Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 20:19     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
37 days?! Plus vacation days? Im not sure i believe she has jury duty!!!
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 20:16     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have a two year old and a four month old. She has been with us since the two year old was four months old, and has otherwise been great. However, due to various illnesses and emergencies, we have given her much more time off than the two weeks vacation + one week of sick pay that we initially agreed to (we pay guaranteed hours, so she still gets paid). This just might be the final straw, because I'm tired of scrambling for care. I'm stressed about jury duty because it's difficult to find last minute care, but we could potentially find a daycare within the next 4-6 weeks.


You cannot fire her for jury duty.

Two weeks off and one week sick leave is pretty paltry, esp the one week sick leave.

What about your spouse? You say we so I assume you have a partner? Can your spouse step up and take time off?


Really? Because three weeks of PTO is pretty standard at a lot of companies - more days come with seniority.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:50     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
She took off over 7 weeks last year? Wow. She’s taking advantage big time.
I would look for a new Nanny based on the age of your kids. One that is more reliable.
Yes I know that doesn’t help you right now.
Does she have any nanny friends that could nanny share with you for a few weeks?
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:34     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:I thought you could get out of jury duty if you take care of small children. Did she pursue this possibility?


You can. I've done it several times.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:30     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Call an agency, they’ll get you set up with a temp nanny quickly for the right price. Just be careful if they’re driving your kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:26     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
It's January. Try to find a college kid home on break.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:25     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:We have a two year old and a four month old. She has been with us since the two year old was four months old, and has otherwise been great. However, due to various illnesses and emergencies, we have given her much more time off than the two weeks vacation + one week of sick pay that we initially agreed to (we pay guaranteed hours, so she still gets paid). This just might be the final straw, because I'm tired of scrambling for care. I'm stressed about jury duty because it's difficult to find last minute care, but we could potentially find a daycare within the next 4-6 weeks.


You cannot fire her for jury duty.

Two weeks off and one week sick leave is pretty paltry, esp the one week sick leave.

What about your spouse? You say we so I assume you have a partner? Can your spouse step up and take time off?
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:15     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Out for illnesses and emergencies. How dare she?!?!


OP here. I don't blame her, things happen, but I'm just realizing that I don't think we're set up in a way to handle a lot of time off. She took 37 days off last year not including 13 paid holidays, and while I was able to cover them with my PTO/get last minute help, it was a struggle sometimes to get coverage. The more I think about it, the more I think it might make sense to transition to daycare instead. Regardless, that doesn't solve my immediate problem of jury duty.


Wow that’s 50 days off out of like, 250ish work days. That’s insane. I’d unfortunately find someone new or do daycare. But PPs are correct you can’t fire her when she’s on jury duty. That’s tricky.


+1 I’d absolutely write up an annual review and list her days out.

For short term coverage, I’d contact a nanny company.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 19:06     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:There is a limit of how long one can serve on the jury and I am pretty sure it cannot be "weeks". Also, everybody can postpone once. Also, a lot of agencies provide back up care for a small fee as I am sure the OP is aware of.


There is no limit -- trials last as long as they last. And the time to request postponing is before selection, not after. How would postponing have helped OP anyway? It still would have been a problem, just at a different time.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 18:58     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
If money isn't an issue, hire temporary care. You aren't going to easily find an infant spot.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 18:52     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:Did she go through voir dire and tell the judge she would have no issues sitting on a long trial? Usually they give you several “outs” if it’s going to be a hardship. Tell the nanny you won’t be paying her and she needs to talk to the court. No reason why they can’t put her in the pool for a shorter trial.


Where are you? This is not how jury duty works in DC, esp since we have two court systems that both require jurors from DC. You can’t just enter a pool for a different trial.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 18:47     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Did she go through voir dire and tell the judge she would have no issues sitting on a long trial? Usually they give you several “outs” if it’s going to be a hardship. Tell the nanny you won’t be paying her and she needs to talk to the court. No reason why they can’t put her in the pool for a shorter trial.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 18:32     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
It’s illegal to fire someone because they were placed on jury duty.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 18:30     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
There is a limit of how long one can serve on the jury and I am pretty sure it cannot be "weeks". Also, everybody can postpone once. Also, a lot of agencies provide back up care for a small fee as I am sure the OP is aware of.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2025 12:48     Subject: Nanny has jury duty
Anonymous wrote:One thing with daycare is if your kid is sick they can't go. You still need a back up plan.


OP has enough PTO to make those instances work.

37 days is a lot. Your issue is the infant - it’s not that hard to find care for a 2 yo. If I were you, I’d start looking for an in-home daycare.