Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird that you'd rather fire her and go through the interview process than actually manage your employee as a boss should.

No, it's not weird at all. If her gut is telling her to do it, she needs to do it. Period. No explanation is required.

I didn't say an explanation was required, but maybe her "gut" is really just ineptitude. Not everyone is cut out to be a boss; if OP's "gut" reaction to an employee who is not meeting expectations is that she be fired before 1) having her duties formally defined or 2) having been given a warning that she was not performing to satisfaction, she's failing as a manager. She has every right to fire her nanny, but it isn't the first step of a capable employer.

Anonymous wrote:Weird that you'd rather fire her and go through the interview process than actually manage your employee as a boss should.

No, it's not weird at all. If her gut is telling her to do it, she needs to do it. Period. No explanation is required.

Anonymous wrote:Weird that you'd rather fire her and go through the interview process than actually manage your employee as a boss should.

Yup. Clearly, your nanny is not the proactive type. Some people have trouble asking their bosses for clarification on duties or expectations, whether it's out of intimidation or embarrassment or whatever else. Clearly, you need to outline your expectations and specifically what chores are necessary (and should have upon hiring her). Nanny's probably thinking "I'm so lucky that I found a great paying job where my only duties are childcare."

Weird that you'd rather fire her and go through the interview process than actually manage your employee as a boss should.

Fire her.. No serverance, it's not standard given she's only been with you for a short time.

Anonymous wrote:Why is anyone giving this mother a hard time. Who brings an iPad into work? Fire her. No severance. And be clear why. Use a contract next time.

I was one of the ones that posted that OP needs to be more clear, and I still think that she needs to define her expectations better and be more upfront when she is unhappy with something. But you're right that it bodes really poorly that the nanny is this bad within the first week or two. I would think for at least the beginning of a job, you'd be trying to do your best and not using your iPad at least in front of your boss! If this is this nanny's best, definitely let her go.

Why is anyone giving this mother a hard time. Who brings an iPad into work? Fire her. No severance. And be clear why. Use a contract next time.

OP, you can not hint with employees. You must tell. "Nanny, when the children are napping here is a list of things I'd like you to accomplish before you take a break."

"Nanny, after DS finishes eating, please clean his hands and face, and wipe any food he got on his clothes." "Nanny, before DD pulls out a second toy please encourage and help her to clean up the first toy she'd been playing with. Before she leaves a room please encourage and help her to clean up in there."

TELL her what you want.
If you are dead set on firing her, it sounds like she hasn't been with you long, so no need for two weeks pay.

You fire at the end of the day, so the person doesn't have to work while they're trying to process their feelings. End of week if possible (so on a Friday afternoon, rather than a Monday morning). When you fire them you hand them a check for all time you owe. You say, "Larla, Greg and I have decided to let you go, due to the fact that you didn't follow through on your verbal agreement to do housework despite numerous hints I gave you. Here is your check for all your hours worked through today. May I have your key to our house? (Then you make her give it to you right then.) Thank you so much for all you've done. Best of luck to you in the future."

I am a nanny who is also paid $20/hr, with other benefits as well. I have a contract, but that contract does not list individual duties, as it doesn't need to. I am a self starter and would never leave my mess for the family to pick up when I leave! In fact, I'll stay late to finish cleaning up from the kids dinner so the parents don't have to step into clean up duty. I do the kids' laundry, which was discussed, and I wash their bedding once a week without ever having to be told. I would expect my bosses to tell me if they weren't happy about my performance and give me an opportunity to correct it, but your nanny is missing the basics! Let her go on Friday and give her 2 weeks severance pay. I would definitely be open with her as to why you are letting her go, and I would not give any second chances. She has shown that she is not a self starter, and for that rate she should be! Good Luck OP!

OP, I think you should talk to her TODAY + let her know Friday is her last day. Stress to her that it just isn't working out and that you are quite sorry. I do not think you owe her a penny in severance pay. You have paid her quite enough already.

OP, your "nanny" sounds like a slacker to me. I would be leery of the family that recommended her as well. The fact that she came recommended from someone just baffles me. How well do you even know the family that recommended her? I wouldn't take any more recommendations from them for obvious reasons.

Anyway, as a Nanny and/or Babysitter, it is common sense to pick up any toys/messes the children make during our stay as well as wash any dishes used. Most of us in home childcare providers do not need to be told this. Esp. those that make $20/Hr. This woman sounds completely clueless and I would expect more from her as well OP. You should not have to even hint for her to do these things.

As for the other light chores you need, you would have to be direct and clear in explaining exactly what you need done. Clarity is very important in other tasks that not all parents deem necessary for a nanny to complete.

During nap times, I think it is up to her to do as she wants. As long as your children are asleep and the toys are picked up and the dishes are washed, she is entitled to use her I~pad as long as she is within hearing distance of the bedroom(s) in which they are sleeping in. Some parents want the nannies to clean while the kids sleep since they are on the clock, still being paid, but I have had many families who let me do as I like during nap times as long as I keep an ear out for the kids.

MB here, and I generally agree with 8:55. I think you need to learn how to be a boss. You need a written agreement specifying the duties of the position, the benefits, the compensation, etc...

This gives everyone involved clarity about what is expected.

When you have a concern about something not being done you can refer to the agreement and hold her to what she was clearly hired (and agreed) to do.

Whether you fire this nanny or not you need to handle this better going forward. You need to feel comfortable being clear about your expectations as an employer. You shouldn't be "hinting" - you should be having clear, fair, professional conversations, driven by the job description.

Honestly for $20/hr you should have a nanny who is professional enough to drive this process herself, and it doesn't sound like that's the case with your current employee. But to be fair to her (or whomever you hire in the future) you need to be much more clear about your expectations and more professional in your approach.

She's sloppy and lazy. It's a given that you pick after the kids during the day - even an evening babysitter would clean up mess the kids made on her watch. Get rid of her on Friday and tell her you were disappointed with her overall performance so she's not dumb enough to use you as a reference. If you want to be generous, 1 week severance is fine.

OP has been completely reasonable here.

Just to be clear: I've never asked her to watch more than our two children. I also did ask her to help with the laundry (just the children's) and to clear the dishwasher. She has done it once on her own, but I come home and the counters aren't clean and she has never once offered to do anything. She comes in and just pulls out her ipad right away and sits down. Perhaps its my fault for not asking her to put her ipad away and helping, but I don't want her to dislike me and take it out at the children. We are new at this so I just don't know what is expected and what is not expected. As I said before, she engages the children throughout the day, she just doesn't "get it" and for 20 an hour I was hoping for someone who could manage the children and also a little housework.