Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours has done it 7 times in the past 8 months. I know it’s excessive and we should look for a new nanny. Just wondering what the norm is.

How often are you late in getting home?

Literally never. My husband and I work from home and have very flexible jobs.

Anonymous wrote:Ours has done it 7 times in the past 8 months. I know it’s excessive and we should look for a new nanny. Just wondering what the norm is.

How often are you late in getting home?

I’ve taken sick days a handful of times in the last 15 years, but I’m a live-in, so I work unless I physically can’t. In all cases except one, I knew the night before. In most cases, an email or text can be sent as soon as the nanny starts to feel symptoms of severity to merit calling out… where that line is differs for each nanny and family. I know I’m not a fit for a family who doesn’t want me working with any congestion… I have allergies, and that’s my daily state for 2/3 of the year!

Ours was constantly calling out sick or needed extra time off for all sorts of reasons. Playing us for sure. There is no good "back-up" other than parents staying home from their own jobs (and looking just as unprofessional as the nannies) or trying to juggle child care while working from home. That's why we had to switch to a home daycare. It's closed a few extra weeks a year, but there aren't as many surprises.

We've had the same nanny for ten years. Called out last minute twice - once upon waking with pink eye, and once texted us at 5am saying they'd been up all night with a virus puking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she has sick leave it’s your job to have back up but once a month seems a lot.

She’s used more than the 5 sick days she has for an entire year.

We do like her a lot, or we would have fired her sooner. We had a serious talk about it and she’s called out last minute twice since then.

Since she has done it 2x since you spoke to her about it - then your only option now would be to issue her her walking papers.

What is her reasoning for calling in?
Does she have health issues?
Young children she needs to attend to??

Just curious……

What do you all do for back up care? Our relatives and babysitters are never able to come at the last minute. I’ve put out requests on Facebook babysitting groups but it ends up being a waste of time because no one can come until afternoon. I contacted a nanny agency but even they aren’t able to get someone to us until the morning is mostly over.

Anonymous wrote:If she has sick leave it’s your job to have back up but once a month seems a lot.

She’s used more than the 5 sick days she has for an entire year.

We do like her a lot, or we would have fired her sooner. We had a serious talk about it and she’s called out last minute twice since then.

Never.

If she has sick leave it’s your job to have back up but once a month seems a lot.

Once in the 3 years she's been with us. She was in a minor accident driving to work. She even offered to just come in late but we told her just to take the day off.

That’s too much.
I did it twice in 7 years I think with my last family. That was because I was a volunteer EMT and worked an overnight shift once a week. Those 2 times I was stuck on the ambulance into my normal nanny hours.
If you like everything else about her I’d try having a conversation. Otherwise get a new nanny..

It’ll be a text around 1am or 6am. When she’s due to work at 8:30. The most notice she ever gave was 11pm.

How much last minute was it?

Ours has done it 7 times in the past 8 months. I know it’s excessive and we should look for a new nanny. Just wondering what the norm is.