Nanny very sick

[Anonymous]

Caught some kind of stomach flu from the other kids she looks after and has had to cancel 4 afternoons over 2 weeks. She doesn't seem to be getting better despite going to the doctors a lot and as it has been going on for 2 weeks with no end, I wonder where that leaves us? Do we just start looking for someone new in case she can't recover in time for next few weeks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Caught some kind of stomach flu from the other kids she looks after and has had to cancel 4 afternoons over 2 weeks. She doesn't seem to be getting better despite going to the doctors a lot and as it has been going on for 2 weeks with no end, I wonder where that leaves us? Do we just start looking for someone new in case she can't recover in time for next few weeks?

I wonder where that leaves her! That poor woman has been sick for over two weeks?! Dehydration is a real concern when you have been vomiting and had diarrhea for that long!

[Anonymous]

OP here. I feel bad but we do need to know how long she will be out for. She isn't dehydrated as doctor checked all that. He just told her that she has to wait it out. She's lost a stone in weight and been very ill, I think all other symptoms have gone but the diarrhea is left which she has had for days now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I feel bad but we do need to know how long she will be out for. She isn't dehydrated as doctor checked all that. He just told her that she has to wait it out. She's lost a stone in weight and been very ill, I think all other symptoms have gone but the diarrhea is left which she has had for days now.

Ugh, that poor woman. Plus dehydration is something that can occur at any time - it needs to be checked daily.

How can you possibly know how long your nanny will be out if the doctor doesn't know? Why would you ask us?

[Anonymous]

Of course we care for her wellbeing, I am just concerned about childcare and what we are going to do if this carries on for another couple weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course we care for her wellbeing, I am just concerned about childcare and what we are going to do if this carries on for another couple weeks.

Get a temporary nanny. What are you doing now to cover her absences?

[Anonymous]

What do you want us to say, OP? Are you looking for validation to fire a woman for getting a temporary and miserable/debilitating virus?

Get a temporary babysitter or have you or your DH come home early.

[Anonymous]

We are using family friends and neighbors. As I say, I am just worried about the future. If this has been going on for 10 days, I worry it is instead, something chronic and she will end off not back at work for many weeks to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are using family friends and neighbors. As I say, I am just worried about the future. If this has been going on for 10 days, I worry it is instead, something chronic and she will end off not back at work for many weeks to come.

You use the term "stone" so I don't know if you're in the US. If you are, here are your options:
1) Try not to worry until you have to (that is, until you no longer have family/friends/neighbors who can fill in). When your backups start saying, no, then you have to start thinking about another solution.
2) Sign up with an agency for temporary care. I assume the nanny has used all of her sick leave so that you won't be double-paying for care. The agency will likely be expensive, but that holds the job for you current nanny. If your nanny can't give you any time-frame, you let your current nanny know that you have temp care for two weeks (or whatever), and that she can come back after that if she's better.
3) If this is part of a pattern of sicknesses and absences, then maybe you want to move on. In that case, come up with an amount of time you're willing to wait for her to recover, and then let her know that unfortunately, you won't be able to hold her job any longer. Then hire someone else.

This is the reason FMLA was passed, to give workers who qualify up to 12 weeks of unpaid sick leave during which their job is held for them. Many, many American workers are not covered by this benefit, and your nanny would not be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are using family friends and neighbors. As I say, I am just worried about the future. If this has been going on for 10 days, I worry it is instead, something chronic and she will end off not back at work for many weeks to come.

You worry that it is chronic and she cannot serve you? Seriously, OP, embrace a little compassion. If it is chronic, it is going to hurt your poor nanny far more than it will you.

[Anonymous]

OP is looking for justification to fire an employee for daring to get sick and inconveniencing her.

Sorry, OP, you are not going to get that from me. I think you are awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is looking for justification to fire an employee for daring to get sick and inconveniencing her.

Sorry, OP, you are not going to get that from me. I think you are awful.

Do you think OP should also be paying her? I'm just wondering what you think the implied contract between employer and employee consists of. At what point, when someone can no longer do the job she was hired for, can she be let go? Never, if the illness is not her fault and being let go will lead to financial hardship?

[Anonymous]

Get a temp nanny. There are nannies that are in between jobs.

[Anonymous]

The key part of OP's post is "caught something from the OTHER kids she looks after". I can understand OP being worried about coverage but I think this is the reason OP isn't more sympathetic towards the nanny who could have easily gotten sick caring for her children as well.

[Anonymous]

OP here. She is a dance teacher of a morning but doesn't have kids of her own