Pay the PT nanny for today even though she couldn't get here?

[Anonymous]

We have a pt nanny a few hours per week. She's been with us a few months. We're not happy with many things so we're finishing up with her soon. She couldn't make it to work this afternoon due to the weather. I completely understand, but I expect she will ask me to get paid for the day anyway (she's paid hourly). Do I pay her for the day? I don't want to be callous, but as a pt worker, I don't expect to pay her for time she doesn't work. However, I recognize she planned to work today and needs the money. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Are you sure she's expecting it? Are guaranteed hours something you discussed? I'm a f/t nanny but if I was working p/t and hadn't discussed this in advance I would expect to be paid if I was the one who decided I couldn't work that day. I would possibly feel differently if I was prepared to work and the family decided to not have me come at the last minute.

If you feel that she needs it (and that's nice of you to recognize) maybe you could pay her this time, or pay her for 1/2 of what she would've worked, and then tell her that next time you won't be able to pay but since you hadn't discussed it previously you would this time.

[Anonymous]

Offer to let her make it up. I appreciated the opportunity when I worked part time, and if I could make it work I did it, especially around the holidays, which are particular hard on the student/part time worker budget.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. Offer to have her make it up. If you haven't discussed guanteed hours than I surely wouldn't pay her.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The reason I expect her to ask is that she asked to be paid for the day of Thanksgiving. I was taken aback and initially said no. She told me her other PT employers pay her for holidays that fall on their days. I didn't think it was necessary as a PT employee, but DH and I decided to pay her anyway to be kind and avoid awkwardness. She has some entitlement issues, which is one reason we're finishing with her soon.

[Anonymous]

You're right. So entitled to expect to be paid on a holiday. The nerve. Perhaps she should have been clear about the expectation up front, but asking for it doesn't make her entitled.

[Anonymous]

I would probably pay on a holiday but I would not pay for snow if she acts that way. I'd offer to let her make up the time too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're right. So entitled to expect to be paid on a holiday. The nerve. Perhaps she should have been clear about the expectation up front, but asking for it doesn't make her entitled.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm new to being a nanny employer, so I apologize if I don't understand the unspoken protocols. When I've worked hourly jobs in the past, I didn't get paid if I didn't show up/work was canceled/it was Chritsmas/etc. I didn't realize it was so different with nannies.

[Anonymous]

OP, for future reference, this is why so many people advise you to have a contract of some kind. Not because anyone's going to sue anyone over it, but because it gives you something in writing you can bring out and say, "remember, we agreed on xx number of paid days off" or "we didn't agree to paid snow days" or whatever.

Not that helpful for your current situation, but we've had 2 PT nannies and didn't have a contract the first time and I really regretted it.

With our current person, I usually err on the side of paying her, but that's because she's amazing and has never taken a sick day in 2 years. She was at our house first thing this morning. Given your track record, if she were to ask, I might say, sorry, but we can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm new to being a nanny employer, so I apologize if I don't understand the unspoken protocols. When I've worked hourly jobs in the past, I didn't get paid if I didn't show up/work was canceled/it was Chritsmas/etc. I didn't realize it was so different with nannies.

This is the issue with this board. Posters, there is no commonly known protocol! It is really frustrating that everyone just assumes the absolute worst of everyone that posts. OP is right - if you think about hourly jobs, typically they only pay if you actually work. Please, if you feel that the nanny jobs should work differently, here is your opportunity to politely educate someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm new to being a nanny employer, so I apologize if I don't understand the unspoken protocols. When I've worked hourly jobs in the past, I didn't get paid if I didn't show up/work was canceled/it was Chritsmas/etc. I didn't realize it was so different with nannies.

This is the issue with this board. Posters, there is no commonly known protocol! It is really frustrating that everyone just assumes the absolute worst of everyone that posts. OP is right - if you think about hourly jobs, typically they only pay if you actually work. Please, if you feel that the nanny jobs should work differently, here is your opportunity to politely educate someone.

Where did anyone assume the worst? One poster responded sarcastically to OPs own words. She said her nanny has entitlement issues, using Thanksgiving pay as an example. Maybe you don't realize that its the norm, but that's different than calling someone entitled for wanting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm new to being a nanny employer, so I apologize if I don't understand the unspoken protocols. When I've worked hourly jobs in the past, I didn't get paid if I didn't show up/work was canceled/it was Chritsmas/etc. I didn't realize it was so different with nannies.

This is the issue with this board. Posters, there is no commonly known protocol! It is really frustrating that everyone just assumes the absolute worst of everyone that posts. OP is right - if you think about hourly jobs, typically they only pay if you actually work. Please, if you feel that the nanny jobs should work differently, here is your opportunity to politely educate someone.

Where did anyone assume the worst? One poster responded sarcastically to OPs own words. She said her nanny has entitlement issues, using Thanksgiving pay as an example. Maybe you don't realize that its the norm, but that's different than calling someone entitled for wanting it.

Yeah, exactly. The sarcasm is uncalled for. Educate in a polite way and you will change many more minds than being nasty about it.

[Anonymous]

As a part time nanny, I would be happy if you paid me for the day and I made it up on another day or evening. That way, I'm not losing out on needed income and you potentially get a date night. My NF pays me for holidays that fall on my work days, but sick days must be made up. We haven't yet run into a snow issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm new to being a nanny employer, so I apologize if I don't understand the unspoken protocols. When I've worked hourly jobs in the past, I didn't get paid if I didn't show up/work was canceled/it was Chritsmas/etc. I didn't realize it was so different with nannies.

This is the issue with this board. Posters, there is no commonly known protocol! It is really frustrating that everyone just assumes the absolute worst of everyone that posts. OP is right - if you think about hourly jobs, typically they only pay if you actually work. Please, if you feel that the nanny jobs should work differently, here is your opportunity to politely educate someone.

Where did anyone assume the worst? One poster responded sarcastically to OPs own words. She said her nanny has entitlement issues, using Thanksgiving pay as an example. Maybe you don't realize that its the norm, but that's different than calling someone entitled for wanting it.

Yeah, exactly. The sarcasm is uncalled for. Educate in a polite way and you will change many more minds than being nasty about it.

Polite posts get ignored on this site. The sarcasm might be the smack that makes OP realize she's being stupid. Pay or don't pay, but don't act like your nanny is a bad person for asking for something.