Scheduling appointments?

[Anonymous]

I've been working for a new family for the past few months. Not long ago, I posted about them freaking out over me needing to take a sick day. I ended up taking one sick day, and went into work the next day still sick as a dog. Anyway, I went to see my doctor on the day I took off, and she found something concerning she wanted to investigate further through ultrasound. The parents I work for get federal holidays off and I stupidly assumed I would be off Columbus Day, so I scheduled the ultrasound for then. Come to find out they're using it as a floating holiday, so I will be working. Obviously, I have to cancel the ultrasound. I'm upset, as I have no days off in the foreseeable future, and don't know when I will be able to go in and get this test taken care of. They reacted so poorly to my sick day, that I can't imagine asking to take a personal day.

How do other nannies handle taking care of important medical issues during the week?

[Anonymous]

MB here.

I have no idea how this will resonate with the nannies, but I would want you to just tell me that you need to schedule some time for some personal appointments. If you want to share that it's for doctors appointments that's fine but you certainly don't need to.

I can handle scheduled time off MUCH more easily than last minute sick days, so hopefully your employers will be the same and will be reasonable about this.

Presumably you have some vacation/sick/personal leave? So all you're really asking/needing to do is use a bit of that, maybe not even a full day. Maybe see if you can check a couple of times w/ your doctor at the beginning or end of the day and then tell your employers that you have a couple of options - which would be easiest for them to cover?

I hope it turns out to be nothing OP. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Convenient or not, the nanny is entitled to use a sick day bounce in a while. There's absolutely no excuse for their behavior when she called in that day. MBs who wanna bitch about their nanny getting sick have no business having a nanny and should stick their kid in daycare.

[Anonymous]

This is why you need holidays spelled out in your contract.

[Anonymous]

All holidays are in my contract except Columbus Day, I forgot because many people still work on the day.. All other holidays are listed in my contract. I haven't taken a sick day, but I am worried about when I will need to. Good thing, the mom is a SAHM patent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Convenient or not, the nanny is entitled to use a sick day bounce in a while. There's absolutely no excuse for their behavior when she called in that day. MBs who wanna bitch about their nanny getting sick have no business having a nanny and should stick their kid in daycare.

That's fine and while I agree it doesn't help OP who obviously wants to keep her job and whose NF was upset when she did use a sick day. I agree with PP that since scheduled time off is easier to work with than a sick day if you tell MB in advance maybe you can work it out to schedule it soon. You need to take care of yourself too and shouldn't put off a necessary test too long. Although, I should say many radiology places have weekend hours so if you need an ultrasound it doesn't necessarily have to be on a weekday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All holidays are in my contract except Columbus Day, I forgot because many people still work on the day.. All other holidays are listed in my contract. I haven't taken a sick day, but I am worried about when I will need to. Good thing, the mom is a SAHM patent.

So then it's your fault, not theirs. Obviously you hate your job, are you looking for a new one?

[Anonymous]

OP, it is not fair for you to remain in a bad employment situation and complain or cry for help when you encounter predictable problems. I pity you, very much, but you don't sound empowered and I think an internal locus of control would serve you more then any answer you'll find here.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you for all the helpful input. I wouldn't necessarily call my employment situation a "bad one", but I can tell you an even worse employment situation would be no job at all. I am in the process of looking for alternative jobs should I need one. I will check and see if they are able to schedule it on a weekend.

[Anonymous]

Just ask them what days and times would work best.
I try to schedule appointments when one of my bosses work from home and try to get the first appointment of the day. That's the easiest way for them to work around things and me to go to appointments I need.
Just talk to them, and make it clear that you need to go to the ultras sooner rather than later.
Also, my bosses want me to be healthy and rather I go to dr appointments or call in sick so I can be healthy to take care of their kids.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny I don't get to go to the dr or the dentist. I once went 5 years because I don't get personal days off. Downside of being a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny I don't get to go to the dr or the dentist. I once went 5 years because I don't get personal days off. Downside of being a nanny.

Downside of being a stupid nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny I don't get to go to the dr or the dentist. I once went 5 years because I don't get personal days off. Downside of being a nanny.

So what would you do in OP's position? Obviously the ultrasound needs to be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a nanny I don't get to go to the dr or the dentist. I once went 5 years because I don't get personal days off. Downside of being a nanny.

So what would you do in OP's position? Obviously the ultrasound needs to be done.

I wouldn't listen to any advice someone as unprofessional as pp gives. Nannies like her drive me nuts. It's hard to get employers to treat us like professionals and with respect when there are so many nannies wandering around who don't demand it

[Anonymous]

Get your ultrasound on the weekend, like everyone else who can't take time off during the week.