Do you tell parents when you’re sick?

[Anonymous]

I’m in a nanny share with two infants. I have suddenly come down with something. My symptoms are fever, head pressure/headache, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, sneezing, stuffy/runny nose. I feel like I should give them a heads up, but don’t want to sound like I want the day off. I’d like to leave it up to them if that makes sense. I sound extremely stuffy and don’t want them to be upset that I didn’t mention anything. I’ve only been with them for 3 months are already have had to take 1 day off due to illness most likely caught from their family. So I’m anxious about what to do. Advice?

[Anonymous]

If you feel capable of working, do it. Tell the parents your symptoms and leave it up to them.

[Anonymous]

With infants, yes.

[Anonymous]

No, you do not go take care of two babies with those symptoms. Call the parents right away.

[Anonymous]

I’ve worked while sick. The only time I took off was when I caught norovirus from the family and couldn’t physically get out of bed or stop throwing up.

[Anonymous]

I won't list symptoms and emphasize that I do NOT want to take a paid day off, since I was still capable of working. If they chose to pay me to stay home, without taking it out of my sick days, that would be fine. Otherwise, I would be happy to come in and do any child-related tasks that I would normally do, even if both families elected to find other care. If I'm there and available to work, pay me, don't take it out of my sick days.

[Anonymous]

Yikes OP!
Sounds like you have a pretty bad flu!

Any parent who would want you to come to work w/all those symptoms would be out of her mind!

Stay home, get plenty of liquids + rest.
Wishing you a very speedy recovery!

[Anonymous]

Go get a flu culture. When I was going to visit a compromised person I told my MD and they did a culture right away. It was negative and I went to the hospital as planned.

[Anonymous]

If you have a fever, you should not go in. I would not want my child’s nanny to have something potentially contagious. Plus, the nanny’s health is as important as my child’s.

[Anonymous]

YES, you tell the parents! How is that even a question??? Tell them you are sick, tell them your symptoms, tell them you feel capable of working if they are comfortable with it. If you do work, wash hands a LOT!

And I do realize that this is not a new post, but seriously, how is this a question when working with infants?

[Anonymous]

I would be pissed if you showed up with a fever and flu symptoms to take care of an infant without telling me.

[Anonymous]

If you have paid sick day then yes tell them. If not, blame it on allergies and then maybe they’ll learn to give their employee paid time off to be sick. If I’m not paid to stay home, expect me at work every day. Sick or well.

[Anonymous]

It’s not like I get a courtesy call when the kids are sick and then give me a cold before I go on vacation. That happened twice this year, so yeah no you don’t get courtesy calls either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not like I get a courtesy call when the kids are sick and then give me a cold before I go on vacation. That happened twice this year, so yeah no you don’t get courtesy calls either.

The flu kills babies every year. What is wrong with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not like I get a courtesy call when the kids are sick and then give me a cold before I go on vacation. That happened twice this year, so yeah no you don’t get courtesy calls either.

If you call out sick, then they need to find back up child care. Its really inconsiderate not to let them know. You have a job because they have a job and if you are not reliable you will lose your job and are replaceable.