Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that sick days "can't" be rolled over or paid out. They of course don't have to be, but there is nothing to say they can't be. I negotiated my contract to allow for a maximum of 5 sick days and 5 vacation days to roll over if unused. Because of that provision, I feel no rush at the end of the year to use up my sick/vacation time. My bosses are also aware that I am saving up my sick time for a potential maternity leave in a year or 2.

No professional employee in any field feels a "rush" to use up sick days. Sick days are to be taken when sick, period. In 15 years of employment I have never taken a sick day unless I'm really truly sick and others I know do the same. If I need a mental health day or a chance to regroup, I take a vacation day. This comment, and others like it from nannies who want sick time to roll over or be paid out, suggesting that otherwise they'll use it whether they're sick or not, is very unprofessional and reflects a poor understanding of the function of sick days in the working world. Especially in child care I have a very low opinion of someone taking a sick day just because the day is there for the taking, since those days are normally taken on very short notice and even employers with backup care are left scrambling.

To answer OP: We provide 5 paid sick days a year to be taken as needed. Nannies we've employed (3 over the years) generally have only used 1 or 2 a year. We usually encourage nannies stay home if they're not sure whether they're "sick enough", both for their own well-being and to protect our kids from getting sick.

And I agree that it's almost always the kids getting the nannies sick, not the other way around!

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that sick days "can't" be rolled over or paid out. They of course don't have to be, but there is nothing to say they can't be. I negotiated my contract to allow for a maximum of 5 sick days and 5 vacation days to roll over if unused. Because of that provision, I feel no rush at the end of the year to use up my sick/vacation time. My bosses are also aware that I am saving up my sick time for a potential maternity leave in a year or 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typically it's 5 sick days per year. Not to be rolled over or paid out if not used. I've been a live in nanny for 11 years and have only used 2 sick days. One when I was in the hospital after having emergency surgery. And the other when I couldn't walk up the stairs I was so sick and had been throwing up all night.

Typically if I'm sick I have a more relaxed day with the kids. Tv is on longer , laundry maybe not done that day. I think parents understand when that happens.

TV is on longER? Yikes.

There are many, many people who allow their children to watch tv or allow the nanny to have it on throughout the day. We are talking about sick pay here, this is not a platform for you to express your opinion on screen time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typically it's 5 sick days per year. Not to be rolled over or paid out if not used. I've been a live in nanny for 11 years and have only used 2 sick days. One when I was in the hospital after having emergency surgery. And the other when I couldn't walk up the stairs I was so sick and had been throwing up all night.

Typically if I'm sick I have a more relaxed day with the kids. Tv is on longer , laundry maybe not done that day. I think parents understand when that happens.

TV is on longER? Yikes.

Anonymous wrote:Typically it's 5 sick days per year. Not to be rolled over or paid out if not used. I've been a live in nanny for 11 years and have only used 2 sick days. One when I was in the hospital after having emergency surgery. And the other when I couldn't walk up the stairs I was so sick and had been throwing up all night.

Typically if I'm sick I have a more relaxed day with the kids. Tv is on longer , laundry maybe not done that day. I think parents understand when that happens.

Anonymous wrote:As a parent OP, it would be pretty irresponsible to have your nanny around your children when she is ill. To expose them to her illness/germs would not be a wise idea at all.

Also, as a parent, is is ultimately your responsibility to arrange and prepare back-up childcare in the event that your nanny cannot come into work due to illness. I cannot stress this enough.

I hear so many parents complain how they cannot miss a day of work because the nanny got sick. <---- Uh...She is human after all...Surprise, surprise...Plus working w/young children is a great breeding ground for germs.

Parents need to have some back-up options on hand. Always, ALWAYS have a Plan B in place.
To expect a nanny to show up for work every single day and never miss a day is unfair and unreasonable.

And to make that same nanny feel guilty for falling ill is just plain heartless.