Your nanny is not behaving professionally. Sick kids are part of the job.

Anonymous wrote:As you can see from the responses it really depends on the nanny. I have never had a nanny who wouldn't stay with the children when they are sick and they certainly never complained. On the other hand, I can understand why some wouldn't want to.

Unfortunately, the nature of my job is such that I can't call in at the last minute so unless I am dying I go to work. So if my children are sick, as much as I would like to stay home with them I have to go to work so I need a nanny who is willing to come even when they are sick. I wouldn't be able to hire someone who wouldn't. Yes, I have backup options if the nanny is sick but it's difficult to have to do that every time one of my children is sick.

Also, not sure why but my children have never given the nanny their illnesses. We once got a cold from the nanny but otherwise we don't seem to share germs.

Most people who have worked with medically vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, the chronically ill) have great immune systems, and take the precautions to keep themselves from becoming ill. The first year I worked as a kindergarten teacher, I was wicked sick-like a cold every few weeks. Now, if I get a slight cold once a year it is a lot. Nannies with a lot of experience are used to being around sick kids, as a result we just don't get sick anymore, it's pretty great!

As you can see from the responses it really depends on the nanny. I have never had a nanny who wouldn't stay with the children when they are sick and they certainly never complained. On the other hand, I can understand why some wouldn't want to.

Unfortunately, the nature of my job is such that I can't call in at the last minute so unless I am dying I go to work. So if my children are sick, as much as I would like to stay home with them I have to go to work so I need a nanny who is willing to come even when they are sick. I wouldn't be able to hire someone who wouldn't. Yes, I have backup options if the nanny is sick but it's difficult to have to do that every time one of my children is sick.

Also, not sure why but my children have never given the nanny their illnesses. We once got a cold from the nanny but otherwise we don't seem to share germs.

I have nannied pretty much exclusively for children under 4 throughout my career. I fully accept that it is part of my job to care for sick children; and this includes vomiting, diarrhea, fevers, chicken pox, etc. (and once 18 month old twins with the stomach flu-I was literally covered in puke). A heads up is nice, mainly so that I can bring a change of clothes and rearrange any plans we may have had for the day, but I am not going to wear a mask and act passive aggressively all day if I show up and you didn't tell me in advance (hello immaturity!). As one PP said, if you are well and can make the kids sick days shorter for your nanny by coming home early, that is always greatly appreciated. Otherwise, it is part of the job. Kids get sick, period.

Go over her paid sick time and your expectations (what level of sick is she expected to put up with, what medications are you ok with her administering, does the screen time policy change on these days, stuff like that), just so that everyone is clear. If she gives you an attitude after that it you may need to start looking into other options. Good luck!

MB here:

Our first nanny was in her late 50s and that woman NEVER got sick. Not once and we even had a norovirus type thing go back and forth between her two charges in a share situation. FWIW: She did use her sick leave for dentistry as she didn't have great teeth.

She worked when our child was sick and while I was at home sick too a few times. However, my husband and I made those short days and almost always came home hours early because we know taking care of a sick child is not fun.

Depends on the illness. If it's a fever under 100 or the sniffles, I don't care and I'll always be available to work. Once the fever is clear, I'll come back to work (I don't have the "wait 24 hours policy" that most daycares have)

If the child is throwing up, has a high fever, or has diarrhea, then the parents need to stay home. But all of that is in my work agreement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. Obviously I would never punish a nanny financially for falling sick. She can just tell me she is sick and stay home and I just pay her for that time. I do not limit it by 3-5 days. If she ends up being sick more than that it is OK. Moreover, when I see that she looks spent I offer her to just take a paid day of.

This is very generous. I noticed in your original post you said "babysitter" how many hours does she work for you? I would be annoyed if I were part time and had to risk missing other work due to the illness of your child, however as full time I would expect that I would need to take care of the sick child.

I should not have called her a babysitter. My bad. She is a nanny and works full time with our family (50 hours per week)

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. Obviously I would never punish a nanny financially for falling sick. She can just tell me she is sick and stay home and I just pay her for that time. I do not limit it by 3-5 days. If she ends up being sick more than that it is OK. Moreover, when I see that she looks spent I offer her to just take a paid day of.

This is very generous. I noticed in your original post you said "babysitter" how many hours does she work for you? I would be annoyed if I were part time and had to risk missing other work due to the illness of your child, however as full time I would expect that I would need to take care of the sick child.

OP Here. Obviously I would never punish a nanny financially for falling sick. She can just tell me she is sick and stay home and I just pay her for that time. I do not limit it by 3-5 days. If she ends up being sick more than that it is OK. Moreover, when I see that she looks spent I offer her to just take a paid day of.

Anonymous wrote:Do you offer paid sick time, OP? This is the only reason that I could see her being unhappy. If watching your sick kid/catching his cold was going to cost me money, then yes I would be royally pissed off. I also do not appreciate getting no heads up about entering a house full of sick people. In the end it should be her choice as to whether or not she wants to expose herself to your germs. I will care for sick children, but I expect to receive no flack for taking time off if/when I catch what they have. I also expect that you will not deduct what about to YOUR sickness from MY sick time.

+ 1

Do you offer paid sick time, OP? This is the only reason that I could see her being unhappy. If watching your sick kid/catching his cold was going to cost me money, then yes I would be royally pissed off. I also do not appreciate getting no heads up about entering a house full of sick people. In the end it should be her choice as to whether or not she wants to expose herself to your germs. I will care for sick children, but I expect to receive no flack for taking time off if/when I catch what they have. I also expect that you will not deduct what about to YOUR sickness from MY sick time.

My nanny works when my DD is sick and has never complained about it. She has sick time if she needs to use it, paid, of course.

In five years, she has only caught one cold from my DD.

It is customary for nannies to care for sick children. Catching viruses from one's charges is an occupational hazard. This is why nannies should get 3-5 paid sick days in addition to paid vacation days.

If the nanny were to also get sick from your child, would she need to use her allotted/limited paid sick leave, and possibly have done left for later?

Would you be happy about that if you were in her shoes?

I have a question for nannies and MBs out there. I am an MB and new to the whole nanny business. Is there an expectation of a handling situations with sick kids in a certain way? Kind of like if a family goes on vacation they are still expected to pay their nanny. The reason I ask is because recently my 3 y.o. got a viral infection at his preschool. He gave that to me and his baby sister. I could feel that our nanny was feeling totally unhappy about working during those days. She was wearing a mask in the house and demonstrating her unhappiness in different ways. Is there an unspoken rule that nannies should not come in when their charges are sick which I broke? Thanks a lot for your responses