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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m sorry, OP, but you really do need to find a new nanny.  I have a friend in your position who has an equally unreliable nanny and I gave her the same advice.

Sensitive question:  is your nanny foreign-born?  Does she have family obligations that she’s hiding?

Anyway our nanny is 66 yrs lad and has never called in sick in three years.  She’s only left early twice due to not feeling well but would have stuck it out if we needed her.  She took two days of planned PTO after her vaccine and booster and we planned around it. 
[/quote]

No, she's US-born. I suppose it's possible she is sneaking time for family obligations she hasn't shared, but I don't think it's likely (she is chatty and doesn't strike me as someone good at keeping that kind of secret).

OK. I'm going to have a hard conversation with her on Monday and say that this latest string of absences has created a lot of stress for our family, and she's now missed an entire month of work this year and the year's not even over yet. We are fond of her, we don't want to fire someone who loves the kids, but if she can't get the absences under control we will have to look for someone else.[/quote]

Go ahead and give her your talk, but I’ll tell you right now what is going to happen: she’ll stop taking sick days through the end of the year in the hopes she still gets a holiday bonus, and come the new year she’ll be back to taking lots of sick days. Start looking for a new nanny now. [/quote]

OP here. That sounds really plausible unfortunately. I think instead of the vague "we need you to get the absences under control" I need to say something specific, like "the next time you take two or more last-minute days off in a two-week period, we will end your employment."[/quote]

At this point?  She needs to have a maximum of 1 last minute (2-3 hours before shift, minimum) call out per month.  That’s one this month, one next month.  If she can’t handle that, it’s best to know now, so you both can evaluate next steps.[/quote]

By the way, here’s my package, for comparison’s sake:

21 days vacation (7 day workweek), accrued; work with family to try to find convenient times for them, but as long as I give 4 weeks or more of notice and take no more than 7 consecutive days, it won’t be denied.

Unlimited paid sick days, solely for use when sick (no medical appointments), give as much notice as possible; in reality, because I live in, exposure isn’t a concern, so I only call out if absolutely necessary.  Doctor’s note if out 2+ days.  I think I’ve taken five days in five years.

Pto is unlimited, provided that it’s for appointments that can’t be scheduled while my charge is with another adult AND I work with my employer to schedule as much as possible.  Again, I rarely need to do this, but when I do, a shared calendar and 2-3 minutes of texting arrange things so that someone else can be with my charge.

Respect goes both ways.  Give the respect you want to get, but don’t allow someone to take advantage of you.[/quote]

This is unreasonable for most families.  Most people don't have that flexibility.[/quote]

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