Blurred Boundaries
- debbietheearlyyear
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Blurred Boundaries
This is something we come across many times within the nanny sector.
Maybe because Nannies are naturally caring, kind people and employers can use this to their advantage or maybe because employers are so wrapped up in running a home and work that they don’t appreciate that this is a job to a nanny, and would they do unpaid extra work for their employer?
These “blurred boundaries” can happen in several ways, often due to unclear initial boundaries, evolving family needs , or just a lack of regular communication.
I can’t emphasise how important communication is within a nanny/family relationship.
Some very common scenarios :
Unclear Job description: if the nanny’s responsibilities are not clearly defined then it does leave room for additional tasks to be added over time without explicit agreement
Family dynamics: parents work changes, additional family members , puppy, moving house etc
Personal /Professional Boundaries: families may treat the nanny as a family member leading to requests that are outside professional expectations ,such as making up spare beds for guests, pet care or un child related errands
Overlapping parental roles: if the parents start delegating tasks that they normally deal with, such as organising holidays, then the nanny’s role may shift significantly
Misinterpreted willingness to help: nannies very often go above and beyond to help, but this can sometimes lead to the families taking advantage and assuming these extra efforts are part of their regular duties
Work/life balance: There needs to be a clearly defined expectation of out of hours contact from both parties
Emotional bonds: Nannies naturally form strong emotional bonds with the children in their care and also with the parents, this can lead to feeling overly responsible for family issues outside the nanny’s scope
Too involved: Some employers treat their nanny as a friend (which is lovely, but the employer /employee boundary should never be overstepped) This can lead to the employer treating the nanny as a confidante for their personal problems.
Speak to me about how we can work together to avoid these blurred boundaries
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