What is your sick policy with your nanny? (with COVID specifically)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We set a policy of unlimited, paid sick time back in March when the pandemic hit. The last thing we wanted was for her to come to work with a possibly highly contagious virus because she was afraid of getting docked. Our nanny has not taken one minute of it.

In your case, OP, I would pay for a covid test and pay her until she feels well enough to work.

+1. Exactly the same. We made it clear to our wonderful nanny that she now has unlimited sick time and we would continue to pay her if she didn’t feel comfortable working. She has never once missed a day.

Just want to say that you are both wonderful bosses and I hope your nannies know how lucky they are. The first poster is correct about not making your nanny feel like she has to come in sick. I worked last week at my employer’s request and was sick the entire time. Things got worse over the weekend and went I saw my doctor yesterday, she ordeed a test. MB is very upset that the doctor advised me not to work until the results came back. She kept asking if I thought I had it and if the doctor was being dramatic.

The challenge for nannies is knowing we will probably get docked by doing the right thing. In this case, MB has elderly parents living with her and I would never put them at risk by not being honest, even if it costs me my paycheck. I’ve been with them for 8 years and never used all of my sick leave in any year.
I’ve only taken a few days over the last several years and most of those sicknesses came from taking care of their sick kids.

If you trust your nanny and she’s never taken advantage of you, try to be generous with leave if she’s sick. As far as getting tested each time someone is sick, there is no easy answer. It’s the responsible thing to do, and hopefully a shorter term problem.

[Anonymous]

Your nanny posted in the nanny forum......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m living in, due to covid (and my preference, but the family would prefer live out). The kids have had two partial sick days (I’m homeschooling), due to feeling off from weather changes. I’m perfectly fine, because we’re all quarantined as much as possible.

Then, why not live out? They can pay a bit more to control your lifestyle.

Because they wanted me to homeschool? And I live in, for the relationship with the family. I specifically look for live in only or possible families, and they had listed possible, for the right candidate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m living in, due to covid (and my preference, but the family would prefer live out). The kids have had two partial sick days (I’m homeschooling), due to feeling off from weather changes. I’m perfectly fine, because we’re all quarantined as much as possible.

Then, why not live out? They can pay a bit more to control your lifestyle.

Because they wanted me to homeschool? And I live in, for the relationship with the family. I specifically look for live in only or possible families, and they had listed possible, for the right candidate.

Ok, this makes no sense. You can homeschool as a live out. Its fine to prefer to save on housing but the entire thing makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m living in, due to covid (and my preference, but the family would prefer live out). The kids have had two partial sick days (I’m homeschooling), due to feeling off from weather changes. I’m perfectly fine, because we’re all quarantined as much as possible.

Then, why not live out? They can pay a bit more to control your lifestyle.

It’s her preference, not the family’s. Why should they pay more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We set a policy of unlimited, paid sick time back in March when the pandemic hit. The last thing we wanted was for her to come to work with a possibly highly contagious virus because she was afraid of getting docked. Our nanny has not taken one minute of it.

In your case, OP, I would pay for a covid test and pay her until she feels well enough to work.

+1. Exactly the same. We made it clear to our wonderful nanny that she now has unlimited sick time and we would continue to pay her if she didn’t feel comfortable working. She has never once missed a day.

Just want to say that you are both wonderful bosses and I hope your nannies know how lucky they are. The first poster is correct about not making your nanny feel like she has to come in sick. I worked last week at my employer’s request and was sick the entire time. Things got worse over the weekend and went I saw my doctor yesterday, she ordeed a test. MB is very upset that the doctor advised me not to work until the results came back. She kept asking if I thought I had it and if the doctor was being dramatic.

The challenge for nannies is knowing we will probably get docked by doing the right thing. In this case, MB has elderly parents living with her and I would never put them at risk by not being honest, even if it costs me my paycheck. I’ve been with them for 8 years and never used all of my sick leave in any year.
I’ve only taken a few days over the last several years and most of those sicknesses came from taking care of their sick kids.

If you trust your nanny and she’s never taken advantage of you, try to be generous with leave if she’s sick. As far as getting tested each time someone is sick, there is no easy answer. It’s the responsible thing to do, and hopefully a shorter term problem.

My first thought was how incredible the nannies are!

[Anonymous]

NP here. What do you think about a policy of 15? 20? days of sick leave at full pay ($25/hr) and then unlimited after that at $15/hr? Or something like that? We need to figure this out for our nanny too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. What do you think about a policy of 15? 20? days of sick leave at full pay ($25/hr) and then unlimited after that at $15/hr? Or something like that? We need to figure this out for our nanny too.

Why? If she’s sick you don’t want her to work during a contagious pandemic because she doesn’t want to lose her pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. What do you think about a policy of 15? 20? days of sick leave at full pay ($25/hr) and then unlimited after that at $15/hr? Or something like that? We need to figure this out for our nanny too.

I’d suggest up to a month if waiting for a covid test (or result) or ill with covid.

[Anonymous]

I would also suggest checking the law, depending on where you live. DC has a paid sick days mandate and now also has paid leave for more serious illnesses.

[Anonymous]

We will cover any sick leave unless she gets Covid from traveling on her vacation. We don’t think we should be on the hook for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny has been feeling under the weather for 4-5 days with congestion and headache. No fever. She says she feels like it's just a bad cold but wants to be careful... She's getting a COVID test tomorrow and doc of course recommends quarantining until results come in.

Nanny says on the one hand, she wants to be as careful as possible, but on the other hand, is she supposed to get a COVID test and quarantine every time she has a cold this fall/winter? Resulting in lots of missed work? We are wondering the same. Also there is the lesser issue of paying her for all of these days missed. (We love her and don't mind paying, but it does get annoying paying for days she doesn't come especially when we are trying to work, manage e-learning, blah blah.) I should add, after today and tomorrow, she will be out of paid sick days for the year.

Just want to see what others are doing in these situations. We feel like we need to spell out some sort of policy to follow here, but I'm kind of at a loss.

This is not the answer you want to hear but yes. If her symptoms meet two of the Covid symptoms then she is supposed to quarantine or quarantine until a negative test comes in. Unfortunately, it is the reality of the situation we are in today. as far as her paid sick leave running out, I suggest that in this unique time consider unlimited sick leave. The last thing you want is her showing up sick with Covid at your house because she felt like she had to come and work.