Is there any way to do this kindly?

[Anonymous]

Our nanny has cared for our two kids (5 and 3) for nearly five years. We love her dearly, she’s respected and well paid, and we have a good working relationship.

We’re under contract on a house in the suburbs and are about to put our house on the market. Our nanny would not be able to commute to the new house. We have three weeks to sell or the contract will fall through and we’ll stay put.

We fully understand that she could hear this news and jump ship immediately. If we do move, we plan to help her find a new position and will pay her during the transition.

We absolutely dread the thought of dumping this uncertainty into her lap. Is there anything we can do to make this easier?

[Anonymous]

Any possibility she might suffer a loss of income due to your move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any possibility she might suffer a loss of income due to your move?

We will continue to pay her until she finds a new position, but we can't guarantee that a new gig (she'd like to continue working in our current neighborhood) will pay the same rate we do.

[Anonymous]

Tell her now. She may find a new job before you know whether you're moving or not. If you want her to stay with you, offer a small bonus if she's willing to commit to the next three weeks, and a slightly larger bonus if you don't move. If you do move, 2-4 weeks severance and the small bonus at termination, with help to find a new position.

[Anonymous]

The best thing you can do for your nanny OP is tell her NOW. Trust me, the sooner she knows what the stakes are, the better prepared she will be able to handle things.

It would be very inconsiderate to simply drop this into her lap a week before, plus she may understandably be miffed if you knew about this yet waited until the last second because you were afraid she would jump ship.

So do not throw her any curveballs. Let her know NOW where things stand.

I find your offer to pay her during the transition as well as assist her in finding a new family is very considerate. I mean, you work as well as have two young ones to look after. And on top of all of that, you may be moving too.

Hopefully everything will iron itself out, but you must notify your nanny stat.

Good luck to ALL of you.

[Anonymous]

Tell her now. It's the right thing to do.
She'll need at least 3 weeks to find, interview for and start a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any possibility she might suffer a loss of income due to your move?

We will continue to pay her until she finds a new position, but we can't guarantee that a new gig (she'd like to continue working in our current neighborhood) will pay the same rate we do.

Can't you just continue to pay her the difference between her new salary and old salary for a year or two until she gets some raises?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any possibility she might suffer a loss of income due to your move?

We will continue to pay her until she finds a new position, but we can't guarantee that a new gig (she'd like to continue working in our current neighborhood) will pay the same rate we do.

Can't you just continue to pay her the difference between her new salary and old salary for a year or two until she gets some raises?

That's ridiculous. Why should OP pay for a nanny she's not employing? OP, jobs end all the time for a lot of reasons and if your nanny is a professional, she will understand this and do what everyone else does when a job ends...they find a new one. She may want to stay in the neighborhood, but that might not be possible if there isn't a job available. This isn't your fault or responsibility. I think it is unwise to keep paying her until she finds another job. This doesn't give her an incentive to work very hard securing new employment and can just end up with you paying someone to sit around until the perfect job falls in her lap. It isn't your responsibility to find her the perfect job, or guarantee she will make as much (or more) money in a new job. Finding a new job is her responsibility. That said, it is very kind of you to provide assistance to her in finding a new job by helping her network and recommending her through list servs and such.

What I do think is your responsibility is to give her as much notice as possible (at least three weeks), provide her with a good reference, and fair severance. If she finds new work before you move, you do risk losing her, but she needs to look after herself and her family, so be supportive in her transition.

[Anonymous]

You have 3 weeks to sell. But when you sell your house, you don't move out immediately - you then have 30 or 60 days before you close on the house and it's your's - or your house becomes the new people's house. So you have 3 weeks before you know your house has sold, then more time before you actually must vacate your home and move to the new one.

tell her now. I hope you've already told her. And then tell her the whole deal - you aren't sure you are moving, blah blah. And keep her apprised. And then see what happens.

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update, for what it's worth: We let our nanny know as soon as this was a sure thing (four weeks notice). She was understandably upset, but incredibly gracious.

We offered a bonus for staying with us through the four-week period, and other one if she stays with us through the move. We'll give her excellent references, help finding a new position, and contrary to the advice of the PP, offered to pay until she finds another position. I know her and her work ethic well enough to know that she will not abuse this. That said, I can't imagine why it would be our responsibility to pay her the difference in salary when she finds a new gig if it does not pay the same rate we do.

I mention this all to say that good nannies are worth their weight in gold, and employers should respect that. It's a two-way street, and when it works that way, everyone is happy.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad it's working out, OP.

A question, though: folks in this region have all kinds of commutes. Are you sure she wouldn't travel to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any possibility she might suffer a loss of income due to your move?

We will continue to pay her until she finds a new position, but we can't guarantee that a new gig (she'd like to continue working in our current neighborhood) will pay the same rate we do.

Some agency get freaked out when families cares about their Nannys . Agencies go crazy because you are not making money because neighbors and friends are taking over the nannies.?
Can't you just continue to pay her the difference between her new salary and old salary for a year or two until she gets some raises?

That's ridiculous. Why should OP pay for a nanny she's not employing? OP, jobs end all the time for a lot of reasons and if your nanny is a professional, she will understand this and do what everyone else does when a job ends...they find a new one. She may want to stay in the neighborhood, but that might not be possible if there isn't a job available. This isn't your fault or responsibility. I think it is unwise to keep paying her until she finds another job. This doesn't give her an incentive to work very hard securing new employment and can just end up with you paying someone to sit around until the perfect job falls in her lap. It isn't your responsibility to find her the perfect job, or guarantee she will make as much (or more) money in a new job. Finding a new job is her responsibility. That said, it is very kind of you to provide assistance to her in finding a new job by helping her network and recommending her through list servs and such.

What I do think is your responsibility is to give her as much notice as possible (at least three weeks), provide her with a good reference, and fair severance. If she finds new work before you move, you do risk losing her, but she needs to look after herself and her family, so be supportive in her transition.

[Anonymous]

Tell her ASAP and write a glowing letter of reference so she can start looking immediately for new job.

[Anonymous]

I think it's great that you want to make sure she doesn't fall on hard times, but you shouldn't bear her financial risks. If I lose my job because my company no longer needs my services but LOVED my work, my company is not going to support me because they feel bad about it. I'll find another job, or I'll file for unemployment aid.

The bottom line- do what you can. Give her enough notice that she can either agree to drive further out there to the new home, or she can not. And if she chooses not to, it's her decision.