You claim they are lovely people (I disagree based on the interaction), but this is the beginning of the end in my opinion. Based on your MB reaction it tells me two things, she doesn’t respect you and finances are/will be an issue. I would be looking for a new job and submitting a 30 day notice.

I do not agree that your MB has a RIGHT to change her mind about the dates.

You mentioned that you get two wks of paid vacation.
One your choice - the other theirs.
This is really unfair for you.
You should be able to have both (two) wks as your choice.

Anyway, she originally gave you the April date(s), she is now bound to her words.
She cannot just take them back.

You had every right to make plans once she stated that she will be taking dates in April.

............
This may be off-topic, but considering the Coronavirus, etc., it may be for the best if everyone ceases vacation travel until things calm down.

When MB told you their week would be in April, did she indicate it was tentative? If not, you are in the right OP and have right to be paid. If you want to try to smooth things over, perhaps offer to split the September week since there was a miscommunication (so she pays half of that week). As a PP mentioned, you should update contract to indicate how far in advance vacation can be planned or changed.

They should pay you for April and September as well as the week of your choosing. They can reasonably require you to work in September though, either by having you watch the kids during normal hours and having grandparents over at night so the parents have an adult only vacation, or by having you do some child related tasks while they are gone (switching summer wardrobe for fall, sorting through old clothes, signing up and doing paperwork for activities, etc).

They probably cancel due to the virus and it was spring break. They should honor the agreement as they told you you were taking off per their choice and not be upset over it. You are right.

Anonymous wrote:The nanny is right in this instance and the employer is wrong.

As stated above, OP, stay calm and pleasant and open. Your employer doesn’t understand and is angry with herself for screwing up her family’s vacation planning. Be patient with her but firm.

It’s the beginning of March. It’s not crazy for MB to think there was still time to change her mind, esp. if she gave notice about the April dates casually. While MB is mostly in the wrong, being “firm” about this with a newish employer does nothing to work towards a good rapport or build a positive and successful working relationship. I am a nanny but I can say there are times when I am not perfect and an employer who took a screwup on my end as a chance to be “firm” with me would not make me want to go out of my way for them in the future. So OP, take a moment to think through all the options that might work for you (they cover your cancellation costs, you split the difference and take 2 or 3 of the April days as “nanny’s choice” days, you agree to take April as “nanny’s choice” week and they give you X other perk instead, etc.) and go in prepared to be clear about your boundaries but open to problem-solving with them.

The nanny is right in this instance and the employer is wrong.

As stated above, OP, stay calm and pleasant and open. Your employer doesn’t understand and is angry with herself for screwing up her family’s vacation planning. Be patient with her but firm.

Anonymous wrote:So... why can’t April be your choice and September be their choice?

Do you have something else planned for 2020 where that will not work.

MB did mess up, but from her perspective, she doesn’t want to pay you for 3 weeks of vacation, when you are entitled to 2.

Tough. MB made a mistake and now she can pay.

Your employer is wrong. My employer just changed travel plans, too. Luckily for her, I only made plans for 2 of the days. Do you have it stated in writing that you get paid 52 weeks a year, therefore if they choose to exceed the week of their choice you still get paid? Sounds like she is trying to be cheap about it.

So... why can’t April be your choice and September be their choice?

Do you have something else planned for 2020 where that will not work.

MB did mess up, but from her perspective, she doesn’t want to pay you for 3 weeks of vacation, when you are entitled to 2.

Do you think they might be having money problems?

I think it has to do with how she phrased it at the end of January. Did she come to you and say we are taking our vacation this week in April? Or did she say we are thinking about taking a vacation this week in April?

So now you know that you need a more thorough contract. Along with stating whose choice vacation dates are, your contract should also state a notice period (e.g., mine is that I/they have to give 8 weeks’ notice of vacation dates). Then if they know ahead of time they can say “Oh we might travel in April” and you can look at options for using that time but you would know not to book anything non-refundable before the 8-week point and 8 weeks before you confirm with them and book.


I would have a conversation and say that obviously you both needed some clearer lines around vacation dates and maybe you can work out a compromise for this time (such ad them paying a cancellation fee for your flight as that may be much less than paying for two weeks’ vacation) and then re-write the contract so that there is a clearer guideline going forward. I would use this as a chance to revisit your contract as a whole and see if there are other areas where more detail would be helpful.

You’re completely in the right, OP. You could legally push for both the week in September and this coming April as their choice week and take an additional week of your choice.

Stay calm. Stay positive. And stick to your guns. Do not back down.

I started working with a new family in mid January. In my contract I get two weeks off with pay, one of my choice and one of the family's choice, and guaranteed hours.

At the end of January, MB (momboss) told me they would be taking a vacation and giving me my one week of paid vacation of their choice at the beginning of April. The following week, I booked a nonrefundable flight and hotel for that week in April.

Yesterday, MB said they've changed their travel plans and they actually need me to work those days in April, and my week of vacation of their choice will actually be in September now. I told her about my trip, and she got very upset.

First she said that they wouldn't pay me for April because according to guaranteed hours they need me and I'm not available. I said this wasn't being paid under guaranteed hours it was supposed to be the week of their choice of my vacation. Then she said they shouldn't have to pay me for the week in September then because I will have used up my vacation pay, but I said those days would be paid per guaranteed hours. Then she said if they are supposed to get to choose the week then they should be able to change it, too; she said the week in April isn't the week they are choosing any more.

She was clearly very upset, and then said that if they have to pay me for both weeks they will probably not travel in September after all.

They are a lovely family and I've enjoyed every aspect of the job and there haven't been any issues until this, so I don't want to quit over this. I'm hopeful that MB will calm down and honor the agreements in the contract and we can move forward.

Having said that, I want to know how you all would handle this, especially in terms of: Is it the family's right to change the nanny's week of vacation of their choice, even up to less than 4 weeks before the dates they gave her? This is uncharted territory for me so I'm trying to figure out how best to handle it. Thank you.