How To Conduct Yourself as a Nanny or Household Employee When The Family Hosts a Party or Special Event.
There may come a time when the family you work for hosts a party in their home and you are present during the event. It may be for a child’s birthday party or a special occasion. You may have been involved in the planning and setup of this event, or maybe the Mrs. of the home planned and executed all the details, and you are there to assist with childcare. While it may be tempting to indulge in the food, conversation, and entertainment provided, before you put your feet up and grab your second plate of food, remember to keep in mind the reason for your presence.
If you are there as a nanny or house manager because the event is occurring during your working hours, the children may be otherwise preoccupied with a magician making balloon animals or they might be playing with grandma. However, this does not mean that you are completely relieved of your duties. While the Mr. and Mrs. of the household are busy entertaining friends and family it is likely that you are still expected to attend to any boo-boos, tantrums, or requests for apple juice. Further, hosting parties can be stressful and any additional help you can provide your employer (e.g., refilling ice buckets, disposing of crumbled gift wrap) will be extremely appreciated.
It’s possible that your employer wants you to enjoy the party and take a load off (they may have told you to relax, take a break, and don’t stress). Depending on the expectations of the family, it’s also possible that your employer is expecting you to actively engage in your job duties by serving hors d'oeuvres, clearing plates, assisting with cleanup after the event, or generally “waiting in the wings” in case you are called upon. After all, you are “on the clock”.
If you were invited to the party as a guest outside of your working hours (ex: your nanny kid’s birthday) you should still conduct yourself professionally, but the expectations for you to work while on the job are not the same. Use this time to visit, enjoy yourself, and eat that second slice of cake, but remember that the primary focus of this party is for the family and their friends, so try not to overextend your stay.
While it is standard practice to never under any circumstance drink alcohol while on the job (unless given explicit permission from your boss), parties like this could be an exception. If for some reason you are offered a drink by your boss or the event host (not another guest) it might be considered polite to accept, but remember to keep your consumption limited.
In either situation you may find yourself in, being proactive and enjoying yourself while still managing to be an attentive employee is a sure way to impress your employer as well your reputation among their guests.
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