how much unplanned time off is appropriate?

[Anonymous]

Hi All, we would like to ask for an advise. Our nanny who is the only nanny we ever worked with and who we really like started taking time of frequently lately. Last week she called us at 11:00 p.m. letting us know she will be late the next morning. Few times in the past two weeks she took of a few hours earlier. We could handle it in the past several weeks because my Mom in law is visiting and she stepped in. However, my Mom in law will be gone in a week and then we cannot easily deal with such absences. Our nanny is usually (when not absent) at our house for 8 hours every day. How often is it appropriate for a nanny to take a few hours of here and there? I honestly do not want to be petty but it is getting a little hard on me. In addition, at my line of work we are suppose to give a reason when we do not show up such as doctor's appt., etc. Our nanny just would tell us that she has a personal appointment that she needs to attend. I do not mean to break her privacy but I cannot help feeling annoyed. Is there an etiquette for taking time off?
Just a reality check here ...
Thanks in advance!!!

[Anonymous]

Maybe Nanny thinks Grandma might appreciate a little alone time with the grandchildren. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

If she usually isn't like that, I would guess she was getting sick of Grandma. Several weeks of grandma watching over her and interfering with the schedule? Yikes, I'd be wanting to miss out on some of that time too.

[Anonymous]

OP, what exactly is grandma doing when nanny is there?

[Anonymous]

I would ask the nanny what's going on. "Nanny, I've noticed you're all of a sudden calling in to take time off much more frequently lately. Are you okay?"

Maybe she's being treated for something. Or maybe she's interviewing at other jobs. I'd also tell her that reliability is VERY important to us and if we can't rely on her to show up for her scheduled hours we're going to have to find someone else who can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what exactly is grandma doing when nanny is there?

grandma is from a different country where my husband is from. Nanny is watching a 2.5 yo as she has been for the past 2 years. Grandma is watching cooking and watching a 3 mo old whom I just recently had. Grandma was made aware of the fact that she is not to mess with the nanny and her schedule with 2.5 year old and she is not from what I can tell. In fact, it is the nanny who invites her to take kids out together.

[Anonymous]

I hate it when the grandparents visit, it makes the days so long. I dread going into work.

Maybe she's pregnant and needs to see the Dr?

[Anonymous]

The reasons why she may be taking off are not really important. The problem is that she is taking off unplanned time and still getting paid--basically unrequested PTO.

OP, you need to have a talk with her and develop a policy for how PTO is taken and stick to it. If she keeps doing this, take it out of the PTO and give her a warning for violating the policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reasons why she may be taking off are not really important. The problem is that she is taking off unplanned time and still getting paid--basically unrequested PTO.

OP, you need to have a talk with her and develop a policy for how PTO is taken and stick to it. If she keeps doing this, take it out of the PTO and give her a warning for violating the policy.

Wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask the nanny what's going on. "Nanny, I've noticed you're all of a sudden calling in to take time off much more frequently lately. Are you okay?"

Maybe she's being treated for something. Or maybe she's interviewing at other jobs. I'd also tell her that reliability is VERY important to us and if we can't rely on her to show up for her scheduled hours we're going to have to find someone else who can.

This. I had to have this conversation with our nanny. I work from home, and she was getting very comfortable with adjusting the schedule (or coming in late) on the average of once a week. I hired a nanny so I could plan to have dedicated time for work and other needs so I could plan in advance. It just wasn't working anymore. In my nanny's case, it was a temporary thing, and we were able to adjust the schedule permanently in a way that worked fine for me and gave her a little more flexibility before and after work. I also started using her PTO even for days she's missing only a half day. She's been much, much more reliable since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask the nanny what's going on. "Nanny, I've noticed you're all of a sudden calling in to take time off much more frequently lately. Are you okay?"

Maybe she's being treated for something. Or maybe she's interviewing at other jobs. I'd also tell her that reliability is VERY important to us and if we can't rely on her to show up for her scheduled hours we're going to have to find someone else who can.

This. I had to have this conversation with our nanny. I work from home, and she was getting very comfortable with adjusting the schedule (or coming in late) on the average of once a week. I hired a nanny so I could plan to have dedicated time for work and other needs so I could plan in advance. It just wasn't working anymore. In my nanny's case, it was a temporary thing, and we were able to adjust the schedule permanently in a way that worked fine for me and gave her a little more flexibility before and after work. I also started using her PTO even for days she's missing only a half day. She's been much, much more reliable since.

+1

What your nanny is doing is not reasonable if it isn't working for you, so you just need to talk to her and see what's going on and whether you two can come to an arrangement that works for you both (even if that means telling her she simply has to be there, on time, every day or you will need to look for another source of childcare).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate it when the grandparents visit, it makes the days so long. I dread going into work.

Maybe she's pregnant and needs to see the Dr?

she is 61, so I doubt that this is the case

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask the nanny what's going on. "Nanny, I've noticed you're all of a sudden calling in to take time off much more frequently lately. Are you okay?"

Maybe she's being treated for something. Or maybe she's interviewing at other jobs. I'd also tell her that reliability is VERY important to us and if we can't rely on her to show up for her scheduled hours we're going to have to find someone else who can.

This. I had to have this conversation with our nanny. I work from home, and she was getting very comfortable with adjusting the schedule (or coming in late) on the average of once a week. I hired a nanny so I could plan to have dedicated time for work and other needs so I could plan in advance. It just wasn't working anymore. In my nanny's case, it was a temporary thing, and we were able to adjust the schedule permanently in a way that worked fine for me and gave her a little more flexibility before and after work. I also started using her PTO even for days she's missing only a half day. She's been much, much more reliable since.

+1

What your nanny is doing is not reasonable if it isn't working for you, so you just need to talk to her and see what's going on and whether you two can come to an arrangement that works for you both (even if that means telling her she simply has to be there, on time, every day or you will need to look for another source of childcare).

Thanks!!!! I will try to have that talk with her tonight or tomorrow

[Anonymous]

I would feel annoyed as well OP. She is obviously taking time off because she feels like it. 'Personal appointment' is sugarcoated for 'I just don't feel like it today'. Have a sit down with her immediately. You shouldn't have to worry about if your nanny will show up tommorow morning or not. She needs to be professional and take her job seriously and until you sit down with her and show her how her actions are affecting you then she will keep doing it.

No one wants to go to work everyday but we have too. It's life. The fact that she is bold enough to keep calling out is cause for concern and I wouldn't trust her work ethics and flexibility at this point.

[Anonymous]

Another reason why parents love to have live-ins... Less probability of nanny not showing up for work.

She has no where quiet to go, poor thing.