Anonymous wrote:OP thanks for this info.
Definitely going to offer something. Was thinking 1 week bc she was with us only 6 months, but I will consider the 2 weeks, like everyone is saying.

For six months of shitty work there is NO way I would give two weeks severance. That's for when you're laying someone off not firing for cause.

Anonymous wrote:OP thanks for this info.
Definitely going to offer something. Was thinking 1 week bc she was with us only 6 months, but I will consider the 2 weeks, like everyone is saying.

I really think you should give her the two weeks if the only reason you are letting her go is that it was not a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in full agreement with you OP that once your nanny knows she is being let go, it is best for your children that said nanny does not care for them any longer.

Once she knows she is being terminated, there will most likely be some hard feelings. And due to those feelings, she may not provide the best care for your kiddos.

However it would be completely unfair of you to give her such short notice so to compensate, I would offer her two weeks' pay. It would be the right thing to do. And since she wasn't awful or anything, a nice letter of recommendation on top of that.

GL.

"Nanny, you did such a bad job please take a two week paid vacation on us!" *rolls eyes*

Put your eyes back in your head, PP, and go out in the real world. Generally everyone let go from any job in any field is given severance pay.

Anonymous wrote:OP thanks for this info.
Definitely going to offer something. Was thinking 1 week bc she was with us only 6 months, but I will consider the 2 weeks, like everyone is saying.

FWIW, one week is reasonable given the short tenure, but if you can afford two weeks you are really taking the high road in being decent and generous. It always feels crummy to fire someone (unless they've done something truly egregious) so being generous will help you feel ok with it and help her weather the shock a bit.

I'm in HR so I have to deal w/ these kinds of issues a lot. Being able to feel at peace with it yourself is well worth the extra week of severance if you can do it.

Anonymous wrote:I am in full agreement with you OP that once your nanny knows she is being let go, it is best for your children that said nanny does not care for them any longer.

Once she knows she is being terminated, there will most likely be some hard feelings. And due to those feelings, she may not provide the best care for your kiddos.

However it would be completely unfair of you to give her such short notice so to compensate, I would offer her two weeks' pay. It would be the right thing to do. And since she wasn't awful or anything, a nice letter of recommendation on top of that.

GL.

"Nanny, you did such a bad job please take a two week paid vacation on us!" *rolls eyes*

OP thanks for this info.
Definitely going to offer something. Was thinking 1 week bc she was with us only 6 months, but I will consider the 2 weeks, like everyone is saying.

I am in full agreement with you OP that once your nanny knows she is being let go, it is best for your children that said nanny does not care for them any longer.

Once she knows she is being terminated, there will most likely be some hard feelings. And due to those feelings, she may not provide the best care for your kiddos.

However it would be completely unfair of you to give her such short notice so to compensate, I would offer her two weeks' pay. It would be the right thing to do. And since she wasn't awful or anything, a nice letter of recommendation on top of that.

GL.

I've always been allowed to work through my notice and I've twice been given notice on a Monday. I wouldn't blind side her op. That just seems wrong on so many levels. When people in corporate jobs are fired they usually know ahead by poor performance reviews, the rumor mild warning of lay offs etc. They're usually not completely taken by surprise. Give your nanny the same courtesy. If she doesn't take it will and performance falls off you can let her go then but initially, give her some notice.

MB here. Yes, make it clean and final, and yes - take the high road in terms of feedback. Give her two weeks severance and say goodbye. Also, give her a reference letter - that will establish what you can positively say about her work, and that there is no ill will.

"We've realized this isn't the best fit for our family at this time. We wish you all the best and are happy to provide this letter of reference and severance package. Thank you for all you did in your time with us."

Anonymous wrote:I personally would prefer to be told as I'm leaving on my last day. A nice sit down without the kids present once you get home. Just told why , yes I think it's helpful to know why and handed my last check as well as 2 weeks severence or whatever your contract says. Being told I'm fired but I have to show up for the next 2 weeks is not my idea of a good time. Quick and painless is best, not dragged out.

Yea I wouldn't give a bad nanny I'm firing after a couple months severance.

If you are planning to give her the standard two weeks severance, then yes, it would be best to tell her at the end of her last day.

If you are not planning to give her severance pay, then you should know that it is considered poor form / bad karma to let nanny go without any notice or severance, unless there was something very serious happening (negligence, abuse, etc). Maybe you were planning on paying severance, but your original post doesn't really make that clear, and I can't help but feel like you would've mentioned it if you were planning on it (it feels like you are looking for justification for letting her go without notice or severance).

If you do not have a contract that specifies notice or severance, but cannot afford to pay two weeks severance, then the right thing to do is actually give her two weeks notice. Most nannies will want to keep you as a good reference (and six months is long enough to qualify; it would be a big gap in her current resume if omitted), so her dependability and quality of work, such as it is, should not suffer. If you're worried about her leaving early, consider offering a bonus if she stays until the last day (it can be a small amount, maybe even just $150 or $200).

Remember, she has to pay rent and other bills. Think about how devastating it would be for you to be fired with no notice or severance. Also consider how it would have felt if the tables were turned (if your nanny had quit with absolutely no notice to accept a better offer).

Lastly, if you do go the route of giving her two weeks notice, the consensus is that you need to tell her at the end of the day, on a day when she isn't coming in the following day. Generally that means telling her on a Friday; another option is to tell her on a day when you can give her the next day off as a paid personal day, so she can have a solid 24+ hours to process things before being expected to show up bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:You tell her on her last day, at the end of the work day. You have check in hand, and exchange it for key (garage door opener. etc). Just say "It's turned out this hasn't been as good of a fit that we'd hoped it would be, so DH and I have decided to let you go."

Oh, and if she's accrued any vacation time, then you pay that out too. You do NOT pay out sick days, just vacation days.

You tell her on her last day, at the end of the work day. You have check in hand, and exchange it for key (garage door opener. etc). Just say "It's turned out this hasn't been as good of a fit that we'd hoped it would be, so DH and I have decided to let you go."

I personally would prefer to be told as I'm leaving on my last day. A nice sit down without the kids present once you get home. Just told why , yes I think it's helpful to know why and handed my last check as well as 2 weeks severence or whatever your contract says. Being told I'm fired but I have to show up for the next 2 weeks is not my idea of a good time. Quick and painless is best, not dragged out.

We are making the decision to let our nanny go and to replace her with another nanny. The current person is very nice, yet I don't think great with the kids and overall, the right fit for our family. She has been with us for 6 mo. How would you let her go? And how much time/notice would you give? DH wants to tell her on that last Friday. I don't disagree, but want some opinions. And how do I tell her? I was thinking of just saying 'not right fit for the family, etc" without really laying into her. I am sure she will work out for someone else (and did in the past) yet it's not right for us. I don't want to destroy her, but also am hesitant to tell her in advance, when she is in charge of my kids.

Thoughts? Thanks for the input!