Pay nanny and send her home indefinitely - need advice

[Anonymous]

We are practicing social distancing in our family and although we both work fulltime we’ve decided it’s the right thing to do to not use her (still pay her- probably more than we usually do) and not work for us for the foreseeable future. The challenge now is figuring out how to convey this to her as she is very low information and doesn’t even begin to understand what’s happening. I want to express it in a way that avoids hurting her feelings (she’s part of our family) but expresses that importance of this decision for all of our families and our community. We will very much make sure to emphasize we will pay her every single week as usual. Thoughts on what to say? She will feel very confused and hurt. And yes I realize our ability to do this is REAL LUXURY right now. It’s going to make working with a 4 and 6 year old way harder, but this is unprecedented times. My main concern is taking care and doing the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Can you blame it on advice you got from the pediatrician?

[Anonymous]

Would you keep her if she lived in and isolated with you? Does she need translation services? I found out that one of our building service workers thought the virus was still limited to China on Thursday at the time the announcement cane that MCOS would close. She hypothetically speaks both English and French, but really speaks/understands them poorly and doesn’t seem to access any media in her native language except CDs of religious music. She’s dependent on her children and they didn’t want to worry her.

[Anonymous]

I am confused, this should not be a problem for you. Tell nanny because there is coronavirus the local, state and federal government are recommending social isolation (avoiding contact with people other than family). You will not have her come for a few weeks and she will be paid during this time.
What is so hard about telling her the truth? Geez people, use common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused, this should not be a problem for you. Tell nanny because there is coronavirus the local, state and federal government are recommending social isolation (avoiding contact with people other than family). You will not have her come for a few weeks and she will be paid during this time.
What is so hard about telling her the truth? Geez people, use common sense.

This.

If she get's "confused and hurt" and really can't understand what is going on, I don't know how in the world you felt she was mentally capable of caring for your children.

[Anonymous]

OMG! OP, why would you hire a nanny without either the language or intelligence to understand what is going on?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG! OP, why would you hire a nanny without either the language or intelligence to understand what is going on?!

OP heee. Because she’s a wonderful caretaker who is a kind soul who has loved our children unconditionally for 6 years. In general our differences in politics or the way we see the world don’t make a difference and in no way impact her ability to be responsible and take care of kids. However, she doesn’t have a high school degree and comes from rural America and has a different understanding of the world.

[Anonymous]

Why would she be confused? She is getting a paid vacation! If she doesn’t understand that, it’s time to find a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how bad the language barrier is for you to be so concerned.

Is this like a 'no more help, we pay you, we love you' thing or what? What language does she speak to your children and are they fluent in it, could they explain it?

Bob and I will be home now to watch the kids. We will still pay you $__ every friday so you can stay home and be safe, we will phone you every two weeks with an update.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG! OP, why would you hire a nanny without either the language or intelligence to understand what is going on?!

Because she probably works for sub-minimum wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused, this should not be a problem for you. Tell nanny because there is coronavirus the local, state and federal government are recommending social isolation (avoiding contact with people other than family). You will not have her come for a few weeks and she will be paid during this time.
What is so hard about telling her the truth? Geez people, use common sense.

This.

If she get's "confused and hurt" and really can't understand what is going on, I don't know how in the world you felt she was mentally capable of caring for your children.

Right, this is really weird.
Also I don't get why you would pay her MORE to stay home. Just pay her the same. And fyi, she will likely pick up some other job with her spare time, and be making double. That has been my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG! OP, why would you hire a nanny without either the language or intelligence to understand what is going on?!

OP heee. Because she’s a wonderful caretaker who is a kind soul who has loved our children unconditionally for 6 years. In general our differences in politics or the way we see the world don’t make a difference and in no way impact her ability to be responsible and take care of kids. However, she doesn’t have a high school degree and comes from rural America and has a different understanding of the world.

So in the SIX YEARS that you have known her and she has been so wonderful to your kids, you couldn't help her seek out and obtain a GED?

Or did you try, but she was completely incapable?

Either you, OP, are a terrible person to not help and encourage her, or you are a terrible parent for putting someone that incompetent in charge of your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG! OP, why would you hire a nanny without either the language or intelligence to understand what is going on?!

OP heee. Because she’s a wonderful caretaker who is a kind soul who has loved our children unconditionally for 6 years. In general our differences in politics or the way we see the world don’t make a difference and in no way impact her ability to be responsible and take care of kids. However, she doesn’t have a high school degree and comes from rural America and has a different understanding of the world.

OP. She is not bright enough to understand what’s going on. Hence she is not bright enough to care for children! Politics has zero to do with it. Clearly she sees the lines in the grocery store and has access to the news.

We also have a wonderful nanny who loves my kids unconditionally and is the kindest soul in the world - but she also has a triple-digit IQ and can read a newspaper!

[Anonymous]

“We go bye-bye. You go home. Here money. Call you soon”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG! OP, why would you hire a nanny without either the language or intelligence to understand what is going on?!

OP heee. Because she’s a wonderful caretaker who is a kind soul who has loved our children unconditionally for 6 years. In general our differences in politics or the way we see the world don’t make a difference and in no way impact her ability to be responsible and take care of kids. However, she doesn’t have a high school degree and comes from rural America and has a different understanding of the world.

So in the SIX YEARS that you have known her and she has been so wonderful to your kids, you couldn't help her seek out and obtain a GED?

Or did you try, but she was completely incapable?

Either you, OP, are a terrible person to not help and encourage her, or you are a terrible parent for putting someone that incompetent in charge of your kids.

Op here. Ummmm we’ve offered her tons of opportunities to further her education and she’s not interested. Not sure how this is relevant to my question. The anger and close mindedness about how people think on here is insane. I can still love my nanny as a person and trust her and not agree with her life choices if they aren’t dangerous to herself, my family, or society. She’s on her way to church right now and then will eat at her buffet place as always. No news (I.e. Fox) will tell her otherwise right now.

Thank you everyone for the non snide responses. We are all in this together. Let’s practice kindness.