Ep 21. Nanny Tell All: What's Going on Behind Closed Doors?

In season 16 episode 21 of the Dr. Phil Show titled "Nanny Tell All: What's Going on Behind Closed Doors?" viewers are given an insight into the often-hidden world of domestic help. The episode features multiple nannies who are willing to share their experiences of working for difficult and demanding families.

The episode begins with Dr. Phil stating that with the rise of dual-income families, the use of nannies and other domestic help has become increasingly common. However, with that increase has come a rise in mistreatment and abuse of these workers. The episode then introduces three nannies who share their stories of working for families that have driven them to the brink of despair.

The first nanny featured on the show speaks of the emotional toll that working 16-hour days seven days a week has taken on her. She describes being verbally abused by her employer and physically assaulted by the employer's partner. She also speaks of being expected to work without breaks and never being allowed to leave the house. She tearfully explains that she can no longer continue to work for this family and is in need of help.

The second nanny featured in the episode speaks of being forced to work while sick and being given no time to recover. She also talks about being expected to clean up after the family's pets and handle all of the cooking and cleaning duties. She explains that she has been unable to find another job due to the family's refusal to provide her with a reference.

The third nanny highlighted in the episode shares her experience of being overworked and underpaid. She speaks of being promised a certain salary and then being paid much less. Additionally, she is responsible for the care of three children while also handling all of the household duties. She explains that she has not been able to find another job because her employer has given her a bad reference.

Dr. Phil responds by first acknowledging the bravery of these nannies for speaking out. He then goes on to explain the legal rights that nannies have and provides resources for other nannies who may be experiencing the same challenges.

In the latter half of the episode, Dr. Phil speaks with a family that has had multiple nannies leave their employment. The family, including the parents and their teenage children, sit down with Dr. Phil to discuss what may be going wrong. Dr. Phil walks the family through a series of questions that help them to see where they may be contributing to the issue.

Through the course of the conversation, it becomes clear that the family is not respecting their nannies' time off and is expecting them to be on-call 24/7. The children also speak of being disrespectful to the nannies and causing trouble. Dr. Phil ultimately provides the family with resources and guidelines for hiring and keeping a good, trustworthy nanny.

The episode closes with Dr. Phil reiterating the importance of treating nannies and domestic workers with respect and kindness. He states that they deserve to be treated as professionals and not as second-class citizens. The episode serves to shed light on an often-overlooked issue while also providing guidance for families and nannies alike.

In summary, "Nanny Tell All: What's Going on Behind Closed Doors?" is an episode of the Dr. Phil Show that focuses on the experiences of nannies who have worked for difficult and demanding families. The episode also provides guidance for families and nannies to ensure that both parties are successful and treated with respect.