Nannies/MBs - what's your weather policy?

[Anonymous]

Someone gave me good advice when hiring to look for a nanny that lives closer to our home. I'm glad that I did because my office does expect employees to telework. Our nanny lives about 10-15 minutes away. We can pick her up if she isn't comfortable driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm having this issue right now. My nanny is not comfortable driving at all if it's snowing or potentially icy. While I understand to a certain extent, I am not willing to pay her to be absent on every wet day that might go below freeing this winter.

Ice is no joke. I had a parent who was adamant about me coming in during inclement weather. I was beyond livid, when I got to her home, and she had not cleared anything...nothing. She only became concerned when her husband slipped on the ice, outside his car. Parents, please I implore you, clear your walkways. My sister inlaw is a business owner, and has to clear her storefront, or risk being fined. View your home as a place where business is conducted. if it's important for someone to show up for work, salt/sand, do what you need to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone gave me good advice when hiring to look for a nanny that lives closer to our home. I'm glad that I did because my office does expect employees to telework. Our nanny lives about 10-15 minutes away. We can pick her up if she isn't comfortable driving.

My clients have picked me up as well. Excellent idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having this issue right now. My nanny is not comfortable driving at all if it's snowing or potentially icy. While I understand to a certain extent, I am not willing to pay her to be absent on every wet day that might go below freeing this winter.

Ice is no joke. I had a parent who was adamant about me coming in during inclement weather. I was beyond livid, when I got to her home, and she had not cleared anything...nothing. She only became concerned when her husband slipped on the ice, outside his car. Parents, please I implore you, clear your walkways. My sister inlaw is a business owner, and has to clear her storefront, or risk being fined. View your home as a place where business is conducted. if it's important for someone to show up for work, salt/sand, do what you need to do.

This. I've had the same issue, where they insist I come in because they have to telework, but because they don't need to leave the house, they haven't done anything to make the walkway safe. If I break anything, please believe you will pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

Listen to yourself, woman. You can't be that ignorant, can you?

What do you mean ? What am I supposed to do when the kids have a play date scheduled or want to go bowling ? I'm having this issue today right now.

If you aren't comfortable driving, you skip it. Pretty simple stuff. It's really a debate for you whether you should risk a car accident so the kids can go bowling? Play outside in the snow if the kids are that restless.
When did common sense become so difficult?

The issue is my bosses are the ones who set up the play date expecting me to take the children. By me not taking them I am going against my bosses orders. I'd rather not lose my job but I'm very scared to drive in this weather.

Have you told your bosses that you are not comfortable driving in this weather? My bosses are ok with me not driving in the snow, unless it is to go pick up the kids or something. They understand there are some crazy winter drivers out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

Listen to yourself, woman. You can't be that ignorant, can you?

What do you mean ? What am I supposed to do when the kids have a play date scheduled or want to go bowling ? I'm having this issue today right now.

If you aren't comfortable driving, you skip it. Pretty simple stuff. It's really a debate for you whether you should risk a car accident so the kids can go bowling? Play outside in the snow if the kids are that restless.
When did common sense become so difficult?

The issue is my bosses are the ones who set up the play date expecting me to take the children. By me not taking them I am going against my bosses orders. I'd rather not lose my job but I'm very scared to drive in this weather.

Have you told your bosses that you are not comfortable driving in this weather? My bosses are ok with me not driving in the snow, unless it is to go pick up the kids or something. They understand there are some crazy winter drivers out there.

Yes they know I made in clear when I was hired but they seem to have forgotten or just don't care. The response when I told them I was scared to drive was to figure it out. Not sure what they meant by that. I'm sure they are really upset with me right now but I don't want to get stuck or in a car accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having this issue right now. My nanny is not comfortable driving at all if it's snowing or potentially icy. While I understand to a certain extent, I am not willing to pay her to be absent on every wet day that might go below freeing this winter.

Ice is no joke. I had a parent who was adamant about me coming in during inclement weather. I was beyond livid, when I got to her home, and she had not cleared anything...nothing. She only became concerned when her husband slipped on the ice, outside his car. Parents, please I implore you, clear your walkways. My sister inlaw is a business owner, and has to clear her storefront, or risk being fined. View your home as a place where business is conducted. if it's important for someone to show up for work, salt/sand, do what you need to do.

This. I've had the same issue, where they insist I come in because they have to telework, but because they don't need to leave the house, they haven't done anything to make the walkway safe. If I break anything, please believe you will pay for it.

What's annoying, and cold-hearted, is if you break something, you will be replaced...with apologies of course. the client whose husband slipped only started to clear her walkway, when someone told her (she was a lawyer too) that she could be sued by the housekeeper, who also almost fell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

Listen to yourself, woman. You can't be that ignorant, can you?

What do you mean ? What am I supposed to do when the kids have a play date scheduled or want to go bowling ? I'm having this issue today right now.

If you aren't comfortable driving, you skip it. Pretty simple stuff. It's really a debate for you whether you should risk a car accident so the kids can go bowling? Play outside in the snow if the kids are that restless.
When did common sense become so difficult?

The issue is my bosses are the ones who set up the play date expecting me to take the children. By me not taking them I am going against my bosses orders. I'd rather not lose my job but I'm very scared to drive in this weather.

Have you told your bosses that you are not comfortable driving in this weather? My bosses are ok with me not driving in the snow, unless it is to go pick up the kids or something. They understand there are some crazy winter drivers out there.

Yes they know I made in clear when I was hired but they seem to have forgotten or just don't care. The response when I told them I was scared to drive was to figure it out. Not sure what they meant by that. I'm sure they are really upset with me right now but I don't want to get stuck or in a car accident.

they are beyond insensitive. so having their precious cargo, in a car with a frightened driver trumps common sense??? I hope some parents come back as nannies to neurotic parents, in their next lives. That would be too much, like the right thing.

[Anonymous]

You could always take a taxi and give them the bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

Listen to yourself, woman. You can't be that ignorant, can you?

Some parents are plain crazy.
Good for those with common sense.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is a hard thing. I'm an MB. I totally understand someone not being comfortable driving in rotten weather (and would NEVER want anyone driving my kids if they are uneasy). I happily pick our nanny up, and she often just stays over when bad weather is predicted (as she did last night).

On the other hand, she's also incredibly panicky so yesterday morning we had to pick her from from 4 houses away (literally) where she was staying w/ another family she works for sometimes. We had to go to the door, hold her arm to the car, drive her the 4 houses, hold her arm from the car to our house (and we had shovelled and salted repeatedly so the ground was very clear). It's a little hard because she is absolutely terrified of the weather, to the point where it's kind of irrational. She's terrific at her job, and we value her greatly, so we are willing to work around it but it can get a little tough and I am a little concerned about getting the kids out of house - even just to play in the yard - when she's so terrified. They can't spend all winter inside. So we'll have to see if this becomes a more difficult issue. This will be her first winter with us but we've had very mild winters so haven't really had to test our limits.

It's a pretty subjective thing something though (one's comfort in any given weather situation) so it's tough to have a fixed policy that covers all individuals and all potential situations.

[Anonymous]

Correction: sorry. This will be her THIRD winter with us, but first with any real weather so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

Listen to yourself, woman. You can't be that ignorant, can you?

What do you mean ? What am I supposed to do when the kids have a play date scheduled or want to go bowling ? I'm having this issue today right now.

If you aren't comfortable driving, you skip it. Pretty simple stuff. It's really a debate for you whether you should risk a car accident so the kids can go bowling? Play outside in the snow if the kids are that restless.
When did common sense become so difficult?

The issue is my bosses are the ones who set up the play date expecting me to take the children. By me not taking them I am going against my bosses orders. I'd rather not lose my job but I'm very scared to drive in this weather.

Have you told your bosses that you are not comfortable driving in this weather? My bosses are ok with me not driving in the snow, unless it is to go pick up the kids or something. They understand there are some crazy winter drivers out there.

Yes they know I made in clear when I was hired but they seem to have forgotten or just don't care. The response when I told them I was scared to drive was to figure it out. Not sure what they meant by that. I'm sure they are really upset with me right now but I don't want to get stuck or in a car accident.

they are beyond insensitive. so having their precious cargo, in a car with a frightened driver trumps common sense??? I hope some parents come back as nannies to neurotic parents, in their next lives. That would be too much, like the right thing.

Thankfully the snow stopped and the roads cleared up in the afternoon and I was able to take the children bowling. I still feel awful for upsetting my boss. Not being comfortable driving in bad weather is a short coming of mine. I take my job and the safety of my charges very serious. I shoveled the driveway and sidewalk hoping that would show them I try my best and am not trying to be difficult. Of course I also paid for the bowling and won't get paid back. I don't think they take the money I spend on their children into consideration as I never get paid back. Oh we'll hopefully they go to school tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

Listen to yourself, woman. You can't be that ignorant, can you?

What do you mean ? What am I supposed to do when the kids have a play date scheduled or want to go bowling ? I'm having this issue today right now.

If you aren't comfortable driving, you skip it. Pretty simple stuff. It's really a debate for you whether you should risk a car accident so the kids can go bowling? Play outside in the snow if the kids are that restless.
When did common sense become so difficult?

The issue is my bosses are the ones who set up the play date expecting me to take the children. By me not taking them I am going against my bosses orders. I'd rather not lose my job but I'm very scared to drive in this weather.

Have you told your bosses that you are not comfortable driving in this weather? My bosses are ok with me not driving in the snow, unless it is to go pick up the kids or something. They understand there are some crazy winter drivers out there.

Yes they know I made in clear when I was hired but they seem to have forgotten or just don't care. The response when I told them I was scared to drive was to figure it out. Not sure what they meant by that. I'm sure they are really upset with me right now but I don't want to get stuck or in a car accident.

they are beyond insensitive. so having their precious cargo, in a car with a frightened driver trumps common sense??? I hope some parents come back as nannies to neurotic parents, in their next lives. That would be too much, like the right thing.

Thankfully the snow stopped and the roads cleared up in the afternoon and I was able to take the children bowling. I still feel awful for upsetting my boss. Not being comfortable driving in bad weather is a short coming of mine. I take my job and the safety of my charges very serious. I shoveled the driveway and sidewalk hoping that would show them I try my best and am not trying to be difficult. Of course I also paid for the bowling and won't get paid back. I don't think they take the money I spend on their children into consideration as I never get paid back. Oh we'll hopefully they go to school tomorrow.

If they wanted you to take the children bowling and you paid for it, then you need to give them a receipt and they need to reimburse you. Do not pay for things out of your own pocket. If MB did not leave you money, then you should have told her that you couldn't take them bowling because she didn't leave money for you. You are allowing yourself to be treated like a doormat if you pay for things and they do not reimburse you. Don't do them until they give you the money to do them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about live in nannies who work when it snows. Do you make the live in nanny drive the children to play dates or other events if they are not comfortable?

You can't "make" another adult do anything, unless you're planning to put a gun to her head.
You may ask, and that's it. Sorry.