HELP. working on contract: Inclement weather question

[Anonymous]

I am working on a nanny contract/work agreement now and am trying to come up with the right words. Almost always both my husband and I stay home when the feds close the government but we are not federal employees. Most of our work actually involves people who aren't here and so we usually have telephone calls/ meetings that we must do. Between us, we balance taking care of the kid while working. One time I had to take a business trip when there was a lot of snow on the ground and God Bless her, our nanny worked.

Now we have 2: baby and toddler who goes to full-time preschool which closes when the Feds close.

We are going to extend an offer to a woman who uses public transportation and lives a few miles from us. I want to word the contract to say that we almost always follow the government but in rare cases, we may need her to work, and will provide transportation (cab, uber SUV) and flexibility on those days.

Suggestions? What I'm writing seems convoluted.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Here's what I have. Also, do I need to spell out that she will not be paid extra on the days she works that are official snow days? Do I also need to spell out that she will be paid on snow days?

Thanks,

Inclement Weather Policy: We follow the Federal Government delay start and closure schedule. However, if one of the parents is traveling for business, XXX will be expected to work if travel is possible. In that case, the parents will call XXX to discuss travel plans and work hours. On these occasions, the parents will pay for convenient, safe travel via a taxi or car service.

[Anonymous]

I think you should make it clear that she will and how she will be paid on the snow days in which she doesn't work (will it be deducted from vacation time, sick time, or is it "administrative" leave). You also might want to include something to cover how you will handle it if the Feds close, you need her to work, and she isn't comfortable/isn't able to travel. Will you allow her to cover the day with a vacation day? Bring your kids to her? Otherwise, I think what you have sounds great and is very fair. No need to explain that she won't be paid extra for working on a work day.

[Anonymous]

We are paying her via payroll service and I won't deduct a snow day where she doesn't work. But on the other hand, I don't want to pay her extra for a snow day where she does work.

We took an extra vacation week with our last nanny and she asked to be paid extra because she was able to work. Now it didn't count against her and of course we didn't pay her extra but I want to avoid all the problems we had with #1. I'm also hoping that lightening doesn't strike twice.

[Anonymous]

Just say if mass transit is not running, or running with significant delays (significant being over a half hour), you will provide door-to-door transportation.

If she works, she gets paid. That is a "duh" thing. You should spell out though whether she gets paid if you tell her to stay home and NOT work on a snow day.

[Anonymous]

Your nanny should be paid if you choose to take an extra week vacation. Grossly unfair of you not tp psy her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny should be paid if you choose to take an extra week vacation. Grossly unfair of you not tp psy her.

she was paid. She wanted to be paid TWICE! I didn't understand the logic then and I don't now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just say if mass transit is not running, or running with significant delays (significant being over a half hour), you will provide door-to-door transportation.

If she works, she gets paid. That is a "duh" thing. You should spell out though whether she gets paid if you tell her to stay home and NOT work on a snow day.

Yes, she will get paid if it's a snow day and she does NOT work. But if she does work, I don't want to pay her twice. I had a nanny ask that before. Is that common? PP makes me think yes.

[Anonymous]

OP, honestly, I'd make it sound more like the expectation would be that she WOULD work on a snow day and then you can be the one telling her she wouldn't. The ways it's worded, she might figure she has all Federal days off except for a rare occasion, which might surprise it when it actually happens. Also clarify when you would actually be providing transportation. Especially with last years' closings where it turned out to just be raining, you don't want to be paying for a car service/taxi unless it's really necessary.

Maybe something like this?

"Inclement Weather Policy: Our jobs do not necessarily follow the Federal Government delay start and closure schedule. Should OPM announce that the Federal Government is closed, we will be in touch with you as soon as possible to inform you whether we will need you to come to work or not. Particularly if we are traveling for business, you will be expected to work if at all possible. If it is impossible to travel using public transportation, we will pay for convenient, safe travel via a taxi or car service.

Should we require you to work on a day the Federal Government is closed, you will be paid your normal rate. Should we require you to work on a day the Federal Government is closed and offer to provide safe travel to our home, and you decline to arrive, you will be charged one vacation day."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say if mass transit is not running, or running with significant delays (significant being over a half hour), you will provide door-to-door transportation.

If she works, she gets paid. That is a "duh" thing. You should spell out though whether she gets paid if you tell her to stay home and NOT work on a snow day.

Yes, she will get paid if it's a snow day and she does NOT work. But if she does work, I don't want to pay her twice. I had a nanny ask that before. Is that common? PP makes me think yes.

No, not common at all. I don't understand at all why someone would be paid double time simply because it's snowing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny should be paid if you choose to take an extra week vacation. Grossly unfair of you not tp psy her.

she was paid. She wanted to be paid TWICE! I didn't understand the logic then and I don't now.

She wanted to not only have an extra week of vacation but also to be paid double her rate for not working during that week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are paying her via payroll service and I won't deduct a snow day where she doesn't work. But on the other hand, I don't want to pay her extra for a snow day where she does work.

We took an extra vacation week with our last nanny and she asked to be paid extra because she was able to work. Now it didn't count against her and of course we didn't pay her extra but I want to avoid all the problems we had with #1. I'm also hoping that lightening doesn't strike twice.

Wait. You chose to take extra vacation, she was available to work, and you didn't pay her?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying her via payroll service and I won't deduct a snow day where she doesn't work. But on the other hand, I don't want to pay her extra for a snow day where she does work.

We took an extra vacation week with our last nanny and she asked to be paid extra because she was able to work. Now it didn't count against her and of course we didn't pay her extra but I want to avoid all the problems we had with #1. I'm also hoping that lightening doesn't strike twice.

Wait. You chose to take extra vacation, she was available to work, and you didn't pay her?!?

Nevermind. I just saw your other post. Insane that she wanted double pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny should be paid if you choose to take an extra week vacation. Grossly unfair of you not tp psy her.

she was paid. She wanted to be paid TWICE! I didn't understand the logic then and I don't now.

She wanted to not only have an extra week of vacation but also to be paid double her rate for not working during that week?

yes. she said that because she was available to work, we should pay out the time on top of her salery. we didnt of course. to be clear this extra week was just that extra paid time off!

antway thanks pp for language suggesrtion. forgive 1 handed typing

[Anonymous]

OP again with two hands.

Working on this agreement reminds me that my job sucks! My boss walks to work so if he can get to work, he expects his employees to do so as well.

Also, we don't have sick and vacation time. When we are sick, we stay home yet last time I was sick (norovirus) h e called to yell at me for not being at work! Finally, we have no flexible vacation time. We get two specific weeks a year.
Although we do get 3 weeks off, we have to negotiate for the third. I need a new job.

Thanks for letting me OT vent.