Help! What Should I Do Now?

[Anonymous]

I have been a Nanny for an adorable three-yr old little boy over a year now.

He was pretty sick this past Friday, fever, severe congestion + cough, vomiting and lack of energy.

I have a trip/vacation coming up on Monday w/my entire family.
We will be spending a wk up in the mountains for Christmas - a long-awaited family reunion of sorts.

Well since watching him was only three days prior to the day that I am going to fly out for my trip, I elected not to work on Friday after hearing how sick my charge was because I didn’t want to risk falling ill so close to it.

I was honest & explained this all to my bosses.
They both had important meetings at work that day (they told me) and really needed me to watch their son.

They both told me that the reason they hired a Nanny (vs. putting their son into a daycare) is so that they can have childcare for him even when he is very sick.
If I didn’t have this trip planned I would have risked getting sick however this time I didn’t want to risk it.

I don’t think other Nannies would have risked getting sick so close to an important trip.
I am seriously reconsidering working for this family when I return.
Their attitude was selfish.

[Anonymous]

Don't you have it in your contract that you do NOT work if the kid is sick? It is pretty standard that nannies do not take care of child with fever and/or vomiting.

[Anonymous]

Use a PTO day and let them figure it out. It’s their responsibility to have backup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't you have it in your contract that you do NOT work if the kid is sick? It is pretty standard that nannies do not take care of child with fever and/or vomiting.

I disagree.
The reason that families spend the extra money to hire a Nannie is for the luxury of not having to miss work commitments when their children are ill.

Even if the child has a fever, flu or even in some instances… Covid.

So the Nannie should have still gone in but wisely she should wear a mask the entire time.
Also to prevent this type of situation, she should have had her flu and Covid boosters already by now.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t risk having my vacation ruined by getting majorly sick so soon before the trip.

I wouldn’t care for any child if they were vomiting or had a fever over 100.

If your bosses expect you to work under those circumstances then you are working for the wrong family.

[Anonymous]

You should be working. Kids are sick quite often, it doesn't make sense.

You probably still have covid masks, just use one or several, you'll be fine. I'd be pissed if I were the parents.

- Nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been a Nanny for an adorable three-yr old little boy over a year now.

He was pretty sick this past Friday, fever, severe congestion + cough, vomiting and lack of energy.

I have a trip/vacation coming up on Monday w/my entire family.
We will be spending a wk up in the mountains for Christmas - a long-awaited family reunion of sorts.

Well since watching him was only three days prior to the day that I am going to fly out for my trip, I elected not to work on Friday after hearing how sick my charge was because I didn’t want to risk falling ill so close to it.

I was honest & explained this all to my bosses.
They both had important meetings at work that day (they told me) and really needed me to watch their son.

They both told me that the reason they hired a Nanny (vs. putting their son into a daycare) is so that they can have childcare for him even when he is very sick.
If I didn’t have this trip planned I would have risked getting sick however this time I didn’t want to risk it.

I don’t think other Nannies would have risked getting sick so close to an important trip.
I am seriously reconsidering working for this family when I return.
Their attitude was selfish.

I get the trip was important, but they hired you to watch their kid and allow them to be professionals. You can "seriously reconsider" your job, but I bet the family is seriously considering letting you go. Priorities for parent hiring nannies vs child care are safety of kids and reliability of nanny. Training and experience, personality, etc, don't count for much if you can't be counted on in a pinch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been a Nanny for an adorable three-yr old little boy over a year now.

He was pretty sick this past Friday, fever, severe congestion + cough, vomiting and lack of energy.

I have a trip/vacation coming up on Monday w/my entire family.
We will be spending a wk up in the mountains for Christmas - a long-awaited family reunion of sorts.

Well since watching him was only three days prior to the day that I am going to fly out for my trip, I elected not to work on Friday after hearing how sick my charge was because I didn’t want to risk falling ill so close to it.

I was honest & explained this all to my bosses.
They both had important meetings at work that day (they told me) and really needed me to watch their son.

They both told me that the reason they hired a Nanny (vs. putting their son into a daycare) is so that they can have childcare for him even when he is very sick.
If I didn’t have this trip planned I would have risked getting sick however this time I didn’t want to risk it.

I don’t think other Nannies would have risked getting sick so close to an important trip.
I am seriously reconsidering working for this family when I return.
Their attitude was selfish.

I get the trip was important, but they hired you to watch their kid and allow them to be professionals. You can "seriously reconsider" your job, but I bet the family is seriously considering letting you go. Priorities for parent hiring nannies vs child care are safety of kids and reliability of nanny. Training and experience, personality, etc, don't count for much if you can't be counted on in a pinch.

I cannot believe this nonsensical response.
So if the OP went in to work, cared for a young child who was feverish and throwing up then the likelihood of the OP catching whatever the child has is very high, even if she wears gloves and a face mask.

Then she is expected to have her vacation ruined all because her nf may fire her for not being professional??????
I wouldn’t risk a special vacation ruined over this.
In this case it appears to be an isolated incident — not a regular issue. The OP stated that she would normally have gone in to work, it’s just this was a special trip.

Say a Nannie was getting married in a few days , then a few days prior her charge began throwing up and had a fever of 102-3.
No one in their right mind would expect a Nannie to go to work.

[Anonymous]

I will work with fevers etc but not Covid, Flu or strep

[Anonymous]

What would they have done if you got sick from their kid and then couldn't come to work? I understand that a perk of a nanny is to not have to stay home every time your kid has a fever or a cough, but if they are really sick, why would you want your nanny to get sick too??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been a Nanny for an adorable three-yr old little boy over a year now.

He was pretty sick this past Friday, fever, severe congestion + cough, vomiting and lack of energy.

I have a trip/vacation coming up on Monday w/my entire family.
We will be spending a wk up in the mountains for Christmas - a long-awaited family reunion of sorts.

Well since watching him was only three days prior to the day that I am going to fly out for my trip, I elected not to work on Friday after hearing how sick my charge was because I didn’t want to risk falling ill so close to it.

I was honest & explained this all to my bosses.
They both had important meetings at work that day (they told me) and really needed me to watch their son.

They both told me that the reason they hired a Nanny (vs. putting their son into a daycare) is so that they can have childcare for him even when he is very sick.
If I didn’t have this trip planned I would have risked getting sick however this time I didn’t want to risk it.

I don’t think other Nannies would have risked getting sick so close to an important trip.
I am seriously reconsidering working for this family when I return.
Their attitude was selfish.

They have a good point. You should start looking for a new job because they are looking for a new nanny you could have worn a mask and religiously washed your hands.

[Anonymous]

rubbish, nannies do not work with sick kids and I never saw parents who say they have to

[Anonymous]

I never took a day off because my family’s kid was sick. That’s nuts. I was with them 7 years, totally unprofessional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would they have done if you got sick from their kid and then couldn't come to work? I understand that a perk of a nanny is to not have to stay home every time your kid has a fever or a cough, but if they are really sick, why would you want your nanny to get sick too??

I reread the OP and I think the reasons the responses on this are so divided is because people are not getting the main gist of the post.
The OP stated that normally she would go in to her job but considering she has a special trip to go to she didn’t want to risk getting ill.

……..
OP, for your bosses to get so up in arms over you not coming in speaks volumes (VOLUMES!) on their overall characters.
For them to make you feel guilt over not wanting to care for their fever/vomiting child just a few days prior to taking your trip is just insane as well as outrageous here.
Like many nanny employers they seem to forget that you are a human being, a human being who has her own life and family to think about.
You have every right to enjoy a nice vacation with your family, healthy without worrying about getting them infected.

Don’t ever let anyone make you feel guilt over wanting this for yourself.
When a child is that sick, they need to be cared for by a parent not a nanny.
No meeting at work is ever more important than the health of my child.

Your employers sound like not only horrible bosses but horrible parents as well.

[Anonymous]

Oh and the child sounds like he is very ill.

When if he has Covid?
Or a really bad flu??