Nanny asks to work fewer hours than agreed 3 days into starting out

[Anonymous]

We hired a nanny for our infant. She started Monday. We like her and she likes us. She has a really long commute, via public transport until the second half of March when she is getting a car. She knew about the commute before starting and I asked her repeatedly if it's a problem for her. She said no. Today she asked if instead of 9-6 she can work 9-5 (every day of the week, not a one-time thing) because her commute is longer when she leaves here at 6. We said no. My husband offered to let her leave early on Friday, around 430-5. I feel this is completely unprofessional. We had agreed on the terms last week and she knew perfectly well what she is getting into. I am also concerned she will look for another job - the issue is obviously important enough for her to bring up after 3 days of employment. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

I'd start looking for another nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a nanny for our infant. She started Monday. We like her and she likes us. She has a really long commute, via public transport until the second half of March when she is getting a car. She knew about the commute before starting and I asked her repeatedly if it's a problem for her. She said no. Today she asked if instead of 9-6 she can work 9-5 (every day of the week, not a one-time thing) because her commute is longer when she leaves here at 6. We said no. My husband offered to let her leave early on Friday, around 430-5. I feel this is completely unprofessional. We had agreed on the terms last week and she knew perfectly well what she is getting into. I am also concerned she will look for another job - the issue is obviously important enough for her to bring up after 3 days of employment. What would you do?

When will you be home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd start looking for another nanny.

+1. Mostly because your nanny is currently looking for another job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We hired a nanny for our infant. She started Monday. We like her and she likes us. She has a really long commute, via public transport until the second half of March when she is getting a car. She knew about the commute before starting and I asked her repeatedly if it's a problem for her. She said no. Today she asked if instead of 9-6 she can work 9-5 (every day of the week, not a one-time thing) because her commute is longer when she leaves here at 6. We said no. My husband offered to let her leave early on Friday, around 430-5. I feel this is completely unprofessional. We had agreed on the terms last week and she knew perfectly well what she is getting into. I am also concerned she will look for another job - the issue is obviously important enough for her to bring up after 3 days of employment. What would you do?

When will you be home?

We work from home. But we work a lot. So while we can do it, this is not ideal.

[Anonymous]

Start looking for another nanny who wants the job offered.

[Anonymous]

Would this just be until mid-March? If so, I’d try to work with her. Perhaps you and dh could split-shift that last hour.

[Anonymous]

Ballsy. I'd start looking for another nanny tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would this just be until mid-March? If so, I’d try to work with her. Perhaps you and dh could split-shift that last hour.

My husband did not ask her.

I am afraid to ask her now because I am sort of hoping to let us slide. She seemed ok with the fact that my husband said she can leave early on Friday. So maybe that got her what she wanted? I am just not sure now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a nanny for our infant. She started Monday. We like her and she likes us. She has a really long commute, via public transport until the second half of March when she is getting a car. She knew about the commute before starting and I asked her repeatedly if it's a problem for her. She said no. Today she asked if instead of 9-6 she can work 9-5 (every day of the week, not a one-time thing) because her commute is longer when she leaves here at 6. We said no. My husband offered to let her leave early on Friday, around 430-5. I feel this is completely unprofessional. We had agreed on the terms last week and she knew perfectly well what she is getting into. I am also concerned she will look for another job - the issue is obviously important enough for her to bring up after 3 days of employment. What would you do?

You can’t ride both sides of the hobby horse. Which is more important to you: that she work the hours originally agreed upon or that she not look for another job (which presumably allows her to work the hours she just requested).

[Anonymous]

If you are both working from home and you otherwise like her I would try and make 5pm work. It’s only for one month.

[Anonymous]

Can you offer 8-5? Same number of hours as the original agreement, but shifted an hour to help with the commute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are both working from home and you otherwise like her I would try and make 5pm work. It’s only for one month.

My husband thinks she asked for it permanently. Not just until end March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you offer 8-5? Same number of hours as the original agreement, but shifted an hour to help with the commute?

My husband starts his work at 9 so he usually takes care of baby until then. But he works until 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We hired a nanny for our infant. She started Monday. We like her and she likes us. She has a really long commute, via public transport until the second half of March when she is getting a car. She knew about the commute before starting and I asked her repeatedly if it's a problem for her. She said no. Today she asked if instead of 9-6 she can work 9-5 (every day of the week, not a one-time thing) because her commute is longer when she leaves here at 6. We said no. My husband offered to let her leave early on Friday, around 430-5. I feel this is completely unprofessional. We had agreed on the terms last week and she knew perfectly well what she is getting into. I am also concerned she will look for another job - the issue is obviously important enough for her to bring up after 3 days of employment. What would you do?

You can’t ride both sides of the hobby horse. Which is more important to you: that she work the hours originally agreed upon or that she not look for another job (which presumably allows her to work the hours she just requested).

I think in the short-term we would be ok with 9-5. But, in parallel we would look for a different nanny because we need 9-6.

That said, I am also annoyed that she agreed to those terms last week and 3 days into her job she asks for something else. I just find that extremely unprofessional.