To Clean or Not to Clean

Employees passionately debate the issue of childcare versus housecleaning. Most nannies in this study state emphatically that children come first and lament the fact that the employer wants it all. I asked Alicia, “Do you do any housecleaning, light housekeeping?”


"Nooo, well that’s a problem, that’s not a very good job of cleaning, then they complain it’s not clean enough. Then you do a bad job of child care AND cleaning. Light housekeeping starts when the baby is small. It’s bad because it starts when the baby is cute and sweet and sleeps a lot, so there is time to clean a little here and there. Then they stop sleeping so much and the nanny has a lot of work because now the employer expects it."

Alicia says Latina nannies “need to talk about this” because most are too afraid to discuss it with employers. The job grows along with the child, and cleaning becomes exploitation, as Alicia explains, “They want you to be a childcare provider and also you are a housekeeper. It’s two separate jobs and you get paid for one.” Alicia advocates for herself and all nannies. "The employer asked me to come and clean while they were gone on vacation. But I said I need a rest. Then I will be ready for you when you come back. I explain, I show her the human side. I do things with human value."

When employers say the children should come first but expect cleaning too it impacts the nanny more than the children. During a lull or naptime when she should take a break or rest, she must do housework instead. Exploitation occurs when the employer does not know labor laws that specify both documented and undocumented workers are entitled to a break after a certain number of hours.