Do I fire her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly quite surprised at how many people are okay with this!

I'm a nanny, and I don't even go 2mph over the speed limit when I have my charges in the car. If this were my nanny, I would probably either ban her from driving (if there were alternative transportation) or fire her if I needed a reliable driver for my kids. I wouldn't make that choice lightly, because finding a good nanny who fits with your family isn't easy, but this seems so negligent I don't know how I could overlook it. Unless it was a speed trap zone (where the limit drops suddenly and cops like to ticket people who are still in the midst of slowing down) I wouldn't be able to keep her on as a driver for my kids.

Full disclosure being that I myself have been in three very serious accidents (as a passenger) and lost two good friends at 16 and 20 in road accidents where they were speeding, so I know I am more extreme than most people. But nonetheless...

No one likes a martyr. It's fine you've never been caught with a speeding ticket, but I would hardly call going over the speed limit negligence to a child's well-being. She told the mb, so she clearly cares about the well being of the kids and the opinions of the parents.

And this is how a nanny becomes a micromanaging MB...

Oh, sorry, expecting the nanny to follow traffic laws while transporting children is now considered MICROMANAGING? I will take you less seriously on the other thread if so.

What other thread? You are referring to another poster. Every micromanaging MB can recite stories like yours on why they expect the nanny to follow their rules. You don't go even 2 mph over the speed limit? Seriously? Hope I'm not in back of you in traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm honestly quite surprised at how many people are okay with this!

I'm a nanny, and I don't even go 2mph over the speed limit when I have my charges in the car. If this were my nanny, I would probably either ban her from driving (if there were alternative transportation) or fire her if I needed a reliable driver for my kids. I wouldn't make that choice lightly, because finding a good nanny who fits with your family isn't easy, but this seems so negligent I don't know how I could overlook it. Unless it was a speed trap zone (where the limit drops suddenly and cops like to ticket people who are still in the midst of slowing down) I wouldn't be able to keep her on as a driver for my kids.

Full disclosure being that I myself have been in three very serious accidents (as a passenger) and lost two good friends at 16 and 20 in road accidents where they were speeding, so I know I am more extreme than most people. But nonetheless...

No one likes a martyr. It's fine you've never been caught with a speeding ticket, but I would hardly call going over the speed limit negligence to a child's well-being. She told the mb, so she clearly cares about the well being of the kids and the opinions of the parents.

And this is how a nanny becomes a micromanaging MB...

Oh, sorry, expecting the nanny to follow traffic laws while transporting children is now considered MICROMANAGING? I will take you less seriously on the other thread if so.

What other thread? You are referring to another poster. Every micromanaging MB can recite stories like yours on why they expect the nanny to follow their rules. You don't go even 2 mph over the speed limit? Seriously? Hope I'm not in back of you in traffic.

I realize it's impossible to know who posted what, so I'm sorry for my ambiguous statement. What I meant was: I will take that entire thread less seriously if nannies actually believe being expected to follow the LAW (not the rules, the LAW) while at work is "micromanaging." You're making us all look bad here.

And yeah, well, you can always go around me if you want to go faster. I slow down at passing zones to make it easier. I can't believe how cavalier you're all being about speeding with kids WHO AREN'T EVEN YOURS in the car!

[Anonymous]

OP maybe you could get one of those devices for your car that keeps track of how fast the car is being driven, just so you can ensure that the nanny is being safe.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the nanny should be fired and am glad you thought it over, but I think it's a bit unfair for other posters to think it's sooo 'ridiculous' that you would ascertain the thought. Yes, I have gone over the speed limit numerous times and will do so again, but I certainly understand why you would be concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the nanny should be fired and am glad you thought it over, but I think it's a bit unfair for other posters to think it's sooo 'ridiculous' that you would ascertain the thought. Yes, I have gone over the speed limit numerous times and will do so again, but I certainly understand why you would be concerned.

With your charges in the car?

I don't want to pick on you because you seem to be the most sensible person I disagree with, so this is a general question posed to everyone (I'm only quoting your post as a jumping off point)...

In my contract my job description lists my primary responsibility as ensuring the safety of the children; isn't speeding in violation of that?

And if I were speeding with my charges in the car and we were in an accident, even an accident that wasn't my fault, do any of you honestly think I could EVER get hired as a nanny again? What about the lawsuits I'd be leaving myself open to?

Nannying is not a hobby or a game, it is a job that you should take seriously and your primary responsibility is to show good jugement in ensuring the health and safety of the children in your care. That is #1. Moms, you can speed with your own kids in the car. Nannies? You are AT WORK. You are obliged to be on your most professional behavior and make choices (like annoying the people behind you by following the law/driving at the speed limit) that might be considered extreme at other times in your day.

OP, if you want to give her a second chance it does sound like she felt badly and wouldn't do it again and I don't think anyone would condemn you for that, but I can completely understand your husband's position too. And while I would thank her for her honesty, it would be more or less in the same way I'd thank my 12yo for her honesty if she told me she'd shoplifted - I'd appreciate it but it wouldn't do anything to lessen the consequences I laid out. Telling the truth doesn't absolve you from punishment folks, it's just the right thing to do. You still pay the price for the choices you make regardless.

[Anonymous]

If everyone is going at minimum 5 over the limit, and you're the one going exactly the limit or less than, you pay also be putting your charges at risk FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Was she driving your car or hers?
How old are your children?

She was in our car not hers. Kids are 4 and 2. She's been with us since shortly after our first daughters birth. She is 23 years old and was going 62 in a 50.

LOL. That is WHY she told you. She was in your car, of course she had to tell you before you found out yourself. She didn't do this to be an honest nanny, she did this because she knew she would get caught otherwise...she was driving in your car, not hers!

This nanny sounds sneaky.

Tell us in a few months if ms.poppins hasn't done a damn thing to consider her termination!

She sounds sneaky and unreliable. Of course she would come clean when she knows she's corned, giving her praise for being 'honest' is a joke. Bet if it was in her car the ticket occurred, she would have never mentioned to you!
What dense nanny would?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long have you had her?
How old is she?
Was she driving your car or hers?
How old are your children?

She was in our car not hers. Kids are 4 and 2. She's been with us since shortly after our first daughters birth. She is 23 years old and was going 62 in a 50.

LOL. That is WHY she told you. She was in your car, of course she had to tell you before you found out yourself. She didn't do this to be an honest nanny, she did this because she knew she would get caught otherwise...she was driving in your car, not hers!

This nanny sounds sneaky.

Tell us in a few months if ms.poppins hasn't done a damn thing to consider her termination!

She sounds sneaky and unreliable. Of course she would come clean when she knows she's corned, giving her praise for being 'honest' is a joke. Bet if it was in her car the ticket occurred, she would have never mentioned to you!
What dense nanny would?!

Wouldn't a speeding ticket go to the driver of the vehicle (handed to them by the officer) and any subsequent communication be sent to the driver's address, as shown on the license? How would the owner of the car know? Would the insurance company automatically raise the owner's rates for one infraction?

[Anonymous]

She sounds sneaky because she told the truth?? Even if she had no choice, it doesn't make her sneaky. You're insane PP

[Anonymous]

Definitely not a firing offense. Your DH is being ridiculous. In most areas a speed camera doesn't even pick up speeding unless its 12mph or more over-even in a school zone.

In MD it's legal to go 10mph over the speed limit to pass another car.

Most importantly? She was HONEST. Finding someone that honest is far harder than you might think. Pretty much everyone is going to speed at some time or another, most of us are just lucky enough to not get caught by a cop trying to meet quota.