Fired for calling in sick?

[Anonymous]

I just started a new nanny position last week, I had two trial shifts which were great. The family notified me I could "borrow" my sick time if needed. We hadn't signed a contract yet but were due to do so today. They had sent me a copy of the contract which worked great and had a generous amount of sick and paid leave.

This morning I woke up sick and texted them 20 minutes before I was supposed to start and asked if I could "borrow" my sick time for today.

I received a text a few hours later that the mom had decided to quit her job and stay home. She said they've had such difficulty with reliable childcare and is going to have her mom come in and help.

Ok, fine, whatever lady. But I still think it's a little harsh to fire me for missing one day or trying to access benefits that she had promised?!

[Anonymous]

She really wanted to take care of her own children.

[Anonymous]

It’s not you, OP. It’s her. Tons of mothers struggle with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started a new nanny position last week, I had two trial shifts which were great. The family notified me I could "borrow" my sick time if needed. We hadn't signed a contract yet but were due to do so today. They had sent me a copy of the contract which worked great and had a generous amount of sick and paid leave.

This morning I woke up sick and texted them 20 minutes before I was supposed to start and asked if I could "borrow" my sick time for today.

I received a text a few hours later that the mom had decided to quit her job and stay home. She said they've had such difficulty with reliable childcare and is going to have her mom come in and help.

Ok, fine, whatever lady. But I still think it's a little harsh to fire me for missing one day or trying to access benefits that she had promised?!

You started last week with two trial shifts and you called in sick on your first real day? I would have fired you, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started a new nanny position last week, I had two trial shifts which were great. The family notified me I could "borrow" my sick time if needed. We hadn't signed a contract yet but were due to do so today. They had sent me a copy of the contract which worked great and had a generous amount of sick and paid leave.

This morning I woke up sick and texted them 20 minutes before I was supposed to start and asked if I could "borrow" my sick time for today.

I received a text a few hours later that the mom had decided to quit her job and stay home. She said they've had such difficulty with reliable childcare and is going to have her mom come in and help.

Ok, fine, whatever lady. But I still think it's a little harsh to fire me for missing one day or trying to access benefits that she had promised?!

Are you for real? Nannies like you who have no respect for the families they work for are a disgrace. What the hell did you expect those parents to do in 20 minutes? You're awful.

[Anonymous]

2-3 hours prior, maybe. More than 3 hours, sure. But thinking it’s ok to call out less than 2 hours prior to start?! Even worse, you didn’t have the courtesy to give them 30 minutes or an hour?! No, I totally understand why you were fired...

[Anonymous]

Wow . Unless I was practically dying I would show up. In all my 18 years I have missed 4 days. Each of those 4 I would have wiorkes if my employer s asked me to. But they knew how sick I was and trusted that I wasn’t lying or exaggerating my symptoms.

As nannies our employers depend on us so they can work.

[Anonymous]

So you basically called in sick on your first day of work and asked to be paid for it?

Yeah. Sorry, OP, you deserve to be fired. The mother is lying about staying home - she’s interviewing nannies today.

How old are you, OP? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

You seriously cannot be shocked they let you go. You barely worked for them and proved yourself to be unreliable. It’s not them. It’s you. All you.

[Anonymous]

It's the 20 minutes notice that sunk you.

[Anonymous]

You didn't have a signed contract. She probably isn't staying home and used it as an excuse. You cannot borrow sick leave when you haven't even started a job yet.

[Anonymous]

I would assume you would only call in sick for your first day if you were sick enough to be in the hospital or something, in which case you would offer documentation. Without that you seem flaky AF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow . Unless I was practically dying I would show up. In all my 18 years I have missed 4 days. Each of those 4 I would have wiorkes if my employer s asked me to. But they knew how sick I was and trusted that I wasn’t lying or exaggerating my symptoms.

As nannies our employers depend on us so they can work.

My, my, aren't you just too wonderful for words. All parents need two to three back up plans!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow . Unless I was practically dying I would show up. In all my 18 years I have missed 4 days. Each of those 4 I would have wiorkes if my employer s asked me to. But they knew how sick I was and trusted that I wasn’t lying or exaggerating my symptoms.

As nannies our employers depend on us so they can work.

My, my, aren't you just too wonderful for words. All parents need two to three back up plans!

Every single nanny here is telling you that calling in 20 minutes before shift shows unreliability!

I also work when sick; i have unlimited sick days when my employers deem it too much. So yeah, I’ve set up toddlers in a pack n play with toys while I run back and forth to the bathroom, and I’ve arranged last minute carpools for drop off and pick up at school and after school activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow . Unless I was practically dying I would show up. In all my 18 years I have missed 4 days. Each of those 4 I would have wiorkes if my employer s asked me to. But they knew how sick I was and trusted that I wasn’t lying or exaggerating my symptoms.

As nannies our employers depend on us so they can work.

My, my, aren't you just too wonderful for words. All parents need two to three back up plans!

NP here and a nanny. I agree with the first poster and would have to be near death before I ever called in sick on my first day!! It’s not “too wonderful for words”, PP, it’s very simple common sense.

You totally screwed up, OP.