Have to let nanny go and I'm really emotional and sad.
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Anonymous
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We've had her (our first and only nanny) for 3x week for 5 months. I have a 10 month old. My dh and I are moving back to our home state and will be with friends and family in a city close to our home town after being 4+ hours away in DC for last 4 years. Dh got an opportunity back home that is huge for his career and enables us to be back home.
We are moving in 6 weeks. This all came together on Friday afternoon and no one even knows yet. I want to give my nanny as much notice as possible and the contract states 30 days. I'm nervous to have this conversation and upset that she will be out of a job now and will have to start all over again with a new family. She has been wonderful to us and we have had a nice experience with everything. I'm also nervous that after I tell her things just won't be the same and then what?? I'll need her help until we leave. My dh travels M-F. What if she doesn't want to continue? What if she's upset? How do I go about this? |
Anonymous
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I was once in a similar situation as a nanny. MB sat me down and told me all the details of the situation. The discussion included a lot about how much they'd miss me, how great I'd been with their DCs, how they wished making this change didn't have to involve also losing me as their nanny, but it was what was best for their nanny. I was of course upset about losing my job, but didn't hold any ill will against the family.
Let your nanny know you will do whatever you can to help her find a new job. Give her a letter of rec and agree to serve as a reference as well. Ask around the neighborhood to see if anyone is hiring. I've kept in touch with that previous MB and I still get e-mails from her any time one of her friends in my area is hiring (so far the logistics have never worked out for me, but I always appreciate the thought)! Tell your nanny at the end of the day on a Friday (or whatever her last day of work for the week is). Try and put DC either down for a nap or in the pack n play/jumperoo/etc so that neither of you is holding the baby while having the discussion (cute babies are a distraction that makes such a serious discussion difficult). Make it clear what her last day will be. Also, if she was a great nanny in addition to the notice, give her some severance pay on her last day. The family I worked for did and it really meant a lot to me. |
Anonymous
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Nannies have to be prepared for all types of situations. My boss let me know 2 months in advance that her child would be attending preschool early.I taught her well but it still came as a shock.It took me at least two months to find the perfect fit. I didn't want to leave my current boss stranded because they were very good to me and I do love all of my charges. I was paid two weeks vacation pay plus a big severance.I still miss my little one but knowing we will still be in touch really helps.
My advice to you is to tell her as soon as possible, it takes time to get the word out,apply through various venues and then go on interviews. I have turned down several jobs due to the fact that they wanted me to start right away. Hopefully your nanny will understand. I agree with the poster above, give her a letter of recommendation, post an ad on your list serve and give her severance pay. |
Anonymous
All of this additionally be flexible if she is able to find a job and they need her to start sooner than your 6 weeks is up let her go early. The nanny market is tough right now and good fits are hard to find. It's tough but good nannies understand. Also if she's as great as you say she is she will continue to conduct herself as a professional to the end. Good luck to you! |
Anonymous
| I just went through this recently. The family I worked for asked me for a 2-2.5 yr commitment when they hired me and 9 months later told me they were moving at the end of summer but didn't know my exact end date yet. They gave me about a 2 month heads up and it took all that time to find the right fit...part of that was due to having a T-Th share and an overseas trip planned for October so it was really hard to get the right fit. Luckily I found one that started the week after my other family no longer needed me. They gave me a month's severance, a nice gift and very nice note. It was fine. I was sad, hurt, disappointed, annoyed etc when they told me...the normal stages of grieving and worry, but it all worked out. Hopefully it will work out for you as well. (Severance will help ensure she stays to the end if that's important to you. Otherwise she'll have no choice but to take whatever comes along.) |
Anonymous
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I suggest you let her know as soon as you can. The sooner the better because this will allow more time to seek a new family to work for.
I am sure she will not fault you or your husband for the change in circumstances. It is not anyone's fault. It is what it is. I am sure she will completely understand OP. Just let her know that you will do everything you can to assist her in finding a new position. If you can, write her an excellent letter of recommendation as well as offer to be a glowing telephone reference for her too. If you have any friends in the area who may be in need of a nanny, let her know that you will give them her contact info too. As long as things go smoothly, I see no reason why she should act any differently toward your children. If she does, then know that you have done nothing wrong and that it would be your nanny that is "off." Good luck. |
Anonymous
| I jut got done going through this situation. My last day with my family was on Friday. MB and DB both sat me down and told me about them moving. It was six weeks in advance and gave me a bonus for staying until they no longer needed me. They have been so gracious and helped me like up a job with a stellar recommendation letter, reviews on nanny sites, referral posts, and word-of-mouth referral. I was their own nanny and I absolutely loved them. It was very sad but u count be happier for them. I would say give her advanced notice with a cash bonus to stay until you move. She may not accept, but I honored my commitment. |
Anonymous
| Tell her ASAP and offer her a bonus/severance if she stays until the end of the notice period. |
Anonymous
| Thats life, changes, changes, many times for the better, every new job I ave ad has been for the better, at first we are scared but then things go smoothly, we all have fears but dont be, if you are a good nanny you will find a new job even better, my father used to say you are not married to the job you can leave also and they can ask you to leave its normal but it seems scary |
Anonymous
| Many times I have been in jobs I dont like and I have stayed for the fear of change now I regret there are better bosses out there more fair and nice, but we are so scared we keep on going to work unhappy thats not good for child either |
Anonymous
| This happened to me once. The kids told me first. The parents didn't broach the topic for two weeks. Awkward. |