been met with this response almost 100% of the time when parents ask (erroneously I should add), how old my kids are. It’s truthfully a testament to my abilities I’d like to think, that the children I care for show a level of comfort with me that would lead someone to assume I was their father, instead of their hired caregiver.

But as it turns out, I was the manny, and it was due to an extensive childcare background that it has become a very natural role for me to grow into.  It really took off when I moved from a small town in the UK to Los Angeles. After establishing myself in this city, I became sought after by some pretty high profile parents for my services. When I would look around during gymnastics, playgroups, or birthday parties, I couldn’t help but feel outnumbered by my female counterparts. As colleagues go, I have worked alongside female nannies almost exclusively – all of whom have always warmly welcomed me into “their” world, and appreciated the shift in dynamic that I (as a man) bring to the table. Their charges as well were consistently thrilled that a man was there to look after them who could ALSO be engaging, nurturing, and disciplinary if needed.

So the question is this: In Los Angeles, a city populated by nearly 4 million diverse, and open minded residents, where kids can take trapeze classes, followed by courses in minecraft, coding, parkour exercise, and even meditation – why has Los Angeles yet to fully embrace the manny?

Traditional gender roles have become outdated. A rise in technology and the overall pace we are living at, has pulled the rug out from the typical family life that once consisted of two kids, one dog, working father, and stay at home mom.

Moms are breadwinners. Dad’s http://www.eta-i.org/ambien.html stay at home.  Maybe both parents work from home. Perhaps one parent travels extensively, and one works remotely. The different dynamics not only run the gamut, but they’re unlike they’ve ever been before.  This crushing of gender stereotypes has trickled down to childcare as parents have more of an open mind, and want to pass that sort of free thinking onto their children, as if to say (without saying), “Your gender does not dictate who you are, what you do, nor where you belong.”  It’s quite amazing to witness really.

As a male nanny, I’ve been discounted for a number of jobs based on my sex – but I expect that to change in a short amount of time based on trends around the world. In London, a new mobile babysitting app Bubble say the number of men signing up to look after children has almost doubled since the service launched in the summer.

So what’s the advantage to a manny? The aspects that a man brings to this role are only “unique” because they are not the norm. If a family feels that their children are lacking a strong, stable male influence in their lives, then a male nanny is a great addition to the home! It’s all about achieving that balance. A manny is also fantastic if the parents feel a male may bring a higher degree of physical engagement.

Who better to entertain and engage boys than another guy! What’s most special about a lot of mannies out there is that the domestic aspect of the position is also covered as well: the cooking, cleaning, washing and folding; it’s the full package.

Daniel Butcher, known as Danny the Manny, decided to take his philosophy, along with a crew of likeminded and highly experienced guys, to start Angeles Mannies.  His staffing agency places mannies, nannies, personal assistants, housekeepers and more.  Daniel lives in LA with his partner, and one eyed rescue pup from Ecuador.

Article from LA Mom Magazine can be found here

 

Location – Mandeville Canyon, CA, US.

 

“Listen in as the ladies of NDR talk to special guest, Daniel Butcher, on being a manny – a male nanny – and also about his business, Angeles Mannies.”

Our owner and operator, Daniel Butcher, was asked to give an impromptu interview for National Domestic Radio this month, naturally he obliged. You can hear the whole show below, it starts with a full and frank discussion of care.com, followed by Daniel at 21 minutes 30 seconds.

 

 

NDR was created BY domestic workers FOR domestic workers in the spring of 2013. Our first broadcast went live on July 28th, 2013. Since then you can catch us once a month live and you can call in. If you miss the show, you can always catch up with our podcast. This internet radio show streams live at Zumix.org and also on iTunes.

Be part of a growing movement.!

We talk about domestic workers’ rights, work out dilemmas, hear from domestic workers like nannies, PCA’s, and housekeepers, talk with policy people, and we have a great time doing it.

Our rights, news, dilemmas, & fun. Workers and employers unite.

Devon Bushouse

Devon is a nanny in the Boston area currently working full time with a family on the metro area. She has worked with several children over the last five years as a nanny. Devon is a Child Passenger Safety Technician and also is CPR and First Aid certified. She is a host for National Domestic Radio; a radio show for and about domestic workers. Over the past few years, Devon has worked closely with children ages newborn through three. She has a bachelors degree from GVSU in Business Management and Event Planning. She is an active member of the local nanny community: hosting Nanny Breakfast Club upon occasion, attending local and national conferences, speaking at events, and providing car seat checks. Devon is an active baby gear enthusiast and happily makes all sorts of product recommendations.

Thaty Oliveira

Nanny Thaty to most, is a committed career nanny and educator wearing many hats. With a degree in Early Childhood, a master’s in Education and another one in Leadership and Coaching, Thaty is a great advocate for the nanny industry and spends her “free” time coaching and mentoring parents and nannies, fighting for domestic workers rights, producing and hosting NDR, organizing National Nanny Training Days, Nanny Breakfasts (with the Nanny Breakfast Club) where she also offers professional development workshops and social gathering to nannies in the greater Boston area through the year.

Sound Engineer and Blogger

James Donahue

James is the guy we rely on each show to make it happen! He has worked as a DJ in college and kindly agreed to be NDR’s “sound guy” and operate the scary sound board the hosts so feared. James is a musician and a claims processor at a health insurance company. His interest in domestic work flourished after meeting Thaty in 2014 and has since being able to bring an “outsider’s perspective” to the topics discussed at NDR.

Why should I use an agency?

‘Why use an agency?’ this is a question that gets easier and easier to answer with every day, but for those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of speaking with directly, here are the reasons why I think Angeles Mannies really helps and cares for its families.

You Don’t Know What You’re Looking for

You know you need an extra pair of hands, you can’t be at work, pick up the kids, get them to ballet AND basketball AND have dinner ready for 6. You also know you need someone between 2-7pm during the week and maybe on weekends…. what are you missing? After you’ve exhausted all the online resources showing you what your new nanny should and shouldn’t do, with a few questions you could ask them at interview, when it gets down to the nitty gritty, you still feel a little lost.

A nanny agency is the smart choice, you get a much more personal approach with professionals that have made this their life’s work. You work very closely with a placement specialist who really gets to know you and your family dynamic, often speaking with nannies you’ve had in the past to get a much greater picture of what it is you are after and what is important.

You Don’t Have Time to Search Yourself –  

Everybody is time poor these days. Like life isn’t hard enough without having to add another task onto your ever growing list. Putting the ‘feelers’ out there for a nanny often ends with stacks of applications and resumes, scheduling interviews, chasing no-shows, rearranging because you forgot that dentist appointment, calling references, leaving messages, remembering which reference was calling about which candidate!! Enter nanny agencies. As experts in this field, they are the gate-keepers that handle every headache you could potentially run into, and you can relax safe in the knowledge that when they send you a resume, it has been filtered so many times that the candidate will specifically meet the needs of your family. The nanny agencies will be overwhelmed so you don’t have to! 

 

 

You Want a Nanny Who Has Been Trained

There are no national government standards for the childcare placement industry (yet), and nannies aren’t required to have any formal training. But it’s a nice add-on. Nanny agencies ensure that your new nanny has all the qualifications they say they have through credential verification checks. All reputable agencies will ensure that every nanny at the very least have a current CPR/First Aid Certification, along with a background in childcare and be educated to college level. Nannies also hold certifications in safety, child development and understanding important milestones. the International Nanny Association has a credentialed test that your potential caregiver can take to ensure their knowledge is current.

 

 

 

You Want Someone Who Has Been Screened Extra Thoroughly-

Whenever you bring someone new into your home, the safety of your family is paramount. Nanny agencies have connections with professional background check services that have access to all national databases. Agencies will also take it a step further by personally interviewing everybody they send to you, along with calling each of their references and checking their employment timeline. In California, we also have Trustline, a legal requirement for all agencies when placed a caregiver. This added level of reassurance has access to criminal databases that the majority of background check services cannot access.

 

You Need Help Understanding Your Role as an Employer

Hiring a nanny is very different to asking your besties daughter to hang for a few hours while you catch a movie, you are officially their legal employer and need to start thinking about things like state labor laws, unemployment and overtime. If you pay your nanny or sitter over $1800 a year, you’re also responsible for paying employment taxes. When you start to add in benefits, such as paid days off and insurance, you need to align yourself with somebody who knows what they’re talking about.

Nanny agencies quickly make-ties with domestic employer specialists that are able to prepare returns and even handle payroll. Nanny agencies can also talk you through how to employ your nanny.

Replacement Policies!

Once you go through all the trouble of finding a nanny, there is always the possibility that she won’t work out. If you go through the hiring process on your own, you have to start over again at square one. If you use a nanny agency, that’s not necessarily the case. Enter your insurance policy. Most agencies have a ‘replacement period’ to cover you against anything that may happen between you and your new nanny. Agencies stand by their placements and replacement policies are seldom used, but it’s always reassuring to know that it’s there, just incase.

The points above (and more) are available through Angeles Mannies, please contact us today to see how we can help you find the perfect caregiver for your family

 

I was recently asked by the International Nanny Association (INA) what changes I would you like to see in the nanny industry and how could INA help make those changes and I wanted to share my answer here:

“Adding a male nanny into a home offers its own very unique set of benefits; parents who are willing to hire a man to do what has traditionally been recognized as a “woman’s” occupation, teaches children at a young age the importance of equality and forward thinking. With the support of the INA and their community, I plan to spend my energy bettering and strengthening myself and my fellow male caregivers. I want me and my fellow mannies to show how paramount this role can be, particularly in scenarios where a male presence maybe lacking or non-existent.

A positive male role-model

With its widespread and ever growing network, I know that the INA can assist my agency, and other agencies by promoting the idea of the Male Nanny. With such a small number of male caregivers in the workforce, the male nanny position needs to be made a more appealing career choice – advertising the benefits of a domestic occupation, dispelling stereotypes around male nannies, and creating more awareness and acceptance of the male nanny would help to nurture a more qualified and sizable male workforce.

Gender tags

Ultimately, it is my intention for the term ‘nanny’ to lose its gender tag. Much like the word ‘nurse’ has lost its gender over recent years, now the title of a highly respected, and once female dominated position, holds little to zero preconceived gender. This is great for the medical profession – especially the males! It opens up a whole new set of opportunities.

Every journey begins with a step and I am fully committed to demonstrating the benefits of a male role model.   To do so I’ve started a Los Angeles based male nanny placement service, Angeles Mannies.

Working closely with the INA and other organizations, I will be leading by example, becoming more qualified and more equipped to handling any situation, from basic defense and protection courses to credential exams, and I’ll be encouraging my team of mannies to do the same. The world will see what Angeles Mannie’s are capable of providing the home!“

Angeles Mannies provides professional caring childcare to busy families in Los Angeles, check us out and please offer your support!