No, ROTA nanny positions do not only have positive sides, they also have a number of downsides :
You work long hours, often 24/7. These positions are exhausting, especially if the children require nighttime care.
Not only do you have to be prepared to work literally day and night, but you also have to be ready to adapt to ever-changing schedules and routines.
Sure, when you’re on call 24/7, you have some downtime, but most of it is spent planning lessons and activities and finding resources and supplies etc…
It is very difficult to work one, two or three weeks straight and not everyone can do it.
ROTA positions require a high level of dedication, flexibility, and stamina. They are physically and emotionally demanding, and during your shifts you are isolated.
Those long shifts where a high level of service is expected and you have limited personal time can lead to burnout. These positions can wear you out like any other “non-rotating position.”
Families who employ ROTA nannies usually travel extensively. ROTA nannies travel by private jet or on yachts, they set foot in incredible countries, but they do not get to see much of the places they travel to!
During their shifts, ROTA nannies don’t have time to take good care of themselves and they experience a lot of stress, they don’t get enough sleep, they don’t always eat correctly etc…
The long hours, constant travel and all the pressure that comes with these positions can take a toll on their health.
ROTA nannies may be asked to change their shift at any time and may be required to work even when they were supposed to be on leave. When you’re a ROTA nanny, you can’t really plan.
If families pay you on and off duty, it’s to have the flexibility to change your shifts. Families may ask you to join them earlier than expected, or to stay longer than expected.
ROTA Nannies are also expected to cover each other’s shifts if one gets sick, or has a family emergency. And in this case you may, for example, be forced to cancel a trip.
Even when you’re off, you are expected to be available for a quick call with your co-nanny or if the school calls because they don’t know who is on shift, etc.
Being a ROTA nanny means that you may not have a regular routine or set hours. You must be adaptable to the family’s constant change of schedule.
When you’re a ROTA Nanny, you most certainly miss out on things while on shift that you could have attended if you had a regular schedule.
These types of positions are often not flexible. You have plenty of vacation time, but you don’t necessarily get it when you want it or need it.
In most cases you are required to work holidays. You can even spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve on a plane, traveling to or from work !
ROTA nanny positions rarely comes with sick days or overtime pay and most ROTA employers expect you to take your vacations on your “off” weeks, so you don’t typically get extra vacation days.
Annual salaries for these positions are certainly attractive and allow you to save money quickly, but if you work 24/7 and calculate your hourly salary, then in general the salary is much less attractive. You’re not always paid that well considering the hours you work.
For a rotation to run smoothly, the nannies rotating together must be on the same page with their overall approach. This is not always the case and the lack of consistency can be annoying.
ROTA nannies often work in teams with other nannies and other domestic staff and it can be a nightmare if you don’t get along well with your coworkers…
So when you see the word ROTA in a job description, don’t just think about salary, vacation and travel, keep all of that in mind!