Nanny’s car is falling apart

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids? If they are under 3 and not in preschool then they don’t need to be driven around anyway. These outings are for the nanny’s benefit only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:What kind of shape is your car in? I would probably get myself a new car and have her drive your existing car, when she is working.

I’ve thought about this, but we have an SUV and she’s told me that in her previous jobs, she hasn’t wanted to drive an SUV because she’s not used to it (her car is a sedan).

Hmmmm. I guess this depends where you live, but I don't generally drive an SUV and still prefer it with my kids (I commute from Alexandria to DC in my sedan and DH drives our third-row SUV all the time, but I take it on sports runs and weekends). Assuming it is not some behemoth of a car, I would be concerned that someone who couldn't navigate with an SUV wasn't a great driver overall, if they were driving my kids.

Disagree. I'm a great driver, but unused to SUVs. Do you really want me to become accustomed to driving one while your children are in the backseat?

It doesn’t take that long. Just get a Forester or a Mazda. Never had a nanny have a probablem learning to use one who was an experienced driver. Maybe you are not.

[Anonymous]

The job requirements are for a working safe car, so you fire her or reduce her pay and buy one with the difference

[Anonymous]

I would pay for repairs to her car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The job requirements are for a working safe car, so you fire her or reduce her pay and buy one with the difference

How much is her pay, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pay for repairs to her car.

That is actually a good idea. OP, have her get 2 or 3 itemized estimates, and submit them for your review. Itf the cost is not outrageous, pay for what keeps the car running safe.

[Anonymous]

Most of the minivans at Sidwell pick up / drop off are nannies (cars have been provided by employers). Nobody wants their kid riding around in a low class clunker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The job requirements are for a working safe car, so you fire her or reduce her pay and buy one with the difference

As this thread shows, people have different definitions of safe. The car is not falling apart. Fix the AC and buy a new key fob.

Or provide a vehicle the parents own, maintain and store.

Or get a new nanny with proper contract provisions in place. Reduce the current nanny’s pay and she will probably walk anyway. A good experienced nanny will get a job faster than you can replace her.

[Anonymous]

If you have the means, just buy/gift her a used car or new car, whichever way you choose to go; she’d greatly appreciate it. Just let her handle the insurance part.

[Anonymous]

If driving duties are part of your job description OP, then it is only fair (in my opinion) that you as the employer provide a vehicle if you are not comfortable w/your children riding in hers.

Plain + simple.
I recommend you either a.) Purchase a used car for her to use only during work hours (such as a Honda or a Toyota….something reliable) or b.) Purchase a new car for yourself & let her use your current one for on-the-job driving duties.

[Anonymous]

Buy a used car for yourself as a spare car. Tell her a condition of employment is that the kids must be transported in THAT car only. Nanny can drive herself to and from home in her old jalopy. Nanny does not take the spare car home with her, it stays with you.

After a while of driving the spare car, Nanny might make an offer to buy it from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy a used car for yourself as a spare car. Tell her a condition of employment is that the kids must be transported in THAT car only. Nanny can drive herself to and from home in her old jalopy. Nanny does not take the spare car home with her, it stays with you.

After a while of driving the spare car, Nanny might make an offer to buy it from you.

It's been a month since OP posted. What did you decide, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:You cannot force her to go into debt and buy a new car! You are ridiculous. If you don't like her car then you BUY a car for her to use. Your entitlement is beyond comprehension.

Your reading comprehension needs some work. I said I didn’t want to tell her to buy a new car, so I’m looking for another solution.

Not to defend first PP but you did say "1. Tell her to buy a new car."

If you buy a used car, who pays the insurance? Under her name or your name. I assume title will be under your name. That may get conflicted.

What if have HER lease a car and you make the payment as long as she is employed by you?

Hard no. OP will fire her and then she will be stuck with an expensive payment? Not reasonable.

But really, what would have happened if the kids had been with her during the key issue? They’d get an Uber. Not a big deal.

The appropriate response is to do nothing. It doesn’t appear the car is unsafe.

She would have gotten an Uber that had 2 car seats?

If you weren’t Ok with that as a one time thing she could wait for you to pick them up with your car. It’s not a big deal.

These are such minor car problems…most people with older vehicles occasionally need them repaired. That doesn’t mean they are unsafe. It’s a minor inconvenience.

My point was more that I don’t know if it’s even possible to get an Uber with two car seats.

The day that this happened, it was over 100 degrees outside. I had our car for a client meeting about an hour outside of DC.

You simply take the car seats out if the old car and use them in the uber. Easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You cannot force her to go into debt and buy a new car! You are ridiculous. If you don't like her car then you BUY a car for her to use. Your entitlement is beyond comprehension.

Your reading comprehension needs some work. I said I didn’t want to tell her to buy a new car, so I’m looking for another solution.

Not to defend first PP but you did say "1. Tell her to buy a new car."

If you buy a used car, who pays the insurance? Under her name or your name. I assume title will be under your name. That may get conflicted.

What if have HER lease a car and you make the payment as long as she is employed by you?

Hard no. OP will fire her and then she will be stuck with an expensive payment? Not reasonable.

But really, what would have happened if the kids had been with her during the key issue? They’d get an Uber. Not a big deal.

The appropriate response is to do nothing. It doesn’t appear the car is unsafe.

She would have gotten an Uber that had 2 car seats?

She could put the car seats from her car in the Uber, fuzz for brains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
All the vehicle issues you mention are small issues, OP. What might be more concerning is the age of the car, as airbags have more risk of malfunctioning if they're old. If the car is less than 10 years old, I'd say it's perfectly fine with regular maintenance.

You can of course buy or lease her a car, and propose rewriting the contract to include that.

Why would airbags matter? Unlikely that kids are young enough for a nanny are sitting in the front seat.