Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Our last nanny was also out a lot due to illnesses and family emergencies, so I guess we thought maybe this level of unreliability was par for the course. I feel as though my job will be in jeopardy if it continues, though, and my ILs are hoping to travel (if COVID ever lifts) so might not be able to be called in last minute as they sometimes are now. Plus they find taking care of 4 kids pretty stressful. But I don't really think we can afford to pay the nanny and a back-up nanny for all these days.

OP, 4 kids is a lot. Are you paying within market rate for 4 kids? It sounds like you are not attracting high quality professional candidates.

Keep in mind that looking for F-T nanny with 4 children it's lots of work. Even saying that probably the three oldes are enrolled in school already, either P-T or F-T plus an infant full time. If you decide to look for a nanny keep this in mind. You have to pay for 4 kids. I have heard lately lots of families just pretend to pay only for the youngest kids. Remember the Nanny will have the three older on sick days, holidays, snow days, meetings school, summer etc, also still doing all kids laundry, all clean up after them even they are not at school. Just an advice so you can pay the right rate.

OP here: Yes, I advertised this as a position with 4 charges with a pay range between $27-30/hr depending on experience. PTO and holidays, are generous, I think. I considered her experience on the light side, so offered her $27 and she accepted it. Would have gladly held out for someone with more experience, but there weren't many candidates who were willing to take on 4 children, especially on the books.

Anonymous wrote:Your post make me think that she is burned out. Missing work often and no be willing to be reliable at all, it's seems a red flag. She must be missing work on purpose; while looking for a new job. Just saying now that I'm reading your post and mention you have 4 children. If she has been working for you only for some months; maybe she just started to feel the burn out. Four children it's really lot of work.

Possibly but she always claims to have a plausible excuse, usually related to illness. Since we had a similar experience with the last nanny (when we only had 3 kids), I guess we took things at face value and trusted her excuses.

We have backup care at a daycare through work. Maybe they offer it for other families? I would call and see if you could get in as a “backup” and pay a fee for your kid to go for the day.

Your post make me think that she is burned out. Missing work often and no be willing to be reliable at all, it's seems a red flag. She must be missing work on purpose; while looking for a new job. Just saying now that I'm reading your post and mention you have 4 children. If she has been working for you only for some months; maybe she just started to feel the burn out. Four children it's really lot of work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Our last nanny was also out a lot due to illnesses and family emergencies, so I guess we thought maybe this level of unreliability was par for the course. I feel as though my job will be in jeopardy if it continues, though, and my ILs are hoping to travel (if COVID ever lifts) so might not be able to be called in last minute as they sometimes are now. Plus they find taking care of 4 kids pretty stressful. But I don't really think we can afford to pay the nanny and a back-up nanny for all these days.

OP, 4 kids is a lot. Are you paying within market rate for 4 kids? It sounds like you are not attracting high quality professional candidates.

Keep in mind that looking for F-T nanny with 4 children it's lots of work. Even saying that probably the three oldes are enrolled in school already, either P-T or F-T plus an infant full time. If you decide to look for a nanny keep this in mind. You have to pay for 4 kids. I have heard lately lots of families just pretend to pay only for the youngest kids. Remember the Nanny will have the three older on sick days, holidays, snow days, meetings school, summer etc, also still doing all kids laundry, all clean up after them even they are not at school. Just an advice so you can pay the right rate.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Our last nanny was also out a lot due to illnesses and family emergencies, so I guess we thought maybe this level of unreliability was par for the course. I feel as though my job will be in jeopardy if it continues, though, and my ILs are hoping to travel (if COVID ever lifts) so might not be able to be called in last minute as they sometimes are now. Plus they find taking care of 4 kids pretty stressful. But I don't really think we can afford to pay the nanny and a back-up nanny for all these days.

OP, 4 kids is a lot. Are you paying within market rate for 4 kids? It sounds like you are not attracting high quality professional candidates.

Our nanny has been with us for two years and has never taken a sick day, besides maybe three half days for doctors appointments (pre-planned).

2-3 days a months seems like a lot. I mean, for me personally, every job I've ever had has offered 6-12 sick days a year. I get sick a lot, and I've found that six is too few, but 12 was plenty. That works out to less than one a month.

Having back up is your responsibility. She shouldn’t be taking that many days off but also don’t offer sick and vacation days etc if you don’t have a backup.

OP here: Our last nanny was also out a lot due to illnesses and family emergencies, so I guess we thought maybe this level of unreliability was par for the course. I feel as though my job will be in jeopardy if it continues, though, and my ILs are hoping to travel (if COVID ever lifts) so might not be able to be called in last minute as they sometimes are now. Plus they find taking care of 4 kids pretty stressful. But I don't really think we can afford to pay the nanny and a back-up nanny for all these days.

I was with my last family for 6 years and I took 1 sick day and 2 preplanned days off for my wedding.

My family family before that I was there for 5 years and took 2 or 3 sick days.

5 sick days per year is pretty standard in the nanny industry so I'd guesstimate one day every other month or so is within the realm of normalcy.

Your current Nanny is unreliable in my personal (& professional!) opinion.

I think you should issue her her walking papers + search for a better Nanny - one who you can actually depend on.

2-3 days/mo. is unacceptable to me.

Hope you have much better luck next time around.

Some years not at all, some years one or two days. Once the nanny got the flu and took three days and then there was a three-day weekend.

We have a lot of options for backup. DH and I work from home, but we also have friends who can help out.

That is too much. Even 1 day/month is too much on average, and would only be workable if it was Covid or something where day 1 is unexpected but you can sort of scramble to get something in place for the rest of the week. I would find a new nanny and let the current one know the frequent absences are not workable for your family and it’s not a good fit.

I would look for a new nanny or have a list of backup sitters/Nannie’s. Either way it’s best to have backups that you can call on. Only pay her if she has sick or vacation days. When she runs out that’s on her. Good luck

We haven't had the best luck in the nanny department. The current one seems to miss work about 2-3 days a month, not counting planned days like vacation and holidays. We've paid her regardless, but it's been disruptive to our own jobs. DH's parents are retired and local and have helped some, but I think that option is wearing thin. There are four children, ranging from 4 months to 6 years, so they are a handful especially this summer when school is not in session. I do handle the baby's feedings since I WFH. I guess we either need to replace the nanny or arrange for paid back-up care (which I understand would be pricey). TIA for any suggestions.