A nanny in South Carolina is using her platform to help others who may face what she calls “mistreatment” in the industry.
In a video that has received more than 980,000 views and more than 900 comments, Sophia Pagliuca shared a series of “simulated” text exchanges between her and some of the families she has worked for over the past six years as a nanny.
She titled the video “Nannying Text Template!” and begins by explaining how she talked to her parents about money when she was just starting out. The first text shows how Pagliuca turned to her parents after realizing that her salary was less than expected.
“I’m very sorry and I may be completely wrong, so please let me know if I’m wrong, but I don’t think you paid me for all my hours. That is totally, totally fine and I could be totally wrong!! Very sorry!!!” the text reads.
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“I’ve texted like this in the PAST when I was first in the industry and I thought people would get mad at me!!” she writes in text overlaid with a screenshot. “Like, why would people be mad at me for asking for MY money? I promise it’s not that deep.”
She then goes on to explain how her tactics have changed and instead of apologizing, she simply brings up the hours worked again and asks if the family is compliant.
A good response to this kind of follow-up, she explains, is for the family to quickly fix the situation and pay the missing amount. A bad answer, on the other hand, might look a little different.
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“Oh. Usually our other babysitter gives us a discount if we use her for 12 hours because we give you that many hours. [You] doesn’t do discounts??” an example text from another family reads.
Pagliuca then shows her response, which included an apology for any misunderstanding she explains in a text message that she only did it because she “expected not to pay me because she was aggressive and there’s no use being rude or burning bridges.”
“My jaw dropped,” she writes as she presents how the family responded to her by explaining that she doesn’t actually offer any “discounts.”
“Okay, I’ll Venmo my husband $60… I don’t want to go back and forth over just $60! No big deal,” the text reads. “I’m just wondering – have you seen laundry baskets that were full and clean? If you were expecting a full salary, is there a reason why you didn’t give your best during the day? You had a 1 hour break to sleep…”
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Sofia Pagliuca.
Courtesy of Sophia Pagliuca
Pagliuca explained to the family that since it was her first time working with them, she “is usually not comfortable doing people’s laundry” and that while one of the children was napping, she was playing outside with the others. The parent seemed to double down and expressed his “disappointment” and that next time he would give Pagliuca “a few extra things you have to do to get even.”
Pagliuca said she “never went back” to work with this family.
The 22-year-old tells PEOPLE she decided to share the informative video after “receiving multiple messages on a daily basis talking about the shameless exploitation of babysitters.”
“I knew people would not only be able to relate to the lyrics, but I hoped it would help others in the industry feel less alone when dealing with abuse!” she adds.
As for the response to her video, Pagliuca says she’s received some criticism because “there are people upset that I’m advocating for nannies to be paid minimum wage because that means they can no longer get away with paying their nanny minimum wage — or even lower.”
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She continues, “It honestly baffles me why anyone would want to pay their child’s caregiver $2 an hour!”
Although after six years of taking care of children as a nanny, Pagliuca says that her favorite thing about her job is still “the children!” These days, she works for one family full-time and has between eight and 10 other families “on weekend, overnight, babysitting rotation,” she tells PEOPLE.
“The industry is so special because as a nanny you’re allowed the privilege of walking into other people’s lives and walking alongside parents to help them raise their children,” she says. “It comes with a huge responsibility, but it’s also an incredible honor to be valued and entrusted with the most important thing in a parent’s life. The opportunity to help in the growth, development and upbringing of children is an unparalleled opportunity and I am very grateful to all the families who have given me this privilege over the years!”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education