Nanny travelled internationally for holidays, came back with COVID

[Anonymous]

Our nanny went back to her native country for the holidays to attend a family celebration. She came back with COVID. Before she left we told her she’d have to use her sick leave to cover the time she’d need to quarantine upon returning. We thought that if she was making the decision to take the risk of traveling internationally during a pandemic and attending a family gathering, we shouldn’t give her extra paid days to quarantine. Now she has COVID and will need to quarantine even longer. Is it reasonable to not pay her for this time, which has already exceeded her vacation days and sick days? While I’m sorry she’s not feeling well, I’m also really annoyed that she took such a big, unnecessary risk and we will have been without childcare for over a month. How would others feel about this?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to decide: is the trust broken and the resentment so big you actually need to end the relationship, or do you want to maintain the relationship? It sort of sounds like, really, you're leaning toward the former. But if it's the latter, I think you need to dig deep and find some grace for her. Okay, she made a risky choice and is now suffering the consequences. But if you refuse to give her any pay for the entire additional quarantine period, I think you'll ruin the relationship (or possibly force her to quit anyway).

If I wanted to maintain the relationship, I'd over something like 60% or 70% pay to help cover her bills and not send her into a financial hardship spiral.

[Anonymous]

You know you need to let her go and find a more responsible nanny. She could be a covid long hauler and be out for months. Cut ties and move on.

[Anonymous]

Your nanny is a selfish moron and she should stay home without pay

- a nanny who has been staying home for 10 months, except for work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to decide: is the trust broken and the resentment so big you actually need to end the relationship, or do you want to maintain the relationship? It sort of sounds like, really, you're leaning toward the former. But if it's the latter, I think you need to dig deep and find some grace for her. Okay, she made a risky choice and is now suffering the consequences. But if you refuse to give her any pay for the entire additional quarantine period, I think you'll ruin the relationship (or possibly force her to quit anyway).

If I wanted to maintain the relationship, I'd over something like 60% or 70% pay to help cover her bills and not send her into a financial hardship spiral.

+1 I can completely understand how frustrating this is and she made a poor choice. But if you want to continue to have a relationship (and nanny is usually more than just an employer relationship) you probably need to give her some grace that she made a mistake, but also still probably needs to pay her bills and is now sick and going through a hard time.

[Anonymous]

So she took the time off to go home (2 weeks), then needed to quarantine for 2 weeks. But she has covid so she only needs to isolate for 10 days. How do you get "more time"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So she took the time off to go home (2 weeks), then needed to quarantine for 2 weeks. But she has covid so she only needs to isolate for 10 days. How do you get "more time"?

This. Explain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So she took the time off to go home (2 weeks), then needed to quarantine for 2 weeks. But she has covid so she only needs to isolate for 10 days. How do you get "more time"?

This. Explain.

I could be wrong but it sounds like the nanny is actively ill and will take time to recover enough and return to work, not just merely quarantine.

[Anonymous]

I'd have told her when she said she wanted to go home for a celebration "if you go, you're not coming back with a job." Because saying you're going to celebrate with a big group of people is the height of stupidity during a pandemic like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So she took the time off to go home (2 weeks), then needed to quarantine for 2 weeks. But she has covid so she only needs to isolate for 10 days. How do you get "more time"?

It's 10 days after the last of her symptoms and she tests negative. If that takes more than 4 days, it'll be more total time.

[Anonymous]

I would be annoyed but would do what it takes to make it work. Just think, you don’t need to worry about her bringing COVID into your home and you don’t know that you could find someone better right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So she took the time off to go home (2 weeks), then needed to quarantine for 2 weeks. But she has covid so she only needs to isolate for 10 days. How do you get "more time"?

It's 10 days after the last of her symptoms and she tests negative. If that takes more than 4 days, it'll be more total time.

Isn’t the CDC guidance 14 days from onset of symptoms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know you need to let her go and find a more responsible nanny. She could be a covid long hauler and be out for months. Cut ties and move on.

This. Sorry. She’s irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Consider the benefit of a care taker who is essentially immune while you make this decision in a what is best for you kind of way.

[Anonymous]

I'd fire her. So irresponsible.