Nanny and fellow Milspouse here. I have worked for three different families where both parents were physicians. Only one required major holidays and I was told up front that the position would require alternating Christmas and Thanksgiving. We agreed that I would get double time and the parents would bring the kids to me on that day and I would celebrate as usual with family or friends.

Because it was not agreed upon at hire and because it is so close to the holiday I would definitely give her the option to make some extra money or have the day off. I think it would be pretty low to tell her she HAS to work it. You definitely still have time to find some backup care if she says no. With your DH just gone you really don’t want to do something to sour your relationship with your nanny!

Hi OP -

Nanny here. I worked for three families in past who were doctors, one of which was an ER doctor. For that position, it involved a lot more on call time than other positions. What we agreed up front is time and a half for on-call times, but I wouldn't go in unless mom was called in. They also paid me a flat rate for being on call even if they didn't use me (it was really really in the morning that they'd need someone). However, holidays we worked out separately. I was paid at least 2X regular amount on holidays, but some I couldn't do due to family obligations, so we tended to plan as far in advance as possible. For the ER family, I was a PT nanny and they had several other babysitters they could call upon. Maybe try to have a conversation w/ nanny about holidays and on-call time to see what she is able and willing to do. There's back-up nanny agencies as well as other great PT nannies (especially college students) who'd be eager to pick up holiday hours! Good luck with figuring this out!

Pay her time and a half and if you get called in, allow her to take your kids with her to celebrate with her family. I worked for a doctor in the past and had to work one Christmas and my boss dropped the 1 year old off at my house and he came with me to celebrate at my parents house, we stayed until 7pm and I brought him back to his house for bedtime. They paid me time and a half and gave me a 2 week bonus.

I would talk to her and ask if she is willing and if not find someone else or have family come in if you can.

I am a nanny and I have worked on Christmas when my employers both got horrible food poisoning. I actually don’t remember if I got double time or not (three years ago) but I am sure your nanny will rise to the occasion under your circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:You need a live-in nanny or someone who will take your children for the day, or a rotating set of visiting grandmas if you are an on-call doctor with no second parent in the home. Or, you need to talk to your nanny ASAP about what is likely to be an issue for the next two years.

Or, do you have a fixed schedule and you're ONLY on call for either TG or Xmas? If so, then I don't really understand why this is only coming up now; didn't you know this months ago?

Anyway, she may not care and will be happy with the OT. I do think you need to pay her something to stay sober, local, and potentially have to abandon whatever her family is doing that day.

Before anyone flames me, I am also a working military spouse. My husband is a doctor; I know this drill.

You need a live-in nanny or someone who will take your children for the day, or a rotating set of visiting grandmas if you are an on-call doctor with no second parent in the home. Or, you need to talk to your nanny ASAP about what is likely to be an issue for the next two years.

Or, do you have a fixed schedule and you're ONLY on call for either TG or Xmas? If so, then I don't really understand why this is only coming up now; didn't you know this months ago?

Anyway, she may not care and will be happy with the OT. I do think you need to pay her something to stay sober, local, and potentially have to abandon whatever her family is doing that day.

Do you have a big, nice house? Offer to let her host her family for dinner at your house and cater their food.

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone so I am a mom to 2 girls age 2 my husband was deployed to Germany 6 weeks ago for the next 2 years which means I'm pretty much on my own for a while. We have a wonderful nanny who we adore but because I'm a doctor I know her job may increase a little but, the first issue I must fix is the fact I may have to work Christmas I was off Thanksgiving so we gave her that week off plus 3 days off the following week so, if I need her to work Christmas should I pay her double or triple her normal rate ? I'm ok with doing both just want your opinion.

Triple. Make it worth her time

Is her family local? If she’s not otherwise planning to travel, I would tell her the situation and ask if you can all plan to celebrate jointly—she can choose to host at her place or bring her family to you. That way she’s not missing time with her family. I would much rather have double time and get to celebrate with my family and my nanny family together than triple time to ditch my family for the day.

I don't think you can tell her that she's working on Christmas unless this is an agreement that you have (e.g. she will work some major holidays, per your contract). You can tell her the situation and what you're willing to offer her. Otherwise, you may have to find backup care (I would start looking now, but not everyone celebrates Christmas so you should be able to find someone). Or you fly in your/your husband's family if need be. This is a conversation to have sooner than later.

I wouldn't work on Christmas, no matter if it was double or triple time, because I have a few family members who are unlikely to make it to next year. You need to respect that this might not be something she's willing to do-everyone has their own life and their own issues going on.

Could she also take your girls to her house or to her family’s home on Christmas, at least for a few hours?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone so I am a mom to 2 girls age 2 my husband was deployed to Germany 6 weeks ago for the next 2 years which means I'm pretty much on my own for a while. We have a wonderful nanny who we adore but because I'm a doctor I know her job may increase a little but, the first issue I must fix is the fact I may have to work Christmas I was off Thanksgiving so we gave her that week off plus 3 days off the following week so, if I need her to work Christmas should I pay her double or triple her normal rate ? I'm ok with doing both just want your opinion.

Double sounds fine - does your nanny celebrate christmas? Also, throw in a bonus if you so choose.

MB here.

Yes she does celebrate Christmas however I'm on call so I'm hoping I don't get called in but it's the ER so you never know and thanks I was going to give her a weeks bonus on top anyway. I appreciate the response

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone so I am a mom to 2 girls age 2 my husband was deployed to Germany 6 weeks ago for the next 2 years which means I'm pretty much on my own for a while. We have a wonderful nanny who we adore but because I'm a doctor I know her job may increase a little but, the first issue I must fix is the fact I may have to work Christmas I was off Thanksgiving so we gave her that week off plus 3 days off the following week so, if I need her to work Christmas should I pay her double or triple her normal rate ? I'm ok with doing both just want your opinion.

Double sounds fine - does your nanny celebrate christmas? Also, throw in a bonus if you so choose.

MB here.

Hi everyone so I am a mom to 2 girls age 2 my husband was deployed to Germany 6 weeks ago for the next 2 years which means I'm pretty much on my own for a while. We have a wonderful nanny who we adore but because I'm a doctor I know her job may increase a little but, the first issue I must fix is the fact I may have to work Christmas I was off Thanksgiving so we gave her that week off plus 3 days off the following week so, if I need her to work Christmas should I pay her double or triple her normal rate ? I'm ok with doing both just want your opinion.