Nanny has jury duty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a two year old and a four month old. She has been with us since the two year old was four months old, and has otherwise been great. However, due to various illnesses and emergencies, we have given her much more time off than the two weeks vacation + one week of sick pay that we initially agreed to (we pay guaranteed hours, so she still gets paid). This just might be the final straw, because I'm tired of scrambling for care. I'm stressed about jury duty because it's difficult to find last minute care, but we could potentially find a daycare within the next 4-6 weeks.

FFS, this cannot reasonably be a "final straw." Jury duty is a huge responsibility that all citizens share. It isn't her fault she got picked. I hope she sues if you fire her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:37 days?! Plus vacation days? Im not sure i believe she has jury duty!!!

Either OP is a troll or she’s getting trolled by this nanny. I cannot get past 7.5 weeks of leave plus the federal holidays.

My money is on the former.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you could get out of jury duty if you take care of small children. Did she pursue this possibility?

This. I got out of it as a part-time worker who had to be SAHM from 2pm onwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Out for illnesses and emergencies. How dare she?!?!

OP here. I don't blame her, things happen, but I'm just realizing that I don't think we're set up in a way to handle a lot of time off. She took 37 days off last year not including 13 paid holidays, and while I was able to cover them with my PTO/get last minute help, it was a struggle sometimes to get coverage. The more I think about it, the more I think it might make sense to transition to daycare instead. Regardless, that doesn't solve my immediate problem of jury duty.

It's on you for having children you had no intention of taking care of.

I kind of agree here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you fire her because she has jury duty that would make you a huge POS, amoral and unethical human being.

If you can’t find somebody, it’s because you are not looking hard enough. Every single day I see people looking for nanny work. All you have to do is make it abundantly clear that this is a temporary job that you will find somebody.

Ah yes, because hiring any willing person to care for your infant and toddler is famously a wise choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nanny always says she does not get paid while on jury duty and thus it would be a financial hardship to serve. She has never had to serve on a jury.

Some judges would say tough. Jurors are paid. Not as much as their employers pay.

Exactly, some. But most people who need their earnings to pay bills would be able to get out of it. My mother is retired and has sat on several juries over the years because she does not have that excuse, or the excuse of watching small children.

If courts don't like juries all being unemployed / retirees then they can fix that, but it doesn't seem to be a problem right now (at least in jurisdictions with which I have experience)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s illegal to fire someone because they were placed on jury duty.

Does she have to pay her?

No. Which is why they’ll often let hourly workers off because they don’t get paid and can’t afford to be off work for weeks. This nanny clearly didn’t try to get out of it and assumed she’d just get paid.

This! The nanny should’ve let them know that jury duty eould cause her financial hardship.

But jury duty pays $50 per day.
OP doesn’t have to pay her, but would have to find alternate childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Out for illnesses and emergencies. How dare she?!?!

OP here. I don't blame her, things happen, but I'm just realizing that I don't think we're set up in a way to handle a lot of time off. She took 37 days off last year not including 13 paid holidays, and while I was able to cover them with my PTO/get last minute help, it was a struggle sometimes to get coverage. The more I think about it, the more I think it might make sense to transition to daycare instead. Regardless, that doesn't solve my immediate problem of jury duty.

It's on you for having children you had no intention of taking care of.

Feeding and housing then tends to fall into “taking care of” and alas does cost money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a limit of how long one can serve on the jury and I am pretty sure it cannot be "weeks". Also, everybody can postpone once. Also, a lot of agencies provide back up care for a small fee as I am sure the OP is aware of.

It can be weeks. My DD had it for three weeks.

[Anonymous]

It pays about $30 a day in Mo Co, not $50

[Anonymous]

Check to see if your employer or DH’s offer back up childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It pays about $30 a day in Mo Co, not $50

It pays about $50 a day in Fairfax Co, not $30

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you could get out of jury duty if you take care of small children. Did she pursue this possibility?

I was called for jury duty in November and one of the reasons to be excused was only care person for elderly or children during weekday work hours.

Go online in your county to verify exemptions to see. She might have wanted to be on the jury to get out of working.

[Anonymous]

You should check that she actually has jury duty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nanny always says she does not get paid while on jury duty and thus it would be a financial hardship to serve. She has never had to serve on a jury.

Some judges would say tough. Jurors are paid. Not as much as their employers pay.

Jurors are NOT paid for their time, and judges know that. Jurors are paid a per diem for incidental expenses