Nannies - do you warn employers when you have a cold?

[Anonymous]

I am a relatively new nanny and with so much talk about colds and winer approaching, I was wondering what the general protocol is when the nanny gets a cold? Do you show up and give them the option of sending you home? Call? Just stay home?

I would assume that if I got a cold that my charge would have already been exposed to it.

[Anonymous]

If it's my full time family I don't say anything unless I'm feeling too crummy to work or do our normal routine. If it's an evening gig or part time something or other then I'll give a heads up partly to help keep yet another family from catching and passing around the bug and partly because I probably don't want to work extra hours of I'm sick.

[Anonymous]

They should have brought this up and discussed it with you. But since they didn't, you can. They should share their preferences, but it also depends on how you feel.

[Anonymous]

I expect my nanny to tell me when she's too sick to work and take a paid sick day.

I can't afford to take a day off for every "might be a cold coming on," or "I'm still sniffly and coughing." If you come in, look pathetic, and wait for me to tell you to go home, I am going to be really, really annoyed. I don't know how you feel -- only you do.

If you're too sick to work, don't come to work. If you can power through on some Dayquil, please show up. Unless my baby is under 3 months old, I'll take the risk. They're going to catch colds sometimes.

[Anonymous]

If I have a cold but feel well enough to work, I do call my employers and give them the option of me coming in or not.