Super Nanny - Once you have her…How to keep her…

For every employer having a great employee is good, having a great happy employee is even better.

If you have a nanny…you are an employer. Keeping your nanny happy often translates quite simply into …keeping your nanny. Having a great nanny stay with your family for a long period of time means less stress for you (less training, less instructions, less time searching) and often it is means less stress for your kids (consistent loving bond, less anxiety, less fear of abandonment, deeper relationship)

Here are a variety of practical everyday things you can do to help keep a really great nanny (or any employee for that matter) happy:

• Pay her what she is worth. Pay what you can afford – You get what you pay for.
• Do NOT continually add non-childcare related jobs that were not initially negotiated
• (imagine if that happened on a daily basis to you at work, “oh and can you vacuum the board room, and can you take out the garbage, and can you clean the toilet…”)
• Say THANK YOU. If she goes above and beyond, notice and let her know you appreciate it.
• LISTEN – Ask her how her day was, ask about the kids, ask about HER, find out how things are really going. Don’t stop listening if it’s not all happy happy news.
• Be respectful, support her in front of your children. Look for ways to visibly support her efforts. You are on the same team, work together…establish the same ground rules, routines, and discipline techniques. The more consistent you can make things for your kids, the easier it is for everyone.
• Be CLEAR from day one about expectations. Write things down if you have to. If something is important to you (No TV, no sugary snacks, bedtime is 8…exactly) say so clearly. Most nannies can’t read minds.
• Schedule meetings, and set aside time to talk about how things are going. Have those meetings even if things are going well. This is good preventative medicine and it keeps the lines of communication open.
• Offer raises or bonuses for a job well done. Reward great work. Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Some ideas; Give you nanny a paid afternoon off , in kind bonuses (if you own a beauty salon offer her a free manicure), give her a raise after three months (50 cents an hour more is better than nothing) buy her movie passes, buy her flowers, invite her and a friend over for a meal one night, write her a thank you card, invite her to birthday parties and large family events (but do not pressure her to attend), Make enough coffee in the morning so that she can have a cup, take some great pictures of her and the kids…frame one, ask her if there are any memberships that could make her job easier (science world, the aquarium) get one, if she is looking for extra work…recommend her to your friends.
• Make sure she has what she needs to do her job (good stroller, bus fare, snacks available, Science World membership) This can be a stressful area if you are not forthcoming with petty cash and your nanny is not rolling in the dough.
• Let her know she can eat with the kids. Most families do open their pantries to their nannies. If this is okay with you make sure she is aware that this is something you are fine with.
• Deal with situations quickly, fairly and directly - If something is not going well DO NOT let it fester. Always ask for more information. There are always two sides to every story be sure to approach all problems proactively…look for the solution

90% of the nannies that I have interviewed say that their absolute favorite jobs have been with families who have treated them as if they were actual family members. Being treated with love and respect is their number one reason for staying with a family for an extended period of time. Over 90% of the nannies I have interviewed say that their absolute least favorite thing (and the most common reason for early termination of contracts by nannies) is when they feel disrespected professionally, when their efforts with the children are undermined, contradicted or left unsupported by their employers.

The three top qualities that Nannies list as being the most desirable in a family are; Good ability to communicate (clearly and regularly), openly appreciates the work that is being done, doesn’t add on more and more jobs or overtime but respects the written contract.

A truly great nanny is a real treasure. She can make your day go smoother, lighten your daily load and add love, inspiration, quality education and appropriate stimulation into your children’s day to day activities. Once you find your perfect nanny….take the time and make the effort to treat her with the care and respect she deserves. Your kids will learn by watching you how to treat people, and your nanny will treasure her job and your family all the more.

Leanne Hume is first and foremost a Mum. She has also worked as a live in, live out and on call nanny as well as a teacher in Vancouver, Northern Canada, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Fiji.

Leanne now works as the Vancouver Nanny Recruiter for Nannies on Call …The West Coast’s premiere Nanny Agency.

www.nanniesoncall.com

Choices Markets - Office Clerk/Receptionist

Looking for a company you can grow with?

Choices Markets is Western Canada’s largest retailer of natural and organic food. We are a proud B.C. company with 8 locations in the Lower Mainland!

Our Kitsilano location is currently looking to fill the following position:
OFFICE CLERK/RECEPTIONIST

If you are looking for a dynamic work environment and the opportunity for career growth and development, apply now!

We Offer:
• Competitive wages
• Health and dental benefits
• Flexible schedules
• Employee discount

Apply now!
• Online at www.choicesmarkets.com
• Email at jobs@choicesmarkets.com
• In store at 2627 W. 16th Avenue

Too Busy Syndrome

Written by Michelle Vandepol; author of Mother Mexico

I’m a mother, you know what that means, I do my little turn in the carpool, the car pool, yeah, the car pool, I do my little turn in the carpool.
I’m too busy for my life, too busy for my life, too busy… it hurts.

You may sound like Right Said Mom

But the reality is that it’s not that appealing, is it? The truth is, throwing out the B-word is the ultimate twisted modern brag. It seems to prove our achievement levels or work ethic or popularity or something. Except that it doesn’t. If anything, it could be argued that being busy (without time for reflection, getting together with friends, or family dinners) could be a symptom of an unbalanced life.

That said, there are ways to recognize the busy syndrome and to move away from being one of those “I’m so busy” people. So go ahead. Make your life easier.

Ironically you will be the breezy relaxed getting-it-all done mom only when you recognize your limitations. Write down all the things others seem to have time to do, but you don’t. List the stuff that’s on your plate currently. Take a peek behind the scenes. For example it might look like your girlfriend has time for crafts and fun outing with the kids in addition to her work schedule, but it might turn out that she doesn’t log any TV or shopping time. There are a lot of ways we can save time. Ask around and find out which ones appeal to you. That said; don’t be shamed into spending your time or money on others’ priorities. It won’t feel right. Do what works for you and your family.

Pare down belongings. Even if you are a shopper by nature – and especially then. Even if you’re not, there are a lot of ways things can enter our homes even if we’re not out shopping for them. How about when your neighbour gifts you with a bunch of outgrown clothes for the kids or mom passes down extra sets of flatware? Sort through, and if you are not currently short of stock, cycle some of the stuff through the house and onto another home via a friend who could use it or a nearby thrift store. If it’s a bit late and your guest room is stocked up to the ceiling, you can still make room in time for Christmas guests. Start by moving any still-in-the-packaging purchases to a newly started gift closet (if you don’t have one already) and tackle a bit every day. Remember that if you are moving a box worth of stuff to other locations in the house, those locations need to be weeded out in turn to avoid overload.

Simplify your schedule. Just like things, calendar clutter is claustrophobic. Move what you can to a later date and once you have the day planner under control, make an effort to keep it in line. I learned this the hard way when signing up three sons to play for the same minor soccer league all playing on Saturday when my husband works every Saturday. Now I really know I really can’t be in two places at once. And it’s not just soccer. Sometimes you will have to say no to work or something social (for you or the kids). It’s impossible to fit it all in all of the time.

Make a central place for lists, bills, notices etc. I’m sure you’re not in the majority of us losing those kinds of things, but in case you are; a basket and a bulletin board in the kitchen and longer term storage to put the bills in once you’re on to the next month will save a lot of headache.

Another way to lessen schedule stress is to spread things out. There will always be periods of more activity, but instead of letting chaos pool into certain crevices on the calendar (the weekend, for instance), consciously even it out over the course of the week. Look at the calendar and pick up the things you need ahead of time. Circumstances do not have to be perfect for you to do so. Even if you’re waiting for payday to pick up the stuff, do what you can now – get child to make birthday card, plan the bulk of your menus with what you have in the house already, hang up the outfit separately in your closet for the event you have to go to.

It may seem like all the little organizing tricks that we accumulate are so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it is these little tricks that enable us to do a bit of everything and come out on the other side with personal achievement, a happy family, and the sense that we are not shortchanging anything or anyone important including ourselves.

Another easy step to do today to make tomorrow easier, is to book one week ahead on the calendar. Don’t be afraid to say “it doesn’t work this week”. If it’s something you’re not into, do away with it completely or block it into the shortest time block possible. After all, it’s your life. How your spending it should reflect what’s important to you.

Part-Time Position with LifeSpeak

Calgary, Director of Business Development
Part-Time Position – 2 days per week

Reports to: Michael Held, President and Claudine St-Jean, Senior Director Western Region

Works with: Calgary Speaker Management Director; Calgary Account Management Director

Primary Responsibilities:
Sales / Business Development
• generate sales leads (with existing or new contacts), follow up regularly, etc.
• lead sales meetings (attend with a Program Director)
• prepare city specific sales documents
o marketing material, pitch documents and proposals
• take the lead on all proposal development (with assistance of a Program Director)
• maintain relationships until point of sale
• close sales (manage contract / invoice process)

Responsibilities of All Roles (as required):
• provide the LifeSpeak management team and colleagues with effective updates
• act as LifeSpeak workshop facilitator - attending workshops as the company representative which includes setting up the room, introducing the speaker, collecting feedback forms, and interacting with clients
• assist in identifying potential speakers
• offer input in regards to client management
• provide administrative support including photocopying, assembling company packages, etc.
• assist with city specific events or special corporate projects

Characteristics / Skills:
The ideal candidate is an outgoing, organized and highly responsible individual who is comfortable in professional settings such as sales and planning meetings and has experience with professional communications and sales.

Strong writing skills are required for communication with clients and excellent oral communication skills are also necessary for in-person meetings. The candidate should be comfortable meeting new people and speaking in front of a crowd.

Given that this is a part time position, excellent organizational skills are critical as are a positive, cooperative and flexible attitude. The ability to learn quickly will be an asset.

The candidate must be comfortable with a high degree of responsibility in order to ensure that all communication and execution related to LifeSpeak is delivered according to the highest standards of quality.

The candidate should have previous experience in a professional / corporate environment and ideally will have a good network in the Calgary business community.

In addition, the candidate should be prepared to work in an innovative, entrepreneurial environment and to bring these attributes to their daily work.

Work Environment:
Working with LifeSpeak offers the opportunity to work from a home office while being involved in a dynamic, growing organization. The ideal candidate will have access to home office space, a computer and preferably a good quality colour printer. A cell phone is also necessary.

Working with LifeSpeak both provides and requires a high degree of flexibility. LifeSpeak is highly supportive of work-family commitments.

Time Commitment:
The position is intended to start at two days / week (or the equivalent to 16 hours of work over the course of a week) beginning as soon as possible. Going forward there may be an opportunity to increase the commitment to additional days / week.

Compensation:
The candidate will act as an independent contractor. Expenses including long distance phone calls, mileage/parking or transit will be covered, along with client-related expenses such as printer ink or photocopying. Compensation can be discussed in greater detail following an interview.

Interview Process:
We would like to begin interviewing potential candidates in Calgary immediately.

Apply with resume via email to:

Claudine St-Jean, Senior Director, Western Region
claudinestjean@lifespeak.ca

For more information on LifeSpeak visit www.lifespeak.ca

The Balancing Act: Juggling your career while maintaining the lifestyle you want

Written by Allison Rutherford the Executive Director of the HR Tech Group – an association of human resources professionals who work in the technology sector.

Allison was the 2007 recipient of the Award of Excellence, for the top HR professional in the BC Human Resources Management Association. For 15 years she was the Director of Human Resources for an international tech company. She has 3 young children: two girls, age 9 and 8, and a 4 year-old boy who keeps her running!

If they haven’t already realized it, companies are about to wake-up and face a huge shortage of talent – more retirees, and less workers entering the workforce means that companies are going to need to find a way to retain talent. Retaining women in the workforce will be key – and success will only come if companies recognize women’s needs to achieve a work/life harmony.

There are very few female colleagues I know who don’t wrestle with the work/life balancing act. In fact, women often adopt the “it’s greener on the other side of the fence” attitude. Either harboring guilt that they’re working full time and don’t have enough time for their kids; or having career and/or financial disappointment if they’ve decided to stay home full time with the kids. There is constant turmoil in their life. They feel they are either letting their family down, or not performing to the expectations of the job.

I am fortunate. I am one of those people who knows she’s found the balance and is at peace with it. You can too. The key to finding peace, is to change your attitude so you focus on the best things about your own situation, and let it go when you feel you’re not doing your best.

After university, I worked in progressively senior positions, full time. I was the Director of Human Resources for Scientific-Atlanta, having responsibilities for hundreds of employees in both Vancouver and Atlanta locations. The job was exciting and I felt confident that my contributions were actually making a difference. Once I started my family however, I realized something had to change. I needed to identify time in my life for my family, but maintain my career.

I re-invented myself – decided to start consulting work that would allow me the time to be there for my kids before and after school. Although initially it appeared to be a gamble financially (no guarantee on consulting projects coming in, working less hours, etc), it has worked better than I could have imagined.

When my children were babies, I worked from home as much as possible. Having a home office meant using my time efficiently by returning calls and emails when the baby was napping (twice a day). Trading babysitting one-day a week with another part-time mother also came in handy – it was free, and I got a dedicated work day where I could go out to meetings. Eventually I also hired a one-day-a-week nanny, who came into my home, helped with the cleaning when baby slept, and allowed me to get a second day to go out to meetings if required. I admit on days when I didn’t have help, nursing baby while reading emails happened occasionally, but then we’d go to the park together. As my children got older, I could count on pre-school mornings to get work done, and sometimes a favourite show or video to squeeze in an extra hour or two of uninterruped work. This balance worked fabulously for me.

Currently I run an association of 90 companies, whose HR professionals are individual members. We put on quarterly events, run regular mini-surveys on employment practices, and publish the leading tech salary survey annually. We’ve created a model where by if you’re in human resources working for a tech company, you see the need and benefit of joining our group. I now work 4 days/week, but these hours vary based on soccer practices, pre-school drop-offs and pick-ups, piano lessons, and playdates. It’s amazing how much I can accomplish by getting up early one morning and getting through my email; or taking an hour or two on the weekend when my husband is on dad duty; or deciding to get a task done after bed-time stories are over.

I meet several colleagues in my industry who are doing the same thing. One HR Director I know works 4 days a week (one of them at home) – she negotiated this with her company upon her return to work. Five members of my Steering Committee have either just started or just returned from a maternity leave – all of them stayed engaged with our association while on leave – calling in for a monthly meeting or attending a quarterly event. By making this a priority, they feel plugged into their working world, and have kept up their network.

Why is it important for companies to help employees balance work and lifestyle?
Happiness is key. People who are happy at work, get more done and do it better. I’ve seen it first hand at a large corporation. Employees who believed things were good reaped the benefits – promotions to those who were upbeat, new exciting projects to those who were positive with a can-do attitude, company sponsored MBAs for those who demonstrated promise. Conversely, those who were negative did not accelerate their career – and were often the ones disappointed with their performance appraisal results, and received lower salary increases.

What can companies do? Invest time and effort in creating modified work schedules for women who request it. Introduce flex time, where core hours in the office are 9:30 – 2:30, and it’s up to employees to manage their day – either starting earlier or leaving later in the day. Can you offer longer working days so that every other Friday is off? Establish a telecommuting policy with guidelines for an employee to set up and work from a home office. Change “sick leave” to “personal leave” for any family-related issue an employee encounters.

If you believe that you have balance in your life, good things will come to you. So you might think you didn’t do as great a job as you would have liked at a work assignment, you have to let that go. So your kids were disappointed you missed the field trip – let it go, and realize how great you feel that you are able to pick them up after school on a regular basis. It’s a balancing act. So make it happen for yourself – adopt a positive attitude and be thankful that you are savoring important moments with your children, while contributing to your own satisfying career.