Sick leave for nanny who gets sick a lot

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is great— the kids love her, always on time, keeps the house clean and organized, good communication between us, etc. But she is sick a lot. How are people handling sick days in light of the pandemic still going on? We’ve been doing a covid test on both ends (we ask her to do one of she sick, we do one if one of us is sick so we don’t put her at risk.) When it’s not covid, we kind of don’t know how to proceed. Does she come sick, then the kids get sick and have potentially to sit out camps they’re excited about? Or do we insist that she take off whenever sick (which is a lot)? Technically she has 10 days sick leave on her contract, but she’s had 12 days sick so far this calendar year. We’ve paid her the extra days because she really was sick and we don’t want to be cruel. The trouble is, we’ve also have several covid quarantines within our family for either being sick or directly exposed, and combined with her higher than average sick days it’s been so much to juggle without care so many weeks. We are obviously new to having a nanny and would love to hear how others manage this.

[Anonymous]

Given the pandemic and the fact that it sounds like she's good at her job, I'd keep paying for her sick days and not have her come in sick. BUT, I'd also come up with some backup childcare plans so you have some sort of coverage when she's out. If her number of absences get so high that you don't feel like you can rely on her, you may need to reevaluate whether she's the right fit for your family.


I'm sorry you're going through this, unreliable childcare has been a HUGE source of stress for me during the pandemic and I know for so many other parents too.

[Anonymous]

It’s been a horrible year for colds and flu - probably because we were isolated for so long. I know everyone in our family as been sick more times than we can count this past year.

I’d talk with her about it. If she’s faking/taking advantage she’ll ship up immediately.

[Anonymous]

God I remember that hell pre pandemic. My advice is to set rules. Like, in light of the world we live in today, exactly how many days of sick leave are you willing to pay for. And rules about if she is sick, get tested. If covid positive, stay away 10 days. If not Covid, stay home at least X days or whatever you come up with. I think I'd pay her for days you all are sick. I know it's a drag. Maybe you can talk to a local daycare and they might let you pay per day as back up care, or put feelers out for other back up baby sitters. You need back ups. When DD was 3, we switched to daycare and it was so much easier.

[Anonymous]

If she's had 12 sick days this year as of July, and you also have COVID related exposure days off, that's a lot. Agreed you may need to look into backup daycare, and ultimately evaluate whether she's the right fit for your family.

[Anonymous]

Just curious how do you know she’s actually sick?

[Anonymous]

We will pay the nanny to stay home if she or a member of our household comes down with verified covid. Exposure is not enough with the prevalence and contagiousness of omicron.

[Anonymous]

One important component of hiring a Nanny is to have someone who you can depend on.

Period.
Reliability is something that ALL Nannies should have.

And it appears your current one fails miserably at that.
It must be pretty expensive having to pay her for sick days while also paying for back-up childcare.

You sound like a wonderful employer‼️
And I am sure you + your child(ren) love their Nanny.

However if her frequent illnesses continue to disrupt your professional life - you may have no other option besides issuing her her walking papers.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's had 12 sick days this year as of July, and you also have COVID related exposure days off, that's a lot. Agreed you may need to look into backup daycare, and ultimately evaluate whether she's the right fit for your family.

The problem is nannies who take advantage of employers and milk the "COVID" even when it's not a verified illness. Yes, she gets off if she or your family member has COVID per a test, but not for "potential COVID" or exposure which is, frankly, everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she's had 12 sick days this year as of July, and you also have COVID related exposure days off, that's a lot. Agreed you may need to look into backup daycare, and ultimately evaluate whether she's the right fit for your family.

The problem is nannies who take advantage of employers and milk the "COVID" even when it's not a verified illness. Yes, she gets off if she or your family member has COVID per a test, but not for "potential COVID" or exposure which is, frankly, everywhere.

Agreed. If you have a nanny for 3 years with good attendance and then lots of sick days due to an actual illness; that’s life. If you have a nanny who constantly calls in sick on Fridays and Mondays and seems fine when she comes in the next day, that might be an issue of basic willingness/eagerness to work the job you’re offering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One important component of hiring a Nanny is to have someone who you can depend on.

Period.
Reliability is something that ALL Nannies should have.

And it appears your current one fails miserably at that.
It must be pretty expensive having to pay her for sick days while also paying for back-up childcare.

You sound like a wonderful employer‼️
And I am sure you + your child(ren) love their Nanny.

However if her frequent illnesses continue to disrupt your professional life - you may have no other option besides issuing her her walking papers.

Good luck!

This. 12 sick days already this year and she hasn't even had COVID? I'd be looking for a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny is great— the kids love her, always on time, keeps the house clean and organized, good communication between us, etc. But she is sick a lot. How are people handling sick days in light of the pandemic still going on? We’ve been doing a covid test on both ends (we ask her to do one of she sick, we do one if one of us is sick so we don’t put her at risk.) When it’s not covid, we kind of don’t know how to proceed. Does she come sick, then the kids get sick and have potentially to sit out camps they’re excited about? Or do we insist that she take off whenever sick (which is a lot)? Technically she has 10 days sick leave on her contract, but she’s had 12 days sick so far this calendar year. We’ve paid her the extra days because she really was sick and we don’t want to be cruel. The trouble is, we’ve also have several covid quarantines within our family for either being sick or directly exposed, and combined with her higher than average sick days it’s been so much to juggle without care so many weeks. We are obviously new to having a nanny and would love to hear how others manage this.

I've only taken 5 sick days total in my 41 years of working.

Twelve sick days year to date is excessive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny is great— the kids love her, always on time, keeps the house clean and organized, good communication between us, etc. But she is sick a lot. How are people handling sick days in light of the pandemic still going on? We’ve been doing a covid test on both ends (we ask her to do one of she sick, we do one if one of us is sick so we don’t put her at risk.) When it’s not covid, we kind of don’t know how to proceed. Does she come sick, then the kids get sick and have potentially to sit out camps they’re excited about? Or do we insist that she take off whenever sick (which is a lot)? Technically she has 10 days sick leave on her contract, but she’s had 12 days sick so far this calendar year. We’ve paid her the extra days because she really was sick and we don’t want to be cruel. The trouble is, we’ve also have several covid quarantines within our family for either being sick or directly exposed, and combined with her higher than average sick days it’s been so much to juggle without care so many weeks. We are obviously new to having a nanny and would love to hear how others manage this.

I've only taken 5 sick days total in my 41 years of working.

Twelve sick days year to date is excessive.

This is not normal.

[Anonymous]

Stop paying her for the extra sick days if it’s not in the contract. I bet you’ll find she’s not sick anymore.

[Anonymous]

It could be that she is catching germs from your kids if they are going to camps etc. kids are petri dishes. I remember being sick all the time when my kids were little.