MB here. 6 weeks is a lot. We wrote in 4 weeks notice to our agreement. Both sides are asked to give 4 weeks notice and nanny is entitled to severance up to 4 weeks if actual work stoppage ends sooner (unless dismissed for cause - such as theft or endangering the children).

I get that 6 weeks is a crazy long time, but there are plenty of situations (moving, having a baby, big life change like getting married or finishing school) in which people know they're going to leave a job well in advance.

As an MB, we once had a nanny quit on one weeks notice and it took us a LONG time to find someone new (I think around 2 months). It was really stressful. More recently we got 2 weeks notice (we'd asked for 4 weeks, but something came up and 2 weeks was the most she could do) and we did find someone, but it isn't so easy to find a new nanny or alternate childcare.

I doubt they're planning to sue you over breaking the contract if you give less than 6 weeks, but maybe there's a middle ground like 2-4 weeks you could suggest? While assuring them that you'd give as much notice as possible? Our contract says that if we give less than 4 weeks notice we'd pay severance.

If you are already quitting who cares what the notice period is.... promise 6 to make everyone happy, work as long as it suits you, then quit with 2 week notice if you are nice, or 1 week if you just don't care anymore.

Anonymous wrote:There is no law on any notice. You are an at-will employee and they can fire you with no notice and you can leave with no notice. 6 weeks is ridiculous. Two weeks is more than sufficient.

So true.

Even if you did sign a written contract OP, do not let that contract fool you. I seriously doubt that contract will hold any weight in a court of law nor do I see any employer taking the time and effort to actually go to a small claims court, pay the filing fee and file a claim then go back again and argue a case before a judge. Can you imagine all the employees who have quit jobs without notice or the employers who have let their employees go without giving them any notice....??!! My goodness...The courts would be backlogged for months on end!!!

So even though you signed on the dotted line, they cannot hold you to anything on it.

If you quit this job and do not give any notice, there is no way they can take you to court and sue you for wages lost due to loss of childcare for having no one to care for their child. Back-up childcare is always the responsibility of the parents, never the nanny.

To be morally fair, it would be nice to give at least two weeks notice, however that is all a standard of ethics not a standard of law.

We also tie severance to the notice period in that full severance will not be given unless the nanny stays through the notice period.

However, we would never have a 6 week notice period. That's nuts.

I'm about to sign a contract so I don't think I can "legally" just quit or they can fire me with no notice.

I just found it odd. It will be way harder for me to find a new family who woud be willing to wait 6 weeks than for them to find a nanny. Just checking is 2 weeks a standard


21:07 you are as simple as your comment ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tied my notice to my severance - if they want you to give six weeks notice if you want to leave then they have to give you six weeks severance pay if they want you to leave.

Perfect solution! Nannies, take note.

+1 Genius!

There is no law on any notice. You are an at-will employee and they can fire you with no notice and you can leave with no notice. 6 weeks is ridiculous. Two weeks is more than sufficient.

Anonymous wrote:I tied my notice to my severance - if they want you to give six weeks notice if you want to leave then they have to give you six weeks severance pay if they want you to leave.

Perfect solution! Nannies, take note.

I tied my notice to my severance - if they want you to give six weeks notice if you want to leave then they have to give you six weeks severance pay if they want you to leave.

Then tell her. Anyone can ask for anything they want. Even you.

My boss asks for 6 weeks notice... I dont plan to quit my job anytime soon but it seems way too much