I'm about to cut nanny's hours by almost 25% - any advice?

[Anonymous]

We looked at calendars this weekend and did some math, and effective as of this week we really don't need our nanny for 50 hrs/wk any longer. We haven't really needed her for that full amount for a while and often send her home up to 45 min early, so we've been paying for "just in case" time and I'm kind of over it. Based on summer schedule and looking to this fall, we really only need 38 hrs/wk now (probably less in reality - more like 34 or so), and in the fall, we'd need a max of 35 hours (more likely 30).

I feel like a bit of a jerk for reducing her hours. She's an okay nanny (not great) but has always been reliable. I know her finances aren't great but I try to remind myself that my first responsibility is to my own kids and the extra money we'd save would make a nice contribution to college funds.

Anyone been down this road and would like to offer advice? I'd like to be respectful to our nanny but am no longer interested in paying for child care we really don't need.

[Anonymous]

Just be honest and tell her that your childcare needs have changed and you need less hours now. Be prepared that she may decide to look for another job.

[Anonymous]

Please respect her enough to give her a full two weeks notice before reducing her hours. Does she not have a contract with guaranteed hours?

If you are not planning to give her any notice before reducing her hours, and don't have a contract with guaranteed hours (which it doesn't sound like since you say "effective as of this week..."), then please consider how you would feel if she had suddenly told you without notice that she was no longer to able to work 25% of the hours that you /really/ needed her? Also consider that this may severely impact her ability to pay bills, rent, etc, since you aren't giving her a chance to even fill the additional hours, or make other necessary adjustments to her budget, etc. Are you really comfortable screwing over the person you have trusted (and continue to trust and depend upon) to watch your children? A 25% drop in income with no notice is not something an employer should take so lightly.

[Anonymous]

Does she have guaranteed hours? If so than this is a bigger deal than you have made it out to be. You need to give her at least two weeks notice that you are reducing her hours and allow her the opportunity to find a better (more hours) position if she so chooses.

[Anonymous]

You are a mouse and she will fine a new job.

[Anonymous]

Louse not mouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just be honest and tell her that your childcare needs have changed and you need less hours now. Be prepared that she may decide to look for another job.

OP could only be so lucky. I will never understand why people continue to employ subpar nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be honest and tell her that your childcare needs have changed and you need less hours now. Be prepared that she may decide to look for another job.

OP could only be so lucky. I will never understand why people continue to employ subpar nannies.

OP here. It would be fine with us if she pursued another job. We're likely going to need to drop her entirely by next fall anyway. She is ineffective at handling one of our kids and it matters a lot more during the school year (when he has to do stuff he doesn't want to do).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are a mouse and she will fine a new job.

Not sure why being realistic about how much childcare we need makes me a louse. We've been extremely fair to her throughout her time with us. More than fair.

[Anonymous]

What will you do when you let her go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will you do when you let her go?

I'm assuming she'll plan to find a new job. We will give her advance warning of the hours transition. She can look for something new while the transition is pending. I don't plan to hand her a wad of cash on the way out, though. I'm not going to one day just up and tell her that her job is over, effective right this minute. We'd give her notice.

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone would be happy paying our their hard-earned money to something that they truly do not need OP. So no one, not even your nanny should have any qualms about you needing to do what is right for your family.

That being said, there is a possibility that your nanny may have to seek another position that will offer her longer hours & you may lose her in the process and have to search for a replacement. I would take that factor into consideration before I tell the nanny.

Good luck and I hope everything works out good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be honest and tell her that your childcare needs have changed and you need less hours now. Be prepared that she may decide to look for another job.

OP could only be so lucky. I will never understand why people continue to employ subpar nannies.

OP here. It would be fine with us if she pursued another job. We're likely going to need to drop her entirely by next fall anyway. She is ineffective at handling one of our kids and it matters a lot more during the school year (when he has to do stuff he doesn't want to do).

I think you should look for another nanny now for a month from now, and then give her two weeks notice since she's not great and basically useless with one of your kids. Your kid can't be enjoying the relationship either. I'm super strict and make kids follow rules but they all love me despite that.

[Anonymous]

Jobs change, OP, and if you don't need her, then it is time to let her know so she can move on and find a job that meets her needs.

It'll be a win/win because she can find a new job and you can find a better nanny for the hours you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be honest and tell her that your childcare needs have changed and you need less hours now. Be prepared that she may decide to look for another job.

OP could only be so lucky. I will never understand why people continue to employ subpar nannies.

Because they are generally inexpensive.

Besides, how do you know that OP isn't a nightmare to work for and never happy with anyone or anything? (I have a SIL like that - she has never in her life said that anything was "great" -- everything is always just "okay").