Tips on how to fire live-in nanny (or any nanny) - my first time

[Anonymous]

I need to fire my live-in nanny. And I'm trying to do it to allow her to have some dignity. But I'm also trying to safeguard my 2.5 yr old daughter.
Any advice? She moved to Phoenix with us from Seattle and has been with our family since daughter was born. But several issues, taken together, have shown us that the long term is looking bleak for her. I'd like to pay to put her back on a plane to Seattle with 2-3 weeks pay. But I recognize that her health insurance and cell phone will also be discontinued at the same time. Any tips?

[Anonymous]

Flight home, security deposit for new place to live if she doesn't have it, health insurance for a month or two and month pay.

[Anonymous]

A month of pay and benefits plus the flight back.

[Anonymous]

Curious what the issues are after 2.5 years. Have you had an honest discussion with her?

Have you considered your daughter’s attachment to her, and what the consequences may be of a sudden disappearance of her primary caregiver?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Curious what the issues are after 2.5 years. Have you had an honest discussion with her?

Have you considered your daughter’s attachment to her, and what the consequences may be of a sudden disappearance of her primary caregiver?

I agree - it is going to be very hard for your child. One of the three caregivers in her life shouldn’t simply disappear.

For a live-in, two months severance and agreed upon time to move out is customary. Also pay her healthcare insurance for a month and give her the information on how to COBRA after that. And yes, in your situation, you should also buy her a ticket home.

[Anonymous]

You uprooted her and unless she did something so horrible as to endanger your child's life, you need to do a lot more than one month's pay. Presumably, there is a contract, what does it say? I would give her a ticket home, three months pay, a pre-paid phone for three months and three months paid insurance.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, What happened??

[Anonymous]

Letting go of a live-in nanny is very different from letting go of a typical employee.

You owe your live-in at least two months severance as you are taking away her home as well as her job. Since live-ins are typically paid far less than a live-out nanny, three months severance is appropriate.

Have a long talk with her about her dismissal - and negotiate a fair move-out date and ask her if she wants to go home. If she does, then yes - you are responsible for her airfare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need to fire my live-in nanny. And I'm trying to do it to allow her to have some dignity. But I'm also trying to safeguard my 2.5 yr old daughter.
Any advice? She moved to Phoenix with us from Seattle and has been with our family since daughter was born. But several issues, taken together, have shown us that the long term is looking bleak for her. I'd like to pay to put her back on a plane to Seattle with 2-3 weeks pay. But I recognize that her health insurance and cell phone will also be discontinued at the same time. Any tips?

“Safeguard” your child from what, drama queen?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, this is the downside to being a live-in nanny...

1. Severance
2. Information on cobra
3. Time to get a new phone and port the number!
4. Paid transportation back to Seattle OR paid moving somewhere else in Phoenix, her choice

You are NOT responsible for paying for her insurance or her phone after her employment ends. If you’ve done due diligence, she’s eligible for unemployment while she finds a new job, and combined with severance of 1-3 months pay, whatever your contract states, she can pay those for herself until she finds a new position.

I highly doubt that she’d choose to fly. Either she’d have to ship most of her things, get rid of her things, or pay an arm and a leg for baggage at the airport. There’s a reason I rent a car or take the train. I can pay $20 per checked bag on the train, and I’m not as limited for carry-ons. With a car, the family pays the rental, I pay gas and tolls, but since they pay for the full tank and I drop off the car empty, I spend relatively little on gas.

[Anonymous]

Are you firing her for cause (as in she did something to endanger your child or broke the contract) or without cause? It makes a huge difference in what you should provide...

[Anonymous]

Op is long gone!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Curious what the issues are after 2.5 years. Have you had an honest discussion with her?

Have you considered your daughter’s attachment to her, and what the consequences may be of a sudden disappearance of her primary caregiver?

Oh my god, you pop up everywhere, like rotting leftover fish. Children can be absolutely FINE with a nanny leaving. And OP didn't say it would be sudden. But even if it were an extreme safety issue, the parents can explain and let the child draw a picture or write a card or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Curious what the issues are after 2.5 years. Have you had an honest discussion with her?

Have you considered your daughter’s attachment to her, and what the consequences may be of a sudden disappearance of her primary caregiver?

I agree on the honest discussion part. But in terms of consequences... it's the nanny leaving, not the child's mom. Of course child will be sad, but will move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You uprooted her and unless she did something so horrible as to endanger your child's life, you need to do a lot more than one month's pay. Presumably, there is a contract, what does it say? I would give her a ticket home, three months pay, a pre-paid phone for three months and three months paid insurance.

This, though I doubt the nanny has a fair contract, otherwise OP wouldn’t be asking.