start time

[Anonymous]

Our nanny doesn't seem to get it. She started getting late when we had grandparent houseguests half of March and we reminded her of her 7:15am start time, which is necessary as we mind the kids from 6am until then and try to get everyone and us ready.
Now pre-school is over and camps are later and she is rolling in at 7:30am. This leaves us little time to chat about the week as DH leaves at 7am and I need to leave at 7:30am latest.

So we tell her, you need to get here at 7:15am, don't be later otherwise we are as well and it's a problem. She launches into a litany of nonsensical excuses, and looked very unprofessional (My Dr said I need to go to the gym, I am watching two kids, I have a long day, I park far away from my apartment, You are sometimes in your pajamas when I arrive).

This isn't the first time she's over-reacted to feedback or reminders, and we are getting really sick of it. Are most nannies this way?

[Anonymous]

Is she your bargain nanny?

[Anonymous]

1. Some people are this way. Nothing is ever their fault. I don't think most nannies are this way.
2. 15 minutes late every day is LATE. I hope you've been docking her pay at least.
3. Who cares what the reason is? If she can't get there by 7:15, and you need a nanny who arrives no later than 7:15, then you are no longer a good fit.
4. One more conversation needs to happen, "Nanny, this is unsustainable for us. Can you get here, reliably, every day, by 7:15? If not, we are probably going to need to make a change."

She will likely then launch into a complaint about how now she'll be worried she'll be fired if she's even one minute late one time; your response to that should be to reiterate how late she's been and how frequently, and that, yes, you need a period of zero tolerance to be able to feel like you can rely on her again.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if MOST are. Mine isn't. He arrives between 5-10 minutes before he's supposed to be here. He uses that time to take off his shoes, wash his hands and play with our dog.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is never late and routinely arrives 15 minutes early to get the baby's laundry started or make baby's breakfast and this is when we chat. It makes for a nice transition for DD as well. However having a nanny who is never late has the drawback of her expecting us to never be late. And we aren't but that isn't always easy.

Tell your nanny that you want her at your house at 7:15 SHARP and no excuses. But you better be equally prompt in coming home, too. Respecting an employees and employers time are equally important.

[Anonymous]

I am not excusing her but she is probably thinking that she doenst need to be there if you are there as well. If you leave at 7.30 she is thinking she is good to get there then. I dont know what you need to talk about for 15 minutes every morning but if you feel you do need to then you need to explain that to her.

I used to have to be at work at 6.30 and as I walked in the parents left within 2 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not excusing her but she is probably thinking that she doenst need to be there if you are there as well. If you leave at 7.30 she is thinking she is good to get there then. I dont know what you need to talk about for 15 minutes every morning but if you feel you do need to then you need to explain that to her.

I used to have to be at work at 6.30 and as I walked in the parents left within 2 minutes.

I purposely have my nanny come 15 minutes before I have to leave. That way, we can chat as extensively as necessary (usually 5 minutes, but sometimes there are logistics), I can do any last minute things it's harder to do w/ 2 under-3s underfoot, gather my things and head out the door w/o being rushed. Why would it be OK for a nanny to decide that I didn't need her when I said I did? Assuming you're paid for the overlap (certainly our nanny is and I assume OP's nanny is), why would you require a separate explanation for my reasoning beyond "your start time is X"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny is never late and routinely arrives 15 minutes early to get the baby's laundry started or make baby's breakfast and this is when we chat. It makes for a nice transition for DD as well. However having a nanny who is never late has the drawback of her expecting us to never be late. And we aren't but that isn't always easy.

Tell your nanny that you want her at your house at 7:15 SHARP and no excuses. But you better be equally prompt in coming home, too. Respecting an employees and employers time are equally important.

Do you pay her for the extra 15 minutes? She is working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny is never late and routinely arrives 15 minutes early to get the baby's laundry started or make baby's breakfast and this is when we chat. It makes for a nice transition for DD as well. However having a nanny who is never late has the drawback of her expecting us to never be late. And we aren't but that isn't always easy.

Tell your nanny that you want her at your house at 7:15 SHARP and no excuses. But you better be equally prompt in coming home, too. Respecting an employees and employers time are equally important.

Do you pay her for the extra 15 minutes? She is working.

Nope. I offered and she said no - she said it was her decision and her choice. Some people just like to get a jump on the day and our wonderful nanny is one of them.

[Anonymous]

This is unacceptable, OP. I like PP's suggestion about telling the nanny that it is 7:15 sharp start time and if she cannot do that then it is time to talk about parting ways. Nanny needs to act like a grown up.

I also agree with another PP that you damn well better be home on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny doesn't seem to get it. She started getting late when we had grandparent houseguests half of March and we reminded her of her 7:15am start time, which is necessary as we mind the kids from 6am until then and try to get everyone and us ready.
Now pre-school is over and camps are later and she is rolling in at 7:30am. This leaves us little time to chat about the week as DH leaves at 7am and I need to leave at 7:30am latest.

So we tell her, you need to get here at 7:15am, don't be later otherwise we are as well and it's a problem. She launches into a litany of nonsensical excuses, and looked very unprofessional (My Dr said I need to go to the gym, I am watching two kids, I have a long day, I park far away from my apartment, You are sometimes in your pajamas when I arrive).

This isn't the first time she's over-reacted to feedback or reminders, and we are getting really sick of it. Are most nannies this way?

Unless you are always on time getting home, you should not complain

[Anonymous]

A mature + professional will not dictate her own start time any way that she sees fit.

That would just be obnoxious of her.

If you state a specific time for her to be there, then she should arrive at your home @that time.
No exceptions!

Fifteen minutes late is not acceptable.

OP, did I read that you do not pay her for the 15 minutes that you need to talk to her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A mature + professional will not dictate her own start time any way that she sees fit.

That would just be obnoxious of her.

If you state a specific time for her to be there, then she should arrive at your home @that time.
No exceptions!

Fifteen minutes late is not acceptable.

OP, did I read that you do not pay her for the 15 minutes that you need to talk to her?

No. That was a different poster, whose nanny arrives 15 minutes early.

[Anonymous]

Had her the job spec and reiterate your expectations.
If she cannot fulfill them well, job goes to another employee.

P.S. her attitude problem is not customary amongst nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she your bargain nanny?

Ah yes, maybe if you overpay your poorly performing nanny with an attitude problem, she will start doing her job semi-well. Ah....