Monday, March 25, 2013

Should Nannies Discuss Their Dating Lives at Work?

Respecting Professional Boundaries for Nannies and Parents

Undoubtedly, working as a nanny in a family’s home caring for their kids is a very intimate job. Nannies learn a lot about the family they work for and the family learns a lot about their caregiver. To ensure a long lasting work relationship, nannies and parents must always remember there are professional boundaries they should never cross.

Mixing dating and jobs is unprofessional. But when nannies live in the home they work in, their boyfriends or girlfriends will have to meet the family eventually. At some point their significant others will nannies up to go on dates.

Therefore, before accepting a nanny job, caregivers and parents ought to discuss the rules of the home to determine if the job is a good fit. Some parents will enforce curfews on week nights, rules about guests, and possibly have restrictions about visiting girlfriends and boyfriends.

Of course employers will typically invite the nannies' significant others to important family events such as such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, or graduations. But, it’s completely inappropriate for nannies to invite their boyfriends or girlfriends to the house they work in during working hours without prior permission.

Although nannies and their employers build close relationships do you think is it unprofessional to discuss your dating life with your employers?

Has your employer ever set you up on a blind date? Have you ever double dated with your employers and your boyfriend or girlfriend? Do you think having your employer set you up on blind dates is appropriate?

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