Nanny doesn't know that I know...

[Anonymous]

Our nanny's work schedule has her arriving at our house several hours after I leave and while our son is still in preschool.

During the time she is at our house with no child (before preschool), she is supposed to do my son's laundry, tidy up his toys, and prepare lunches/dinners for my son. She then goes to pick him up and watches him until I get back.

Our nanny is arriving 15-35 minutes late for work every single day. I now know this because outside of our home, we have a security camera that captures everybody who is approaching our front porch or garage. The security camera is part of our alarm system and intended to prevent break ins to our home and ensure all of our package deliveries remain on our porch.

We had a package go missing earlier this week, so I went back to review the security footage to see what happened. In doing so and going back across the past 4 weeks, I am seeing that she is arriving to work very late nearly every day--and not telling me about it. I work from home 1-2 days a week--on those days she arrives on time. On the other days she is late. I have calculated that this now adds up to me paying her for 6 extra hours this month that she actually did not work.

My nanny does not know that I know she is arriving late. We like her very much but it has led to a trust issue for me--if she isn't honest about her working hours and arriving late, what else is she not telling me?

I have no idea whether she knows about the security camera as it is outside the home and only focused on the porch and garage (though it is quite clear inside the home that we have a pretty extensive alarm system).

Any advice on how to approach other than 'I see that you have been late to work recently, is there anything going on with your commute I should be aware of?"

[Anonymous]

Is she still getting all of her work finished before picking your son up from school? I too have 3 hours free in the morning and my employers told me to arrive when I feel like it as long as I get to the school on time.

[Anonymous]

We had the same issue once our kids did morning school and she started a bit before that. It adds up.

All we said one pay day, is to please be on time, the school mentioned she was sometimes late and the kids were getting sad they did not have lunch boxes— which they were.
We also said then that our home security sensor logged down entry exit times and to old be on time.

She restarted being on time.

[Anonymous]

Just tell her about the package and ask her why she was late. Stress the importance of her being on time.

[Anonymous]

If it is pretty routine, have a change in plans and be home a morning or two for when she arrives. I would set her start time a 1/2 hour later and pay accordingly.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like she arrives mid to late afternoon? Where do you live? I’m in LA and commute can definitely vary from day to day. Depends on traffic, road work or any events in the area. It is sus that she’s on time when you’re there. Does she know in advance the days you’ll be home? Like a Pp, is she getting everything done that she’s supposed to be doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like she arrives mid to late afternoon? Where do you live? I’m in LA and commute can definitely vary from day to day. Depends on traffic, road work or any events in the area. It is sus that she’s on time when you’re there. Does she know in advance the days you’ll be home? Like a Pp, is she getting everything done that she’s supposed to be doing?

Obviously she knows in advance and is doing it on purpose. To the PPs who are asking if she’s getting everything done on time...???? Who cares? It’s an hourly position ! She should be there on time and find something to do! Our nanny reads during down time or makes a cup of coffee, whatever. She is still present in our house on time ready to take on any tasks. And asks if there is anything she can do. I usually say no but that doesn’t mean she can come 40 minutes late but still be paid for that time.

[Anonymous]

^^ LA nanny here- ummmmm that is NO excuse!!! I live 20 mins away from work and I leave an hour early every day just to be on time. I sit in my car and wait until my start time. Traffic is not an excuse and you are UNPROFESSIONAL if you think it is!!

[Anonymous]

Would you prefer to change her hours? You could also say that you’ve noticed that she generally arrives late so and seems to get all the tasks done, and that you’re happy to push back her start time by 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

How long has your nanny been with you? I’ve been with my nanny family for 7 years, I have 10 hours a week free while the youngest is at school. While I’m on call incase the school calls, I’m free to arrive at the house any time I want, prior to pickup time. Are you just more bothered by the fact that your nanny thinks she is getting away with something?

[Anonymous]

I don't see what the big issue is here. Just tell her you were reviewing the security camera and noticed that she comes late every single day. Tell her the start time is X and you expect her to be on time. There are so many good nannies out there, I don't know why people put up with nannies like this.

If I were 15-35 mins late everyday, my patients would have a s**t fit and everything would be behind schedule.

[Anonymous]

Are you actually paying her hourly or are you paying her either a flat rate or a guaranteed amount of hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see what the big issue is here. Just tell her you were reviewing the security camera and noticed that she comes late every single day. Tell her the start time is X and you expect her to be on time. There are so many good nannies out there, I don't know why people put up with nannies like this.

If I were 15-35 mins late everyday, my patients would have a s**t fit and everything would be behind schedule.

While I disagree with the nanny’s behavior, your job is clearly not comparable.