Is it ok to take a week off unpaid?

[Anonymous]

I am a longtime nanny. I have always had 2 weeks of paid vacation time in my jobs.
I use one week in the summer to visit family out of state and the other week at Christmas.
An opportunity for me to take a weeklong trip to Italy and Austria came up for next fall (2015). I would really, really like to go, as I have never been there.
I would like to take that week unpaid.
At the time of my trip, I will have worked for my NF for over 2 years. I've never missed a day of work, have never taken any extra time off (aside from paid vacation) and we have a wonderful working relationship.
MB's, would you be ok if your nanny asked for an extra week off if it's unpaid?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Should have mentioned that I can give my NF a lot of notice.

[Anonymous]

My MB's have always been fine with it. I've also tried to find help to cover off my time away.
~ Nanny

[Anonymous]

I only have 2 weeks vacation and usually end up with 3-4 weeks by taking unpaid time off.

[Anonymous]

Could you shorten your other trips (visit family for only 5 days and do a shorter Christmas as well)? I would be prepared with that as an option. I don't think what you are asking is unreasonable, but different families have different needs and this might not work for everyone. I agree that finding and training a replacement would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

With plenty of notice, this is fine. More than a month for sure.

[Anonymous]

Instead of taking your summer week, make it the fall week so you can go to Europe.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my nf encourages me to travel. I work long long hours (paid well), so when trips come up and I've gone through my vacation time (4 weeks) I go unpaid (though my nf gives me a bonus before hand, they say so I'll come back and not stay wherever but its always the amount I would make during that off time plus a bit extra).

Go for it. If you only live for work, you'll be unhappy.

[Anonymous]

I would be okay with this given your long time in the job, the fact that it is only one week, the fact that you have never asked before, and the fact that you can provide more than 12 months notice.

However, as a rule, I don't think unpaid vacation is an appropriate thing for a nanny to expect in a job with guaranteed hours. You want the employer to pay you when they don't need you due to their vacation because you are counting on that income and don't want the family's travel to disrupt your financial stability. By the same token, the family is counting on you and you have promised to be available every week in which you are not using your PTO.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Unfortunately it isn't possible to shorten my other two weeks. We travel out of state to visit family during my week in the summer and they visit out house every Christmas.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I would be fine with this. It might be a little tough for me to manage, but with you giving this much notice, having a great track record re attendance, and it being such a fun opportunity I would/could never say no.

I'd be likely to gift you some extra paid vacation days just to be generous, but I certainly would have no problem with the request for additional unpaid leave in these circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I would be fine with this. It might be a little tough for me to manage, but with you giving this much notice, having a great track record re attendance, and it being such a fun opportunity I would/could never say no.

I'd be likely to gift you some extra paid vacation days just to be generous, but I certainly would have no problem with the request for additional unpaid leave in these circumstances.

OP here. You sound like a great MB! You have a very lucky nanny.

[Anonymous]

I would be fine with it since you can give so much notice. You should know your family, though. Do they have a hard time finding backup coverage? How do they act if you need a sick day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be fine with it since you can give so much notice. You should know your family, though. Do they have a hard time finding backup coverage? How do they act if you need a sick day?

My MB and DBS parents are all local. DB's mom is retired and loves to help out.
I haven't needed a sick day since they started, so I'm not sure how they'd react to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I would be fine with this. It might be a little tough for me to manage, but with you giving this much notice, having a great track record re attendance, and it being such a fun opportunity I would/could never say no.

I'd be likely to gift you some extra paid vacation days just to be generous, but I certainly would have no problem with the request for additional unpaid leave in these circumstances.

OP here. You sound like a great MB! You have a very lucky nanny.

Thx OP, I try. I wish my nanny had your attendance record!