Do I fire her?

[Anonymous]

I just got a call from my nanny. She was driving the lo's to music this morning,
on a road that quite honestly is easy to speed on and was going 12 over the speed limit.
She got pulled over and got a speeding ticket. I respect her honesty and there is literally no other reason for me to let her go. I spoke with my husband however, who thinks we need to let her go immediately. He now questions her jusgment (though he's never before!). Neither of us have gotten speeding tickets in like 20 years. But I remember being younger and getting a couple. She's young has been driving the kids for years without a problem. I've even driven in the car with her and behind her and feel that she drives very safely.

What would you do? Is this a fireable offense? Do we need to put driving on restriction? I don't know really WHAT to do! That's why I'm here!!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't think 12 over the limit is a huge deal, in an area that you said yourself is easy to let your speed get away from you. You both otherwise trust her driving, perhaps give her a warning telling her the consequences if it happens again, and ask her to leave a little earlier so there is no need to rush.

[Anonymous]

It's your perogative, but I don't think it's a fireable offense. I also was driving my charges home one day and was stopped for speeding, but thankfully just got a warning. Of course I told my MB and she didn't say anything negative. I know I should have been more careful. Doesn't make me a bad nanny. Truth be told, most people speed, but just a few get caught.

[Anonymous]

How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Was she driving your car or hers?
How old are your children?

[Anonymous]

I think doing something that's illegal when you're at work is a reason to be fired.

[Anonymous]

What was the limit? I know there's one road I drive on where it jumps from 35 to 25 as you're going down a hill, so I can see something easily happening there.

But if she was doing 37 in a 25 when it's a flat stretch of road, I'd sit down and talk with her about being more cautious in the future.

And if it was on the interstate when she was trying to pass someone, that's a different scenario too.

Wouldn't fire on the first offense.

[Anonymous]

If she's been with you a long time and you don't have any other issues with her I can't imagine firing her over a speeding ticket. I doubt very many of us can say we drive the speed limit 100% of the time. I think it speaks highly of her character that she was honest and told you about it.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't fire her for this - especially since she told you about it immediately.

I would thank her for being so candid with you. (She could simply never have mentioned it and unless one of the kids ratted her out you'd never have known.) You could ask her to please be sure not to speed again when she has the kids in the car.

If you are happy with her otherwise then I wouldn't risk starting over, trying to find someone else, etc... for something like this. We always say in our house "if this is the worst problem we have with X, we are incredibly lucky". And the fact that she told you immediately would actually build my confidence in her.

I think my answer would be different if she were ticketed at 30 mph over the limit or something, but 12 really can be incredibly minimal (depending on the location of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Was she driving your car or hers?
How old are your children?

She was in our car not hers. Kids are 4 and 2. She's been with us since shortly after our first daughters birth. She is 23 years old and was going 62 in a 50.

[Anonymous]

If she has been with your family for over 3 years and you are happy with her performance overall- why would you want to fire her? She was honest with you about what happened and acted responsibly by telling you immediately.

[Anonymous]

I would not fire a nanny that I liked and trusted for a 12mph speeding ticket.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses. And I'm feeling good about validating my initial reaction. I was glad she told me! She will not be fired, because we do otherwise love her! I will probably just ask that she be extra cautious with the kids in the car like I know she usually is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Was she driving your car or hers?
How old are your children?

She was in our car not hers. Kids are 4 and 2. She's been with us since shortly after our first daughters birth. She is 23 years old and was going 62 in a 50.

OP, based on these details, I would not fire her, even though I tend to be pretty tough on caregivers. Your children would pay a price for severing their established bond with their caregiver. Have a talk with her and thank her for her honesty in telling you what happened.

[Anonymous]

Of course not. Speeding tickets suck but most people get at least one in their lifetime. It happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the responses. And I'm feeling good about validating my initial reaction. I was glad she told me! She will not be fired, because we do otherwise love her! I will probably just ask that she be extra cautious with the kids in the car like I know she usually is.

Yes, this is the appropriate response.