Nanny always shows up 40 minutes early

[Anonymous]

My DS nanny has been showing up 40 minutes early for her shift. I work from home and it is a bit cumbersome to have someone unexpectedly show up early at least for 50% of the time. She has not discussed this with us. Am I being ridiculous to be annoyed by this?

[Anonymous]

Just let her know you appreciate her promptness and she's welcome to arrive early. Also let her know it's disrupting your schedule and when she shows up early she's welcome to go grab a cup of coffee in the kitchen or make herself at home in the family room until her shift starts.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should schedule her 30 minutes earlier

[Anonymous]

I guess what mom is trying to say; is that makes her feel uncomfortable, since she will have some personal things to do before she arrives. So if this is the case, offer her to get in and let her know take her time before her shift starts, it wouldn't be a good idea for the mom. It's weird with her, sometimes if I arrive 15 or 20 min bef my shift starts; I wait in my car just scrolling my phone or making some short call.

[Anonymous]

Does she take public transportation? I’d assume with bus/metro schedules it was either be early or late so chose early

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she take public transportation? I’d assume with bus/metro schedules it was either be early or late so chose early

+1. She probably takes public transportation or has a long commute.

[Anonymous]

Make it clear that you can't pay her until her start time at 8:30 or whenever but she's welcome to come in and have coffee and read until her official start time.

[Anonymous]

Different employer. I have the same situation and find it l extremely annoying to have someone in my (small) home underfoot while I’m scrambling to get myself ready. In fact kids are still asleep when nanny arrives so she is not helping me in any way, even if she wanted to. But then I think about all the people who complain about their nanny being late and bite my tongue. My advice is to just tolerate it and be thankful for what you have.

If it is not critical for her to be “on time” you could push her “start time” to 30 minutes later and see what happens, begin paying her when she arrives. You can’t get mad though if your plan backfires and she shows up at the later time due to bus schedule or different traffic patterns.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I will just ask her if it’s something that requires her to end up with early arrivals. She drives her own vehicle

[Anonymous]

Our nanny is always early and I love it! It’s her choice and unpaid. It makes for a leisurely transition for the kids too.

[Anonymous]

Ask her why she’s early.

We ran into a bit of a problem with our beloved nanny when she started showing up early. I thought she was ready to work but she actually wanted the 30 minutes to set up art projects, get a jump on the kids laundry, make the kids lunches, and basically have a calm transition with me still in charge of the kids. Since it was unpaid time (she insisted) I of course honored her request.

Ask your nanny why.

[Anonymous]

My nanny prefers to be 15 - 20 minutes early and I'm fine with it. She has a key, lets herself in and makes a cup of coffee and gets herself settled. It is wonderful to do a true handoff 5 minutes before her actual "start time". She doesn't care if I'm still in my bathrobe and running around like crazy.

[Anonymous]

Since she drives her own vehicle to work, I am thinking that she probably drops someone (husband, kids, etc.?) off at a certain time each morning then drives to your house, arriving at the same time.

If I were her, I honestly would stop for a hot breakfast + coffee at a nearby coffee shop or just read vs. coming in so early - but that is just me.

Perhaps you can offer her a key so she can let herself in & have her sit in the living room either watching television or reading a book.
Of course, stress to her that she make herself comfortable but that you will begin paying her on her actual starting time.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since she drives her own vehicle to work, I am thinking that she probably drops someone (husband, kids, etc.?) off at a certain time each morning then drives to your house, arriving at the same time.

If I were her, I honestly would stop for a hot breakfast + coffee at a nearby coffee shop or just read vs. coming in so early - but that is just me.

Perhaps you can offer her a key so she can let herself in & have her sit in the living room either watching television or reading a book.
Of course, stress to her that she make herself comfortable but that you will begin paying her on her actual starting time.

Good luck.

That requires money that not everyone can afford to spend 5 mornings per week, especially when many families only want to pay $20/hr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since she drives her own vehicle to work, I am thinking that she probably drops someone (husband, kids, etc.?) off at a certain time each morning then drives to your house, arriving at the same time.

If I were her, I honestly would stop for a hot breakfast + coffee at a nearby coffee shop or just read vs. coming in so early - but that is just me.

Perhaps you can offer her a key so she can let herself in & have her sit in the living room either watching television or reading a book.
Of course, stress to her that she make herself comfortable but that you will begin paying her on her actual starting time.

Good luck.

That requires money that not everyone can afford to spend 5 mornings per week, especially when many families only want to pay $20/hr.

$20 an hour is perfectly reasonable for a nanny.