Part-time Nanny: How many breaks do you pay for?

[Anonymous]

We have a nanny who works for us 20 hours a week for before and after school care. I am a teacher, and of course paid her for all the snow days this year, even though I was home with the kids. I also paid her for all the 2-hour delays, when she could not work (she is a full-time student, so if school was delayed, she had to be in class already by the time the kids started. We also paid her for a handful of sick days, a few for food allergy issues (just being discovered) and once or twice for illness.

We have never had an official arrangement though, about days off, or sick days, etc. What do others do? She will not be working for us during the summer, as I will be home, and she is taking classes.

What part-time arrangements do you have? For example, this week is Spring Break. She is coming today, for a few hours, and I will pay her for these hours. Paying the whole week when she will be on vacation, seems excessive.

We love our nanny. She is wonderful. I want to be generous, but reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Nothing you're asking about is out of the ordinary. Doesn't your job offer you more than that?

[nannydebsays]

I think if you want to make sure she stays through the end of the school year (and comes back in the fall??) you need to continue the arrangement you started, which is to pay her "guaranteed hours" - you pay her for 20 hours and if she works less due to weather or your choice to not have her come in, she still gets paid. I don't think offering PTO of her choice is needed, however.

That said, you can always re-boot when she returns in the fall (or when you hire a new PT nanny) and actually put an agreement into writing covering job duties, pay, and benefits.

One issue you may have if you choose not to offer any PTO at all is that fewer people may be interested in your job. Most workers need to know that if they are ready and able to work and weather or their employer's decisions means they don't work, they will still be paid.

[Anonymous]

OP Here. Thanks for the replies. My initial question was too wordy. We love our nanny, and want her to be happy. She will continue in the Fall. Her hours will be reduced slightly, due to her college class schedule increasing to include morning classes, so she can only do afternoons. She will be working for a neighbor of mine during the summer a few days a week and taking classes the other days. (and yes, I am sure this neighbor will not steal her away, she does not need care when her kids are in school)

I plan to continue to pay her for weather cancellations. It is certainly not her fault if the weather precludes her from working. I guess my question is:

1) Do you pay your part-time nanny for sick days? (if so, how many)

2) Do you pay your part-time nanny paid time off during school breaks? (Winter Break/Spring Break)

I would like to be a generous employer. I would like our nanny to be happy. She is a gem. I worked as a summer live-in nanny for 6 years (same family all 6 years), so I know how great it can be to work for a generous and considerate family (my job), and how awful it can be to work for someone who works you beyond what you are paid for (a good friend's job).

[Anonymous]

1) I would vary on paying a sick day. If we thought she got sick from us, then yes, pay. A few days here and there... sure but if it was excessive, no.

2) If you would like her to work and she is not available, then no, I would not pay for her spring/winter break..if you do not need her, but she is available, then yes, I would pay.

[Anonymous]

Does she want to work during holidays? If so, let her work and pay her. I don't think she should expect all school holidays to be paid vacations.

Here is what I would say: Holidays when people are normally not required to work are paid days off. The rest of the Christmas/Spring/whatever break, she can come and be another set of hands (if she wants, maybe you could adjust adjust her schedule to more vacation-friendly hours), or you are happy to let her take those days off (if you are) if she wants to do vacation-y things instead, but they are not paid.

Now, if she wants to work but you don't want her there when the kids are out of school, I think you need to pay her.