I’m going to fire nanny. What are best practices?

[Anonymous]

The kids are not in danger and she’s fine, but she held herself out as having more experience and a higher skill level than she does. We’re putting the kids in camp/daycare starting mid-June.

- When do I tell her? How much notice?

I really don’t want to end up with no care the first couple weeks of June.

- Is providing severance typical? How much?

This has been a very expensive childcare experiment, so I’m not interested in spending more than I have to.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Anonymous]

Tell her at end of day you no longer need her. Give 2 weeks severance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell her at end of day you no longer need her. Give 2 weeks severance.

What does your contract specify? We have to give 3 weeks notice (and would do longer in reality, as we've had our nanny for a long time.)

[Anonymous]

What does your contract say? Typical would be two weeks notice. If you have any friends/neighbors with college age kids that might be available for the first 2 weeks in June you could chance giving the nanny two weeks notice but she might just walk on you. If you have no backup then plan on two weeks severance and tell her on the last day you need her.

[Anonymous]

I would go with one month severance if you are not telling her until the day of.

If you give her notice, and basically lie and say you are moving to camps/daycare for your own personal family/logistical/financial reasons, then 2 weeks is fine.

[Anonymous]

When I fire someone for cause, I do not give severance. If I let someone go because MY needs have changed, THEN I give severance.

[Anonymous]

What does your contract say?

If you don't have a contract, treat her how you would like to be treated. How much notice would you like her to give you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I fire someone for cause, I do not give severance. If I let someone go because MY needs have changed, THEN I give severance.

Hopefully you give notice instead of severance, unless the fault is egregious.

[Anonymous]

The kids are not in danger and she’s fine, but she held herself out as having more experience and a higher skill level than she does. We’re putting the kids in camp/daycare starting mid-June.

- When do I tell her? How much notice?

I really don’t want to end up with no care the first couple weeks of June.

- Is providing severance typical? How much?

This has been a very expensive childcare experiment, so I’m not interested in spending more than I have to.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Usually this is stipulated in the contract but two weeks notice or severance for someone in good standing who has been with you for year seems to be the norm.

In your situation, I would not give severance and just tell her on the last Friday. It sounds like she isn't doing a very good job and is just sitting around or taking advantage of the situation. No reason to reward that type of behavior.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Contract says two weeks notice. Silent on severance.

I’m glad to hear most are suggesting I don’t need to give more than that to not be an awful person.

Yeah and PP is right in that she’s just pretty lazy, too much screen time, keeps ordering takeout, not good. Also keeps getting “sick.” I’ve never encountered someone with more illnesses than her in less than a year, especially since she’s also gotten 4 weeks vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Contract says two weeks notice. Silent on severance.

I’m glad to hear most are suggesting I don’t need to give more than that to not be an awful person.

Yeah and PP is right in that she’s just pretty lazy, too much screen time, keeps ordering takeout, not good. Also keeps getting “sick.” I’ve never encountered someone with more illnesses than her in less than a year, especially since she’s also gotten 4 weeks vacation.

You have your answer in your contract. 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Contract says two weeks notice. Silent on severance.

I’m glad to hear most are suggesting I don’t need to give more than that to not be an awful person.

Yeah and PP is right in that she’s just pretty lazy, too much screen time, keeps ordering takeout, not good. Also keeps getting “sick.” I’ve never encountered someone with more illnesses than her in less than a year, especially since she’s also gotten 4 weeks vacation.

You have your answer in your contract. 2 weeks.

Then do 2 weeks. But have something lined up for those 2 weeks. Don’t leave your kids with her after giving notice.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, I’ve only once been given two weeks notice. The other times were a month or more. Two weeks feels really strange for a job that’s really quite personal. If you don’t have any issues with her as a person, DO NOT tell her day of and do not assume she can’t be trusted with your kids after giving notice. I’d be devastated if after giving someone so much of myself, undoubtedly cleaning messes that weren’t mine and so on, paying for things out of pocket and maybe maybe not getting reimbursed etc, if the employer then indicated I wasn’t trustworthy. Think about what you say and how you want to be remembered. If she were mentally or physically abusive that would be different, but this doesn’t sound like that type of situation.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, I’ve only once been given two weeks notice. The other times were a month or more. Two weeks feels really strange for a job that’s really quite personal. If you don’t have any issues with her as a person, DO NOT tell her day of and do not assume she can’t be trusted with your kids after giving notice. I’d be devastated if after giving someone so much of myself, undoubtedly cleaning messes that weren’t mine and so on, paying for things out of pocket and maybe maybe not getting reimbursed etc, if the employer then indicated I wasn’t trustworthy. Think about what you say and how you want to be remembered. If she were mentally or physically abusive that would be different, but this doesn’t sound like that type of situation.

The OP isn't describing someone who gave so much of herself. On the contrary she is describing someone who calls in sick all the time, is on her phone/iPad/laptop when she should be working, ordering take out at her employer's expense and lazy. This is not someone who takes her job seriously and if her feelings are hurt then she should learn from this and be a better nanny next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As a nanny, I’ve only once been given two weeks notice. The other times were a month or more. Two weeks feels really strange for a job that’s really quite personal. If you don’t have any issues with her as a person, DO NOT tell her day of and do not assume she can’t be trusted with your kids after giving notice. I’d be devastated if after giving someone so much of myself, undoubtedly cleaning messes that weren’t mine and so on, paying for things out of pocket and maybe maybe not getting reimbursed etc, if the employer then indicated I wasn’t trustworthy. Think about what you say and how you want to be remembered. If she were mentally or physically abusive that would be different, but this doesn’t sound like that type of situation.

The OP isn't describing someone who gave so much of herself. On the contrary she is describing someone who calls in sick all the time, is on her phone/iPad/laptop when she should be working, ordering take out at her employer's expense and lazy. This is not someone who takes her job seriously and if her feelings are hurt then she should learn from this and be a better nanny next time.

Where did you read this?