Nanny Performance Evaluation: What to Expect & How to Discuss Problems With Your Employer

Depending on what your employer feels comfortable with, it is most likely that you will get a performance review after the first month, the sixth month, and definitely the first year of your employment. When a family decides to hire a nanny or hire a babysitter, it’s important to have a performance review to get all parties on the same page. Performance evaluations are important for you to find out what is working, what you can improve upon, and to negotiate any adjustments that are needed in your contract or salary. So what can you expect during these performance reviews? Here are a few things that your employer will undoubtedly want to discuss:

Childcare:

1. Safety. Are you attentive? Have there been any emergencies while the children have been in your care? Were they handled adequately?
2. Discipline. Are you enforcing it? Are the children mindful of you? Do you work with the parents to follow through with an effective discipline plan?
3. Activities. Are you creative with your approaches? Are your play times and activities developmentally appropriate?

Professionalism:

1. Are you punctual? Do you come ready for work? Are you dressed appropriately? Are you cooperative and pleasant?
2. Trustworthiness. Are you reliable and dependable? Do you follow through or drop the ball? Do you use good judgment and maintain confidence with family matters?
3. Communication. Do you work with the family to communicate the daily activities & measures of discipline throughout the day? Is your approach cohesive with the needs of the family?

Additional Duties (depending on the agreed-upon terms of your contract, are you doing these duties adequately for the needs of the family?):

1. Housekeeping (cleaning, laundry, overall tidiness)
2. Tutoring
3. Meals (grocery shopping, healthy choices, meals on time)
4. Planning creative activities/play dates

You will want to discuss these points with your employer to find out what you can improve on, what you already do wonderfully, and what you may need to do differently. Remember to keep the conversation positive and keep a signed copy of the evaluation for your records.

Remember to keep it positive. Is the relationship working for both of you? If there are issues that you completely disagree on, and you feel that the relationship is just not working for anyone, this might be a time to rethink your employment with chosen family. Keep your job description handy during the evaluation. Do you feel like you are performing many additional duties not initially outlined for you? If so, discuss this and make sure to get a new job description in writing or use this as an opportunity to negotiate a higher salary. If there are specific examples of things that your employer wants you to improve on (i.e., such as a discipline technique), but you are finding that your approach is more effective and practical, use this as an opportunity for growth and ask your employer to tape you and give you feedback. You need to find a balance between an employer who is happy with your performance and children who respond to your guidance and authority while they are in your care. Ultimately, you want everyone to be happy with you (children and employer) and you want to be happy with your position, as well. So take the evaluation as an opportunity for growth.