Anonymous
10/29/2013 02:26
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
As an MB, I would replace the carseat. It isn't worth fighting over $300.
That said, I can see the husband's perspective. As between the employer and the nanny, the nanny is at fault here because the carseat was stolen from her custody. If you checked a bag at the airport and it got stolen from the luggage cart on the tarmac, no one would say "Oh, it's not the airline's fault; it's the fault of whomever stole the bag." No, you would consider the airline responsible because it had custody of the bag, despite the fact that the airline only took custody to benefit you. In other words, being at fault for the loss and being responsible for the loss are not exactly the same thing.
If nannies drive their charges in their own cars, they should get language in their contracts stating that they are not responsible for childrens' items, including carseats, that are damaged or stolen while in her car.
That said, I can see the husband's perspective. As between the employer and the nanny, the nanny is at fault here because the carseat was stolen from her custody. If you checked a bag at the airport and it got stolen from the luggage cart on the tarmac, no one would say "Oh, it's not the airline's fault; it's the fault of whomever stole the bag." No, you would consider the airline responsible because it had custody of the bag, despite the fact that the airline only took custody to benefit you. In other words, being at fault for the loss and being responsible for the loss are not exactly the same thing.
If nannies drive their charges in their own cars, they should get language in their contracts stating that they are not responsible for childrens' items, including carseats, that are damaged or stolen while in her car.
Anonymous
10/25/2013 16:33
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
OP, the fact that you were even considering this is ridiculous. It's one thing if she stole it, even lost it perhaps, but not because of something she had no control over. If no one is at fault, at the end of the day, YOU are the one responsible for replacing your child's lost/stolen/damaged essentials, NOT your nanny!
Anonymous
10/25/2013 12:33
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
To some PPs who said it's partially the nanny's fault, how is this so? Her car got stolen!! Unless you're insinuating she knew something about it, I don't understand why you would think that. These incidents happen. I'm sure she's already feeling awful about it and if you asked me to pay from my check, it would make me consider leaving. Its one thing if its my fault, but something I cannot control is another! Sorry OP about your car seat but you will have to take care of it. Let us know what you decide.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 21:35
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
OP should buy the cheapest safe car seat to replace the $300 Britax because this could happen again and soon. The car thief could be targeting the nanny's neighborhood and obviously can easily break into her car again. Frankly, unless the car is in a private garage, that expensive car seat is going to attract thieves and that is not fair to your nanny.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 14:10
Subject: Re:Stolen car seat issue
Agree with everyone else - your kid, your car seat, your responsibility. Can't imagine why you'd even consider asking the nanny to chip in - this is one of the related costs to expecting your nanny to drive her own car. If she'd been driving YOUR car that day and the seat had been stolen, would you expect her to replace it!?
Anonymous
10/24/2013 12:01
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
MB here.
Your kid, your carseat, your loss. You buy the replacement, at whatever price level you decide.
Your kid, your carseat, your loss. You buy the replacement, at whatever price level you decide.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 11:52
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
The only person whose fault this is is the person who STOLE the carseat.
It's not the nanny's car seat, it's yours. Sure, no one likes having their stuff stolen and having to replace it, but it's your car seat. The nanny uses it while taking care of your children. You replace it.
As an aside, I have had company-owned equipment stolen before, and I have never been expected to pay to replace it. (I certainly never offered.) This is not a case where a friend borrowed the car seat and then it was stolen or lost, in which case I would expect the friend to offer to replace it. This is employer-owned equipment used by an employee to perform their job.
It's not the nanny's car seat, it's yours. Sure, no one likes having their stuff stolen and having to replace it, but it's your car seat. The nanny uses it while taking care of your children. You replace it.
As an aside, I have had company-owned equipment stolen before, and I have never been expected to pay to replace it. (I certainly never offered.) This is not a case where a friend borrowed the car seat and then it was stolen or lost, in which case I would expect the friend to offer to replace it. This is employer-owned equipment used by an employee to perform their job.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 11:22
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of surprised at everyone's reaction. Yes, I'm an MB, and yes, I would replace the car seat. But I admit I wouldn't be thrilled about it. Why is someone automatically deserving of expletives thrown at them if they are questioning whether to have someone pay for something that was, essentially, her fault?
How was her car being stolen her fault? If I were a nanny, I would never use my car to haul kids around.
Another MB, here. You can imagine ways in which it was the nanny's fault--she left the car unlocked, or it was "stolen" by someone she trusted with the keys, maybe? But OP didn't mention any of those circumstances. And OP took this risk when she decided to store her car seat in the nanny's car. Time to own the consequences of YOUR decision OP.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 10:46
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of surprised at everyone's reaction. Yes, I'm an MB, and yes, I would replace the car seat. But I admit I wouldn't be thrilled about it. Why is someone automatically deserving of expletives thrown at them if they are questioning whether to have someone pay for something that was, essentially, her fault?
How was her car being stolen her fault? If I were a nanny, I would never use my car to haul kids around.
To be clear, I am saying that OP should buy the nanny a new car seat. Just to make sure that's clear. And I actually agree with you that it raises all kinds of liability and insurance and just basic disagreement issues to even have a nanny driving your kids in her own car to begin with. But given that this is what this family is doing, yes, I agree that they should buy her another carseat.
But all that said, as I said, I would still be a little irritated and I don't think it's being a cheap bastard to be just a bit irritated at having to spend an additional $300 that I don't want to spend. I guess it's no one's "fault" that the carseat was stolen - but it's certainly more the nanny's fault than it is the family if we have to assign blame.
AGAIN, I think that OP should buy the nanny a new car seat. But I think the reactions on here were a little over the top. Typically (and I'm speaking in general in life), when someone loses something, the assumption is that it's on them to replace it or at least offer.
The simple fact that you "don't like" spending $300 does not make it your nanny's problem. Perhaps if they didn't have a $300 carseat, it wouldn't have been stolen? And you're right, it is no one fault, so there is no blame to assign, so stop saying its the nanny's fault. Being a victim of a crime is no ones "fault" but the criminal. The carseat is equipment necessary to perform her job, so it is the employers responsibility to maintain and replace, just as you pay for gas, provide your kids food for the day, etc.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 10:26
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of surprised at everyone's reaction. Yes, I'm an MB, and yes, I would replace the car seat. But I admit I wouldn't be thrilled about it. Why is someone automatically deserving of expletives thrown at them if they are questioning whether to have someone pay for something that was, essentially, her fault?
How was her car being stolen her fault? If I were a nanny, I would never use my car to haul kids around.
To be clear, I am saying that OP should buy the nanny a new car seat. Just to make sure that's clear. And I actually agree with you that it raises all kinds of liability and insurance and just basic disagreement issues to even have a nanny driving your kids in her own car to begin with. But given that this is what this family is doing, yes, I agree that they should buy her another carseat.
But all that said, as I said, I would still be a little irritated and I don't think it's being a cheap bastard to be just a bit irritated at having to spend an additional $300 that I don't want to spend. I guess it's no one's "fault" that the carseat was stolen - but it's certainly more the nanny's fault than it is the family if we have to assign blame.
AGAIN, I think that OP should buy the nanny a new car seat. But I think the reactions on here were a little over the top. Typically (and I'm speaking in general in life), when someone loses something, the assumption is that it's on them to replace it or at least offer.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 10:11
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
MB here. Do not charge the nanny for the car seat. Beyond tacky and may begin a spirit of bad will. Not worth it. Buy a new, but cheaper car seats. Britax's with all of the bells and whistles are not necessary for the nanny's car. Put that one in your car and get a cheaper yet perfectly safe one for hers.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 09:08
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
Anonymous wrote:I'm kind of surprised at everyone's reaction. Yes, I'm an MB, and yes, I would replace the car seat. But I admit I wouldn't be thrilled about it. Why is someone automatically deserving of expletives thrown at them if they are questioning whether to have someone pay for something that was, essentially, her fault?
How was her car being stolen her fault? If I were a nanny, I would never use my car to haul kids around.
Anonymous
10/24/2013 08:50
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
I'm kind of surprised at everyone's reaction. Yes, I'm an MB, and yes, I would replace the car seat. But I admit I wouldn't be thrilled about it. Why is someone automatically deserving of expletives thrown at them if they are questioning whether to have someone pay for something that was, essentially, her fault?
Anonymous
10/23/2013 22:35
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
Anonymous wrote:Your husband is a CHEAP ba$tard and you aren't much better, OP, for even entertaining the thought of having her pay half. I hope she reads this and finds another job. Shame on both of you!
You need to reread OP's original post. She said that she felt they should suck up the whole cost of the new car seat.
Anonymous
10/23/2013 22:31
Subject: Stolen car seat issue
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous[b wrote:]Your husband is a ____[/b]. Almost afraid to ask what this nanny's salary is, that he wants to make her pay for the theft. Just wow.
A MB here. Let me finish that sentence: Your husband is a cheap ba$tard. So it wasn't traumatic enough for your nanny that she had her car stolen and radio taken but your DH wants her to pay for the replacement of your kid's expensive (used) car seat? Are you going to remove it every night from her car so it doesn't happen again? Do you pay for her car insurance because it likely will go up if she files a claim for the car seat? Can she afford to live in a safer neighborhood on her nanny pay? I feel sorry for your children to have a father who is stingy and has so little compassion.
Well said. Thank God there are MB's out there like you who seem reasonable and have respect for your nannies. Shame on your husband OP for thinking it's your nannies responsibility to pay for a new car seat. I am totally disgusted.
Totally agree with this. If my bosses asked me to pay for a new seat in this situation I'd start looking for a new job. And given that this kind of stinginess and disrespect is usually not isolated to one incident, I'd take a good hard look at how you treat your nanny overall OP. This is insane
I would replace it, no question but the appropriate response is for the nanny to offer to replace it with a reasonable seat. At any job, you lose or have an item stolen that is the company's, you offer to replace it. I would prefer you look for a new job.