Should Nannies and Parents be “Friends” on Facebook?
Social networking is exploding in popularity and sites like Facebook are attracting fans of all ages. In fact, parents have become one of the fastest growing demographics on Facebook, and they’re using the interactive tool for more than just chatting with their friends. They’re using it to screen for - and check up on - their nannies.
As part of their research before hiring a new nanny, parents often screen candidates on Facebook, and sometimes what they see online makes them decide not to hire a particular candidate. Additionally, once parents hire a nanny, they’re trusting this person to care for their most precious commodity - their children - and many parents are turning to social networking sites to see what their nannies are posting.
When families hire nannies to take care of their children, they do due diligence to check out the candidate. Most parents check potential nannies’ references and, now more than ever before, research them on social networking sites - before and after they’re hired. Sometimes, these parents find suggestive or offensive information about these candidates - such as drinking alcohol, posing suggestively or posting inappropriate comments.
Additionally, many parents find it awkward when they get a Facebook “friend” request from their nanny. Like any other professional relationship, it’s a good idea to separate business and pleasure. It can be awkward to read the daily musings of your nanny - and visa-versa - just as it could be uncomfortable to share intimate details of your life with your boss, client or other professional contacts.
As the president of Nannies4Hire, parents come to me often for advice on hiring - and working with - nannies. Recently, I had a conversation with a mother who was Facebook “friends” with her nanny and found uncomfortable information on her nanny’s social network. I recommended that the parents have a conversation with the nanny about their concerns. It was yet another reminder that people - nannies as well as employees everywhere - need to be mindful of their Facebook etiquette. Photos of inappropriate behavior will not serve you well in your professional life, so think carefully about what you post and how you’re presenting yourself.
Social networking sites are wonderful in many ways, but nannies - and all professionals, really - should have an online presence that’s presentable and in good taste.
I don’t think nannies, babysitters or daycare providers should be friends on Facebook. Facebook is too public and at times very personal. You can’t control what others that are linked to you page might say or do on Facebook. I keep my Facebook private, for family and friends only. I don’t have any of my clients as friends on my Facebook, because I want to keep my private life just that private.
Hi there!
I personally don’t think it is any of the families business what I would post on Facebook. My life outside of work is exactly that, MY LIFE, not theirs. I think it is unprofessional on the families part to try and go on Facebook and see their nannies information. If you don’t trust your nanny then WHY did you hire her/him in the first place????
I became facebook friends with the family I used to nanny for AFTER working for them. I was their nanny for 2 years and I knew they were on Facebook, they knew I was on Facebook, but we never actually befriended eachother until after employment ended. Now I am glad we are friends after the fact because it keeps me up to date on the children and their lives and visa versa, BUT it would be awkward and uncomfortable if they became my “friend” during employment, because that is my personal life, not my professional life.
I agree with the other ladies who posted about you shouldn’t be friends with your parents of FB! I think it’s none of their business and also think it’s unprofessional for families to view FB pages as way to screen thier nanny I mean we already give up enough personal information when we do background checks and I sm starting to get a lil skeptical about that now.
I disagree totally with this. I have been a nanny for this family now for a year and am facebook friends with them. I don’t think it’s awkward or anything at all. About a month after I started working for them the mother brought up facebook and has been my friend ever since, shortly after the father added me, and so did most of their family. I think facebook was a good thing in my case. It brought be closer with their family! I also like being their friend, because it allows me to post pictures of their children and they take the pics and store them to their computer. In my case being facebook friends is a good thing. I am also facebook friends with all the families I babysit and the daycare I use to work at. I guess it depends on the person.. because in my case, i don’t drink, smoke or do anything that would make someone question their judgment about me!
I think this is ridiculous and that families should not be “checking up” on their nannies.
Being a parent and having been a nanny in the past the thought of using any type of social network to check up on your nanny is ludicrous. First, if you are that unsure of your nanny you should be looking for a new one. Second EVERYONE is entitled to a PRIVATE LIFE. This includes the nanny of your children.
I think it is just wrong to cross that line.
You either trust your nanny or you do not. And this you know from within you do not have to check their facebook page.
How about the nanny checks up on the parents/family more private lives? I highly doubt that would bode over very well.
This is very interesting and very obvious who has written what on this sight. People who have something to hide and those who do not. If you haven’t noticed Facebook is not a private system it is out there for the whole world to see. If you are uncomfortable about what you are doing then it shouldn’t be posted for the world to see. What this generation thinks is that what they do while on there own time will not effect the rest of there life, well get a clue it does, whether you want it to or not. As a parent I would use this tool and when my daughter is old enough to want to use facebook you better believe she will be my friend or she won’t be using the system. If you want to keep a private life don’t do it on a public system.