Should I pay?
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Anonymous
| My nanny’s dad had a stroke and he’s in California. She’s asking for a week off to go be with him obviously no notice but I’m on the fence whether or not I should pay her for that week. I now have to find backup childcare that’s a task in itself. |
Anonymous
| I hope you’re kidding! Of course you should pay her. Have her use her paid vacation if you must, but even doing that is crappy on your end. |
Anonymous
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WTF.
Yes pay her if you want her to keep being your Nanny. Either take a week off yourself, split it with your spouse, or find coverage. |
Anonymous
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If she has worked for you a significant amount of time, say more than eight mos. and if she is a great Nanny to boot then perhaps you can offer to pay her for a few days.
However no one would expect you to pay her an entire workweek along w/paying for a backup Nanny as well. I think what is most important for your Nanny is for you to keep her job open for her so when she is able to return - that she still has her job to come home to. 
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Anonymous
Hi OP here, she is actually really good we have no complaints. This would be her first time requesting any significant time off other than us actually giving her time off. I have a hard time processing things like that (paying when you're not at work etc). She's been with us for almost a year and though she didn't ask to still be paid I don't know how to handle Friday (pay day) when I only pay for this week. I think when parents ask questions much like mine it's immediately assumed she's a horrible nanny, she's not in all honesty. She will obviously still have her job I just can't wrap my head around paying for a week of abscense in this economy. |
Anonymous
| Nannie’s usually have guaranteed hours in their contracts. If it’s not in her contract it needs to be put in there. You shouldn’t look at it as paying for a week of absence. You should look at it as being a decent employer and doing the right thing. |
Anonymous
| Listen, I'm a nanny, and I wouldn't ask to get paid when I'm gone. BUT if I had a family that offered to pay I'd be extra grateful and willing to help more to make up for my absence. |
Anonymous
| Yes, you should be a kind employer and pay her. |
Anonymous
| Omg that fact you even have to ask is disgusting . She isn’t asking for a week off to go on vacation it’s for her father who has a stroke. |
Anonymous
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Do you have a contract? It should spell out these things. If not, time to consider one, though it will not be useful until she returns.
based on what you said, I would weight the costs and likelihood of getting a new nanny vs paying her for her time off to help you gain some clarity. |
Anonymous
| What does this economy have to do with her? Does she have any leave? Yes, you pay her. |
Anonymous
I am a Nanny as well & I agree w/this completely. |
Anonymous
| I was a nanny for a family for 8 years. Why did I stay that long? Because they were the best human being and employer. When my husband had a heart attack it didn't cross their mind for not paying me. For 2 weeks I only showed up to work whenever I could. They were asking me every time how they could help me. While I was working for them my car broke down 2x. I couldn't go to work for those days. They still paid me. In my contract I had 2 weeks paid time. Reality..... Usually I had 4-5 weeks paid. They were just simply decent people. They were not wealthy..... just decent. I still keep in touch with them. The kiddo is in college and we still talk to each other 2-3x a month. |
Anonymous
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We paid an average of 40+ days off every year because our nanny had a million reasons why she couldn’t be at work, everyone will tell you to pay but to be honest a lot this is up to you.
We always paid out because she was a great nanny but also because we didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding someone new. Good childcare is hard to come by and we paid a lot for the service. |
Anonymous
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What does the contract say? I don't see how you have an obligation to pay unless it's in the contract. I never had an expectation of getting paid when I didn't work.
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