How to handle “holidays” with pt nanny

[Anonymous]

I’m hiring my first nanny in a number of years after having au pairs (had Nannies before). The best thing about au pairs is their flexibility.

I have found a nanny who seems great and is interested in working our schedule - 4 afternoons per week for 3-5 hours per day. Sometimes she will stay later if I need to be out.

With prior babysitters we’ve paid a set weekly amount - for the fixed number of hours - and then pay extra for any additional hours. If their working day is a holiday like Veterans Day or MLK day and I don’t ask them to work then they still get paid but if I need them say 2 extra hours on another night that week I don’t pay extra for those hours. The idea being we are still keeping within the set number of hours, not actually having her work extra.

I spoke with the new candidate about this and she seemed really confused and sort of put off by it, and said she had never encountered this and would expect to be paid for any additional hours she works. Since it isn’t a ton of time I guess I can just do this, but is this an unreasonable request on my part? Is it reasonable for me to ask her to work on those “holidays” (not major holidays or any holidays that are part of her religion, just the minor bank holiday type) since I’m paying her for the time anyway?

[Anonymous]

Does your employer do that? Like if it's the week of 4th of July, so you're only in the office 4 days, do they ask you to work 4 ten hours days?

Of course not. You are being ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re being unreasonable and cheap. She has guaranteed hours and paid holidays is a standard benefit most nannies receive. You should be glad that you found a nanny willing to work the hours you need.

[Anonymous]

You absolutely pay for holidays and extra hours. Not fair to ask them to work for free when you get paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You absolutely pay for holidays and extra hours. Not fair to ask them to work for free when you get paid.

No one is asking anyone to work for free. She’s saying if there’s a “holiday Monday” when the sitter doesn’t work and she works 2 extra hours on Tuesday she gets paid the same amount.
I don’t think most pt sitters get paid holidays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You absolutely pay for holidays and extra hours. Not fair to ask them to work for free when you get paid.

No one is asking anyone to work for free. She’s saying if there’s a “holiday Monday” when the sitter doesn’t work and she works 2 extra hours on Tuesday she gets paid the same amount.
I don’t think most pt sitters get paid holidays?

Yes, you give her guaranteed hours. Part time workers can get paid holidays. Good luck finding someone.

[Anonymous]

Pay her for extra hours worked even if it’s a holiday week.
Good after school sitters are like unicorns. If you want to keep her don’t nickle and dime her.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. I try to explain to families… if you hire me Monday- Friday, you’re paying me Monday- Friday. I’m not going to be available for you Monday- Friday, but only get paid Tuesday and Thursday. Would you take a job like that?
Imagine you work 160 hours/ month, your boss calls and says
Hey next month I only need you 135 hours, sorry. See ya later.
And it’s beyond our control that holidays fall on certain week days. Families need to understand, that we are exclusively available to you, so we would like to get paid for this availability. We can’t just call another family in the morning and ask if we can come work for them because our boss doesn’t need us.
You can’t compare these nanny jobs to most other professions, because again, if the CEO of America bank goes on vacation, the bank remains open for their employees and customers, I don’t think he will close the bank because he’s going on vacation. It happens a lot with the nanny jobs, grandparents come over, parents get off of work early…

So I suggest strongly that you consider paying her for EVERYDAY and every hour that she is scheduled to work, no matter if it’s a holiday or grandparents come over or what. Any additional hours I would pay extra. That’s the only way to keep a nanny happy. And hostels, I’ve been a nanny for almost 20 years. What I want? I want to get paid a living wage for me being exclusively available for you so you can have a CAREER and live a life style I might never have… think about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I try to explain to families… if you hire me Monday- Friday, you’re paying me Monday- Friday. I’m not going to be available for you Monday- Friday, but only get paid Tuesday and Thursday. Would you take a job like that?
Imagine you work 160 hours/ month, your boss calls and says
Hey next month I only need you 135 hours, sorry. See ya later.
And it’s beyond our control that holidays fall on certain week days. Families need to understand, that we are exclusively available to you, so we would like to get paid for this availability. We can’t just call another family in the morning and ask if we can come work for them because our boss doesn’t need us.
You can’t compare these nanny jobs to most other professions, because again, if the CEO of America bank goes on vacation, the bank remains open for their employees and customers, I don’t think he will close the bank because he’s going on vacation. It happens a lot with the nanny jobs, grandparents come over, parents get off of work early…

So I suggest strongly that you consider paying her for EVERYDAY and every hour that she is scheduled to work, no matter if it’s a holiday or grandparents come over or what. Any additional hours I would pay extra. That’s the only way to keep a nanny happy. And hostels, I’ve been a nanny for almost 20 years. What I want? I want to get paid a living wage for me being exclusively available for you so you can have a CAREER and live a life style I might never have… think about it

Thanks , Nanny, but that isn’t the question. I’m not talking about paying less. I’m wondering about using unused hours at other times, on rare occasions. Or is it better to have Nannies work on all “holidays”? (Obviously I’m talking about mlk day and Veterans Day, not thanksgiving.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I try to explain to families… if you hire me Monday- Friday, you’re paying me Monday- Friday. I’m not going to be available for you Monday- Friday, but only get paid Tuesday and Thursday. Would you take a job like that?
Imagine you work 160 hours/ month, your boss calls and says
Hey next month I only need you 135 hours, sorry. See ya later.
And it’s beyond our control that holidays fall on certain week days. Families need to understand, that we are exclusively available to you, so we would like to get paid for this availability. We can’t just call another family in the morning and ask if we can come work for them because our boss doesn’t need us.
You can’t compare these nanny jobs to most other professions, because again, if the CEO of America bank goes on vacation, the bank remains open for their employees and customers, I don’t think he will close the bank because he’s going on vacation. It happens a lot with the nanny jobs, grandparents come over, parents get off of work early…

So I suggest strongly that you consider paying her for EVERYDAY and every hour that she is scheduled to work, no matter if it’s a holiday or grandparents come over or what. Any additional hours I would pay extra. That’s the only way to keep a nanny happy. And hostels, I’ve been a nanny for almost 20 years. What I want? I want to get paid a living wage for me being exclusively available for you so you can have a CAREER and live a life style I might never have… think about it

Replace “boss” with “client” and that is, in fact, exactly how it works in many fields. Have you ever heard the term “consultant”? “Self employed”? It all comes down to the contract. If this nanny is really good, sure maybe she can command working 15 hrs/week plus paid holidays. Let’s throw in medical, dental, life insurance, 401k while we’re at it. But it’s not like that’s standard for Nannie’s. It’s not even standard for professionals who spend half a mil on their education and pass professional boards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I try to explain to families… if you hire me Monday- Friday, you’re paying me Monday- Friday. I’m not going to be available for you Monday- Friday, but only get paid Tuesday and Thursday. Would you take a job like that?
Imagine you work 160 hours/ month, your boss calls and says
Hey next month I only need you 135 hours, sorry. See ya later.
And it’s beyond our control that holidays fall on certain week days. Families need to understand, that we are exclusively available to you, so we would like to get paid for this availability. We can’t just call another family in the morning and ask if we can come work for them because our boss doesn’t need us.
You can’t compare these nanny jobs to most other professions, because again, if the CEO of America bank goes on vacation, the bank remains open for their employees and customers, I don’t think he will close the bank because he’s going on vacation. It happens a lot with the nanny jobs, grandparents come over, parents get off of work early…

So I suggest strongly that you consider paying her for EVERYDAY and every hour that she is scheduled to work, no matter if it’s a holiday or grandparents come over or what. Any additional hours I would pay extra. That’s the only way to keep a nanny happy. And hostels, I’ve been a nanny for almost 20 years. What I want? I want to get paid a living wage for me being exclusively available for you so you can have a CAREER and live a life style I might never have… think about it

Replace “boss” with “client” and that is, in fact, exactly how it works in many fields. Have you ever heard the term “consultant”? “Self employed”? It all comes down to the contract. If this nanny is really good, sure maybe she can command working 15 hrs/week plus paid holidays. Let’s throw in medical, dental, life insurance, 401k while we’re at it. But it’s not like that’s standard for Nannie’s. It’s not even standard for professionals who spend half a mil on their education and pass professional boards.

Nannies aren't consultants. They aren't self employed. That is very clearly laid out in labor law.

After school nanny is one of the hardest positions to fill. OP is going to have trouble finding someone to take this job if she plans to treat them poorly.

[Anonymous]

You should def still pay her. Guaranteed hrs and holidays are standard for nannies. Even part time .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m hiring my first nanny in a number of years after having au pairs (had Nannies before). The best thing about au pairs is their flexibility.

I have found a nanny who seems great and is interested in working our schedule - 4 afternoons per week for 3-5 hours per day. Sometimes she will stay later if I need to be out.

With prior babysitters we’ve paid a set weekly amount - for the fixed number of hours - and then pay extra for any additional hours. If their working day is a holiday like Veterans Day or MLK day and I don’t ask them to work then they still get paid but if I need them say 2 extra hours on another night that week I don’t pay extra for those hours. The idea being we are still keeping within the set number of hours, not actually having her work extra.

I spoke with the new candidate about this and she seemed really confused and sort of put off by it, and said she had never encountered this and would expect to be paid for any additional hours she works. Since it isn’t a ton of time I guess I can just do this, but is this an unreasonable request on my part? Is it reasonable for me to ask her to work on those “holidays” (not major holidays or any holidays that are part of her religion, just the minor bank holiday type) since I’m paying her for the time anyway?

NO NO NO-Nannies don’t bank hours. You guarantee the weekly hours as well as paid holidays. Good luck finding a nanny that’d agree to it(prob none!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. I try to explain to families… if you hire me Monday- Friday, you’re paying me Monday- Friday. I’m not going to be available for you Monday- Friday, but only get paid Tuesday and Thursday. Would you take a job like that?
Imagine you work 160 hours/ month, your boss calls and says
Hey next month I only need you 135 hours, sorry. See ya later.
And it’s beyond our control that holidays fall on certain week days. Families need to understand, that we are exclusively available to you, so we would like to get paid for this availability. We can’t just call another family in the morning and ask if we can come work for them because our boss doesn’t need us.
You can’t compare these nanny jobs to most other professions, because again, if the CEO of America bank goes on vacation, the bank remains open for their employees and customers, I don’t think he will close the bank because he’s going on vacation. It happens a lot with the nanny jobs, grandparents come over, parents get off of work early…

So I suggest strongly that you consider paying her for EVERYDAY and every hour that she is scheduled to work, no matter if it’s a holiday or grandparents come over or what. Any additional hours I would pay extra. That’s the only way to keep a nanny happy. And hostels, I’ve been a nanny for almost 20 years. What I want? I want to get paid a living wage for me being exclusively available for you so you can have a CAREER and live a life style I might never have… think about it

Thanks , Nanny, but that isn’t the question. I’m not talking about paying less. I’m wondering about using unused hours at other times, on rare occasions. Or is it better to have Nannies work on all “holidays”? (Obviously I’m talking about mlk day and Veterans Day, not thanksgiving.)

You cannot have her bank hours that are holidays that should be paid to work other times. Does your employer do that to you?

[Anonymous]

She was put off and will likely keep looking for work elsewhere. Finding someone to work the hours you are looking for is incredibly hard. Many are looking for the same and will be willing to pay better.