Who would you pay?

[Anonymous]

My nanny has a guaranteed salary and 3 weeks PTO (sick and vacation). Due to an unfortunate medical situation she is taking off more time than she has, and we have arranged backup care when she's out. Yesterday was supposed to be such a day but neither nanny worked due to the snow. On the one hand, the backup nanny had agreed to work, (ie kept her schedule clear for us). On the other, we don't have an arrangement guaranteeing her salary; If I'm going to be paying someone for not working on a snow day, I'd rather it be my regular nanny who needs the money given the medical situation. Thoughts? I also generally lean toward keeping the people who watch my children happy.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you are correct, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are correct, OP.

I'm sorry, which would you pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are correct, OP.

I'm sorry, which would you pay?

Your regular nanny.
Can you discuss your predicament with the temp person, so she understands the situation?

[Anonymous]

I don't really understand OP - you are covering your nanny's regular income while she is out? And you are paying for back-up care at the same time? So you are already paying twice and wondering if you can not pay the interim nanny for yesterday?

I think you need to handle these as two different situations.

I don't think the weather conditions affect the extent to which you are paying your full-time nanny while she is on leave.

Whether or not you feel it's appropriate to pay the interim nanny for a snow day is a different judgment call.

Not sure we can really help you here, but I can tell you that I have been in the position of maintaining our nanny's salary while she was on an extended leave (well beyond any accrued vacation and sick leave) while simultaneously paying for the backup care. It is very hard to sustain so I can understand the crunch you're feeling, but they are separate issues.

If you can swing it, and especially if you want to retain the interim nanny as a back-up option, then it's probably worth it to pay her for the day, or even half of it, as a gesture of goodwill. (Assuming, of course, that the weather was sufficient to merit her being out the full day.)

[Anonymous]

your question isn't clear. Which is it:
1. back up care WHILE nanny is out using paid time off
2. back up care WHILE nanny is on Leave without pay status

if 1, then yes you pay both imo since you would have had to pay both if it wasn't a snow day. If two, then you pay interim nanny only.

[Anonymous]

I look at it this way-- At your job do you get paid for snow days? It can help guide you in the right direction for you. But if it were me, I would pay her.

[Anonymous]

I'd pay the person (or persons) you were originally planning on paying. If you weren't paying your regular nanny for that day, I can't see any rationale for paying because the other nanny couldn't work? You don't neccesarly have to pay the temp, but I think it would be a good thing to do. Aside from that, if you feel your nanny really needs the money, and you have it, I'd just extend her more PTO.

I really recommend treating temps well. We just had a situation where our housekeeper went out on maternity leave. She was very good, but her replacement, a friend, was even better. We gave her the same benefits as our original housekeeper. Turned out, our original housekeeper decided to not return to work. And the the former temp is really happy to keep the job with us long term. Obviously not the same as a sitter,but just goes to show, you never know!

[Anonymous]

You hired and asked a woman to come watch your children for a day and then because of snow you didn't need her, so you aren't going to pay her?

[Anonymous]

I would pay the temp nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nanny has a guaranteed salary and 3 weeks PTO (sick and vacation). Due to an unfortunate medical situation she is taking off more time than she has, and we have arranged backup care when she's out. Yesterday was supposed to be such a day but neither nanny worked due to the snow. On the one hand, the backup nanny had agreed to work, (ie kept her schedule clear for us). On the other, we don't have an arrangement guaranteeing her salary; If I'm going to be paying someone for not working on a snow day, I'd rather it be my regular nanny who needs the money given the medical situation. Thoughts? I also generally lean toward keeping the people who watch my children happy.

you nanny has used over 15 days of PTO by Feb 18th?
and so you paid backup nanny to work 15+ days this year already.
and now you had a snow day and it's day 20 or whatever for FT nanny and for backup nanny. both of whom didn't come.

who worked on day 19 (or whatever). that's who I would have counted on and paid if I had to.


more generally, I'd say you are in a real pickle, mainly because your FT nanny may very well continue to have days off - sick, vacation, appointments - for the other 10 months of the year and you will have to offer them unpaid. and then pay the person who is reliable and actually working. it's a childcare job, not a client or P&L or knowledge bank job where you are slightly less replaceable.

[Anonymous]

Pay whomever you were planning to pay for the day, which I would assume is the temp.

[Anonymous]

I would pay the temp. It's nice that you want to help out your other nanny, but she's maxed out her leave and you're holding her job for her. That's more than you're legally required to do and it's all I get when I've maxed out my leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pay the temp. It's nice that you want to help out your other nanny, but she's maxed out her leave and you're holding her job for her. That's more than you're legally required to do and it's all I get when I've maxed out my leave.

sounds very stressful. are you sure your original nanny with these serious health problems can safely care for your children? Or is there an accident waiting to happen?