MB here. We had a similar situation. In her first week on the job our nanny got in a car accident (she was in someone else's car), and then got her car stuck in the snow (it was hardly snowing) and had to cancel. It was so hard to know whether she was a complete flake, or had two bad breaks in one week, because we didn't have a relationship yet and hadn't built that trust. She didn't respond the way I would have, which made me suspicious. She apologized, but didn't say anything like "I'm really sorry this happened twice in my first week" or anything else to acknowledge that it seemed shady.

My point OP, is that I learned a lesson not to judge people if they don't act exactly as I would have, and to give people the benefit of the doubt. We have now had this nanny for ten months and trust her with our child's life. She comes ten minutes early every day and has never missed a day. It really must have been two bad breaks in one week, and I'm really glad we didn't make a rash judgement. It will become obvious to you very quickly if she is a flake. I would give her a pass on this.

I would be wary and cautious. We got completely burned by a nanny who, two days before her start date, showed up at our house with a terrible, terrible story of a family emergency, had her friend in two who would "fill in" temporarily. She cried in our house so we decided to trust and believe. We held her job for her for a couple of months and then she told us she would not be able to do it because of the supposed family emergency and that we should just keep her friend. We did not want her friend. The whole thing was a nightmare and did not give our baby the stability we so wanted in those months. She had terrific references and was great in person, but it turns out she is clearly not an honest person. Anyway, I recently saw an advertisement posted for her on this board and by the dates, it was clear that she had taken another job at the exact same time that she would have started with us two years ago. By now, we knew she had lied about the supposed emergency and we are way past it, but I still got pissed. The unprofessionalism is incredible. I figure it is her loss because if she had been working for us, she would still be working and not looking for a new position! Mine is a cautionary tale. Keep alert.

If she came very highly recommended, then I would give her another chance because as you can attest to, life happens and something could have happened.

However, I would also be a little more cautious of her as well so do not completely let this go.

Hope for the best...Expect the worst....?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not paying her for the trial day she canceled but we did set it up for tomorrow. She explained the situation with her mom and it's understandable.

She does have the job already. The position officially starts at the beginning of January but we are having two " trial" days. Most say they are trial days but technically it's just shadowing me.

How difficult can it be to care for babies that she needs to shadow you for two days? Does she have any experience?

Have you ever worked as a nanny or with infant? Many, and I mean many, parents have nannies for trial and shadows days. It's most common with first time parents. I am a mom and I as well as my friends and co-workers have had our nannies do shadow days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not paying her for the trial day she canceled but we did set it up for tomorrow. She explained the situation with her mom and it's understandable.

She does have the job already. The position officially starts at the beginning of January but we are having two " trial" days. Most say they are trial days but technically it's just shadowing me.

How difficult can it be to care for babies that she needs to shadow you for two days? Does she have any experience?

Yes, she has years. I asked for her to come and shadow me. I trust her and her judgement but I just want to the comfort of seeing how they interact and that I am confident. It's tough to have a stranger take care of your child.

Anonymous wrote:We are not paying her for the trial day she canceled but we did set it up for tomorrow. She explained the situation with her mom and it's understandable.

She does have the job already. The position officially starts at the beginning of January but we are having two " trial" days. Most say they are trial days but technically it's just shadowing me.

How difficult can it be to care for babies that she needs to shadow you for two days? Does she have any experience?

Anonymous wrote:We are not paying her for the trial day she canceled but we did set it up for tomorrow. She explained the situation with her mom and it's understandable.

She does have the job already. The position officially starts at the beginning of January but we are having two " trial" days. Most say they are trial days but technically it's just shadowing me.

I would consider this orientation.
Trial days post hire are in my opinion a misnomer.

Hope everything works out for all involved.

Fire immediately. That is unacceptable. She is bad news.

We are not paying her for the trial day she canceled but we did set it up for tomorrow. She explained the situation with her mom and it's understandable.

She does have the job already. The position officially starts at the beginning of January but we are having two " trial" days. Most say they are trial days but technically it's just shadowing me.

No you do not need to pay her for a trial day.

Orientation and other days once as contract is established are paid assuming they fall within the sick or personal day limits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone has emergencies, just pay her for the day and don't bring it up again.

I'm a nanny and an earlier poster that said to let it go, but I disagree that she should get paid. It was supposed to be her first trial day. No need to pay her before she's even started.

Yea except nanny expected to make some money today, and it's not really her fault that she had an emergency. So really, MB should pay her.

nope. please.

don't talk like this is a guaranteed contract. it isn't.

potential nanny should be apologizing for canceling 1 hour before she was to show up. What if MB or DB had to go hire a sitter then for the hours or made arrangements to be home job training said potential nanny?