Anonymous wrote:So, to clear things up - this is what I originally stated: "I asked her how the day went as I was walking her to the door, and she replied along the lines of "Fine. So, are you going to send a check each time or...?"

...The walk from my office to the front door was taking minute or two as she was gathering her things, so more than a one-word response would have very easily been possible. Even 5 words. "Fine" is not a satisfactory. response. She wanted to stay to talk about money, which had already established. No one was asked to work overtime. I am not abusive. And, we'd already agreed that if I am late for some reason, she'd be paid in 15-minute increments to compensate -- so, if even if I am 5 minutes late, she will be paid for .

She is not "poor". She is partially supported by her parents while she establishes herself. I am paying her $2 more an hour than my friend had been, because I felt she was underpaid for the work required.

Right. But did you ask her ahead of time? She might have had plans immediately after work that day.

It appears OP has no contract, which leads one to wonder how much more abuse there is, if only we could hear from the nanny's perspective.

Anonymous wrote:A) this nanny just started so the kids are not attached
B) OP perhaps did not think about the need for transition time discussion before Nanny's work day was done but it is still kind of rude for nanny to knock at 3:00 on the dot.
C) the reason for firing is not because she was super exacting about not working a second past 3:00. It is because she bailed last minute for another job when she already committed to OP. it is this last part that is not acceptable and since nanny is brand new OP should just replace her now.

The only rude thing in this situation is that OP was still in her office at 3:00, making it necessary for her nanny to remind her that her day was over.

OP do you guarantee her hours? If so, then her canceling on your to work other hours is completely gaming the system, and she sounds pretty dumb if she flat out told you this. However if you haven't guaranteed her hours, I don't think its wrong for her to occasionally take a (significantly) higher paying gig for the day. I had a crappy boss once, that refused to guarantee my hours, and I made it work for a while but if I was offered a higher paying gig for the day, I would tell her I couldn't make it that day. When you hire a nanny you pay for her services and her availability. If you don't guarantee pay, you open yourself up to competition for her time if she's in demand.

Why not have a written contract, OP? I guess you're not in Mongomery Co., MD, where a contract is legally required, unless the nanny gives you written permission not to have a contract.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to hear about your child's day, you ask about your child's day BEFORE the nanny's day is done. What entitles you to free services at your whim?

Hello, you get what you pay for. No more.

If you think you're entitled to free services, you can march down to the welfare office, just like everyone else needing free services. What's the matter with you?

Is there even a contract here? If not, what do you expect?

What goes around, comes around.

OP routinely demands nanny to stay late, without nanny's permission.

And without paying OT.

Good for the nanny.

You go, girl!!

Can u read? The nanny just started working for OP so how do you get that the OP "routinely demands nanny to stay late." Maybe you should read more carefully before jumping to conclusions about the horrible MB and the poor nanny.

OP again. All that said, I appreciate the helpful advice interspersed here - so thank you for that! A conversation is called for and I am planning to forgive this one major inconvenience if she can guarantee it will not happen again.

So, to clear things up - this is what I originally stated: "I asked her how the day went as I was walking her to the door, and she replied along the lines of "Fine. So, are you going to send a check each time or...?"

...The walk from my office to the front door was taking minute or two as she was gathering her things, so more than a one-word response would have very easily been possible. Even 5 words. "Fine" is not a satisfactory. response. She wanted to stay to talk about money, which had already established. No one was asked to work overtime. I am not abusive. And, we'd already agreed that if I am late for some reason, she'd be paid in 15-minute increments to compensate -- so, if even if I am 5 minutes late, she will be paid for .

She is not "poor". She is partially supported by her parents while she establishes herself. I am paying her $2 more an hour than my friend had been, because I felt she was underpaid for the work required.

Anonymous wrote:OP how do you know she took a temp job for the day?

OP here. She told me. That's how I know the exact amount per hour.

Seems to that the nanny's last employers (OP's friends) were respectful and appreciative.

Ironically (?) the family got stellar performance out of the nanny.

Why do you suppose that was?

OP takes advantage of the nanny and gets poor performance in return.

Hmmm. How can that be??

A) this nanny just started so the kids are not attached
B) OP perhaps did not think about the need for transition time discussion before Nanny's work day was done but it is still kind of rude for nanny to knock at 3:00 on the dot.
C) the reason for firing is not because she was super exacting about not working a second past 3:00. It is because she bailed last minute for another job when she already committed to OP. it is this last part that is not acceptable and since nanny is brand new OP should just replace her now.

If you fire her, vow to change your ways, OP, or you will continue to hire and fire these poor women. You owe your children better.

Cancelling for another job is a crappy thing to do and only you can decide if its worth firing her or not. If her end time is 3:00 that means she should be finished by then. I never mind a few minutes here or there, but you can't work till 3:00 and expect her to stay for a run down of the day every day.

Anonymous wrote:If you want to hear about your child's day, you ask about your child's day BEFORE the nanny's day is done. What entitles you to free services at your whim?

Hello, you get what you pay for. No more.

If you think you're entitled to free services, you can march down to the welfare office, just like everyone else needing free services. What's the matter with you?

Is there even a contract here? If not, what do you expect?

What goes around, comes around.

OP routinely demands nanny to stay late, without nanny's permission.

And without paying OT.

Good for the nanny.

You go, girl!!

Anonymous wrote:OP has no right to demand that the nanny work OT when she has other plans after her job is done.

This is abusive behavior on your part, OP.

Apologize to her.

I agree 100% that if OP wants to talk to the nanny about the day she needs to do that before 3pm BUT let's not ignore the other part if her post. It was completely unprofessional for the nanny to cancel at the last minute for a higher paying job. What would everyone say if this was reversed and an MB cancelled on the nanny the day before because she found someone who would do the job for less? Perhaps OP is not paying the nanny enough but then she shouldn't have taken the position. Or she should look for another position and give notice when she finds one. But not showing up to take another position instead is wrong no matter what the circumstances.