Sick days beyond sick PTO

[Anonymous]

Our nanny has been off and on sick for a few months. She's used up her 5 contracted PTO sick days plus 7 days beyond that, as well as her chosen vacation week. The latest stretch was 5 days in row (and across a weekend). She's legitimately sick and is visiting doctors for prescriptions, lab work, etc. At what point do we throw in the towel or is that heartless? She's been with us nearly 16 months.

[Anonymous]

You look at your children and decide what's best for them.

[Anonymous]

Is it like, bronchitis which turned into pneumonia where she'll get better, or is it a chronic illness like Epstein Barr?

If it were chronic, I'd let her go for being unreliable (and wouldn't fight unemployment). If it was something where she'd get better, I'd employ my backup people while she took time off with no pay and during that time off she wouldn't accrue future time off either. Not until she came back to work.

[Anonymous]

OP here, some of it is poor health habits and high blood pressure. Some of it seems to be recent health issues that are acute but could turn chronic.

I would like to do what's best for my children, and this is nice advice in theory. But between DH and I taking time off, we are using up all our PTO, too!

[Anonymous]

Age of children, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, some of it is poor health habits and high blood pressure. Some of it seems to be recent health issues that are acute but could turn chronic.

I would like to do what's best for my children, and this is nice advice in theory. But between DH and I taking time off, we are using up all our PTO, too!

I'm 21:20 and just thought of something - did she just get health insurance after not having it for a long time? I remember when that happened for me and I promptly made a lot of dr appts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, some of it is poor health habits and high blood pressure. Some of it seems to be recent health issues that are acute but could turn chronic.

I would like to do what's best for my children, and this is nice advice in theory. But between DH and I taking time off, we are using up all our PTO, too!

I'm 21:20 and just thought of something - did she just get health insurance after not having it for a long time? I remember when that happened for me and I promptly made a lot of dr appts.

No, she has it through her husband thankfully and I believe he's had his job some time.
One child, age 2.5. And no, she doesn't entertain herself while I work at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, some of it is poor health habits and high blood pressure. Some of it seems to be recent health issues that are acute but could turn chronic.

I would like to do what's best for my children, and this is nice advice in theory. But between DH and I taking time off, we are using up all our PTO, too!

I'm 21:20 and just thought of something - did she just get health insurance after not having it for a long time? I remember when that happened for me and I promptly made a lot of dr appts.

No, she has it through her husband thankfully and I believe he's had his job some time.
One child, age 2.5. And no, she doesn't entertain herself while I work at home.

I would do like a PP suggested. Employ a backup person while she recovers with leave without pay. Depending on the illness give her a reasonable amount of time to recover. During this time begin preparing to replace her if necessary. After the agreed upon recovery time, if she is unable to return, let her know that you can no longer employ her as you need someone more reliable.

[Anonymous]

Op I'm in the same boat. I don't want to be heartless but I've run out of leave. I also believe my nanny is sick but I need someone reliable. I plan to have a frank conversation that anything above 5 days (she's at 12) will be unpaid. I've neve in my life taken 12 sick days in a year.

[Anonymous]

What is a typical vacation/ sick leave package?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a typical vacation/ sick leave package?

At least 2 weeks vacation, and 5 sick days.

[Anonymous]

OK, what happens if your nanny is over the 5 days permitted in the contract but called in sick THREE days this week? We have been VERY flexible and our nanny has worked for us over a year - great, professional. But when I tried to talk to her today - very defensive and rude. Totally out of character but she is really sick. I am at a loss if this is something that is a bigger problem. Anyone else have an issue with nanny getting upset over sick leave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, what happens if your nanny is over the 5 days permitted in the contract but called in sick THREE days this week? We have been VERY flexible and our nanny has worked for us over a year - great, professional. But when I tried to talk to her today - very defensive and rude. Totally out of character but she is really sick. I am at a loss if this is something that is a bigger problem. Anyone else have an issue with nanny getting upset over sick leave?

Then you either take it out of her vacation time or she needs to take it unpaid if it really matters to you that much.

This is why I never understand creating the distinction between sick and vacation, just give PTO. Who cares why your employee is not there? As long as you are given an agreed upon notice time, the time off should be for them to use at their discretion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, what happens if your nanny is over the 5 days permitted in the contract but called in sick THREE days this week? We have been VERY flexible and our nanny has worked for us over a year - great, professional. But when I tried to talk to her today - very defensive and rude. Totally out of character but she is really sick. I am at a loss if this is something that is a bigger problem. Anyone else have an issue with nanny getting upset over sick leave?

Then you either take it out of her vacation time or she needs to take it unpaid if it really matters to you that much.

This is why I never understand creating the distinction between sick and vacation, just give PTO. Who cares why your employee is not there? As long as you are given an agreed upon notice time, the time off should be for them to use at their discretion.

I do bundled PTO, but I think the main reasons not to do it are that 1) you have to pay out leftover vacation but not leftover sick leave at the end of employment, and 2) vacation time should be arranged in advance. Maybe you could use it for an extended illness, but I could see not wanting to have 15 days a year that is equally ok for the nanny to call in the morning of to take off.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We let nanny go and paid her two weeks pay on the day she finally returned. She filed for unemployment in DC. The form asked us if she was fired for cause. We said yes. Is too many days absence a reason her claim could be denied?