Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a snow day policy. If our work is closed, nanny doesn't have to come in (DH and I work at the same large organization) If we start late, she starts late. Our organization's policy is fairly sane so it works out. This was part of our contract as per our nanny agency's advice. I'm glad we did it. Totally recommend agreeing on a snow policy in advance.

It sucsk when we can't get work done (work doesn't stop when our offices our closed) but it's not reasonable to ask nanny to drive under dangerous conditions.

I assume a snow policy for the right kinds of people (ER docs for example) could request sleeping at the house the night before, so long as all parties agree. I don't see why nanny would necessarily need to be paid, as hospital personnel don't get paid for sleeping at the hospital as needed (even the not so highly paid staff) but that's for the individuals to decide.

False assumption. Many hospitals pay a percentage of the employee's normal hourly wage to remain in house when on call, regardless of weather conditions.

Not exactly. Hospital employees, if not on call, do not get compensated for staying overnight at the hospital in order to be at work during dangerous weather conditions. If you are just sleeping over at the hospital in order to be at work in the morning to avoid driving in dangerous weather, you are not on call and do not get compensated.

In our household, we try to plan ahead. We do not want our nanny traveling in dangerous conditions, but we do have jobs that require us to report to work despite the weather. If it's possible for one of us to take leave, then we would have our nanny stay home. However, if we will need to be at work, then we ask our nanny to stay overnight. She is not working for us during those hours, so it is not paid.

However, if I sleep over at the hospital in order to be at work during dangerous weather, and my nanny sleeps over, then she *is* working for us, and we pay her an overnight rate.

Anonymous wrote:We have a snow day policy. If our work is closed, nanny doesn't have to come in (DH and I work at the same large organization) If we start late, she starts late. Our organization's policy is fairly sane so it works out. This was part of our contract as per our nanny agency's advice. I'm glad we did it. Totally recommend agreeing on a snow policy in advance.

It sucsk when we can't get work done (work doesn't stop when our offices our closed) but it's not reasonable to ask nanny to drive under dangerous conditions.

I assume a snow policy for the right kinds of people (ER docs for example) could request sleeping at the house the night before, so long as all parties agree. I don't see why nanny would necessarily need to be paid, as hospital personnel don't get paid for sleeping at the hospital as needed (even the not so highly paid staff) but that's for the individuals to decide.

False assumption. Many hospitals pay a percentage of the employee's normal hourly wage to remain in house when on call, regardless of weather conditions.

OP Here--Really appreciate the feedback on this. To follow up-- Nanny offered to come in early tomorrow so I can leave early for work to catch up--which I really appreciate as well. My work tends to be unpredictable--so during slow times, it would have been fine for nanny not to come in....other times, (like right now) it's a little more challenging.

We have a snow day policy. If our work is closed, nanny doesn't have to come in (DH and I work at the same large organization) If we start late, she starts late. Our organization's policy is fairly sane so it works out. This was part of our contract as per our nanny agency's advice. I'm glad we did it. Totally recommend agreeing on a snow policy in advance.

It sucsk when we can't get work done (work doesn't stop when our offices our closed) but it's not reasonable to ask nanny to drive under dangerous conditions.

I assume a snow policy for the right kinds of people (ER docs for example) could request sleeping at the house the night before, so long as all parties agree. I don't see why nanny would necessarily need to be paid, as hospital personnel don't get paid for sleeping at the hospital as needed (even the not so highly paid staff) but that's for the individuals to decide.

Anonymous wrote:For parents with a live out nanny, what is your policy on snow days? We have recently moved from having a live in nanny to having someone that lives out. DDs school was cancelled today--but both DH and I still had work. Nanny informed us at 10:30 am this morning that she would not be coming in. Yesterday was her first day back after a three week vacation--so needless to say, DH and I are a little frustrated. We are behind at work and needed help today. I understand coming late--but taking the whole day off seems a little much. Nanny doesn't have kids of her own. Am I being unreasonable? How do you deal with snow days?

Our nanny does the drive here unless we call her and tell her not to. We both had to work as well.
For Tuesday (after our 2 week vacation), we had her come in at 11am and I had to tell my entire team that as well. I'd be in late.

Remember, half of a nanny's job is to watch the kiddos and the other half is to allow you to do your jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We often have our nanny spend the night when there is the threat of significant snow. But it is a challenge when the weather doesn't follow predictions (and we're lucky that she would prefer to spend the night rather than worry about driving in snow.)

Today however, I had to go to work and no one realized how bad the roads were until we were on them. Had I know the situation I would have stayed home and would have told the nanny to stay home also. It was unexpectedly bad and treacherous (at least in Montgomery County).

I'm assuming you pay her for staying the night, yes?

No, it's just something that a nanny should do, it's a job responsibility to make sure she can make it to work.

Well, the problem with listenign to the news is that they call every freaking storm "snowmageddon" and make it sound like the coming of the apocolypse! but yesterday was just stupidly bad - took me 3 1/2 hours to get to work - which I can do in 45 minutes on a normal day. Supposed to only get 1 or 2 inches, and it was at 4 or 5 inches and no plows in sight. (and too many cars on most roads for plows to get through, given the gridlock was unfreakin believable on Route 495, 29 and New Hampshire Avenue.) Yesterday will go down in the books as bad without much snow. I hate snow!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once ventured out to work on a snow day, and got rammed in the middle of Conn. Ave. Luckily I wasn't hurt, but my car was totaled.

Everyone later said it was stupid to go out.
Except the MB. She was mad I never made it in that day.

This is what happened when I "made an attempt." Yes, I learned my lesson the hard way, but at least I learned.

If you want a stupid nanny to make an attempt just for your ridiculous fantasies, you'll have to get a stupid nanny. But why would you be that stupid?

Yes its stupid if you attempt to drive on non-ploughed roads. What a person with common sense might do is tune on to local tv/radio to assess road conditions and any alternate transport options and make an informed decision, not just looking out their window. One can always hope ?

Come on there is no back up care on snow days unless you know a generous SAHM. Everything generally closes if it is a bad day.

We follow OPM for the most part. After a year though when we got a blizzard and it took longer for DC to dig out by day 2 than in the suburbs where we and nanny live, we adjusted it so that multiples OPM closures in a row are evaluated on a case by case basis. Also an OPM delay of 2 hours equals a 1 hour delay for us. Nanny lives 10 minutes from us and we are all right off major roads so except for when the county insanely decides not to plow like yesterday things tend to be fine by mid morning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here--Most people in my office went in. But interesting to hear that the roads were really bad....

You thought she was lying to you. She needs to find a new job if you automatically assume your nanny is a liar. In any case, it is your responsibility to have backup care.

Exactly. Don't opt for a nanny if you have no backup care. Common sense.

Anonymous wrote:OP Here--Most people in my office went in. But interesting to hear that the roads were really bad....

You thought she was lying to you. She needs to find a new job if you automatically assume your nanny is a liar. In any case, it is your responsibility to have backup care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We often have our nanny spend the night when there is the threat of significant snow. But it is a challenge when the weather doesn't follow predictions (and we're lucky that she would prefer to spend the night rather than worry about driving in snow.)

Today however, I had to go to work and no one realized how bad the roads were until we were on them. Had I know the situation I would have stayed home and would have told the nanny to stay home also. It was unexpectedly bad and treacherous (at least in Montgomery County).

I'm assuming you pay her for staying the night, yes?

Nope. She asks if she can stay because she'd prefer that to worrying about the drive. She doesn't work at all, has her own bedroom/tv etc... and often joins us for dinner (that I make).

It's her choice and she isn't working so no payment.

You sound like a very reasonable mb!

Thanks! I was sure I'd get flamed.

Anonymous wrote:We often have our nanny spend the night when there is the threat of significant snow. But it is a challenge when the weather doesn't follow predictions (and we're lucky that she would prefer to spend the night rather than worry about driving in snow.)

Today however, I had to go to work and no one realized how bad the roads were until we were on them. Had I know the situation I would have stayed home and would have told the nanny to stay home also. It was unexpectedly bad and treacherous (at least in Montgomery County).

I'm a nanny and that's what I usually do.
I didn't think yesterday was going to be so bad and in the morning I couldn't even make it out of the neighborhood without my car sliding all over. Main roads and highways (AA and Ho county) were not much better. What normally takes me half an hour, took me exactly two hours, but I made it safe. I called my boss when I was on my way to let her know the roads were awful and I wasn't sure what time I was going to make it there. She told me to turn around and go home if it was that bad. I was already on one of the main roads so I told her I would drive another mile or so (hoping the highway was better). Everyone drove 10 miles per hour (or less) so I decided to just drive to work.

I was always the one who said it's not that bad and people are overreacting, but after yesterday I changed my mind. Of course it doesn't help that I have a sports car (brand new, so I was really worried).
I knew I wasn't going to go back home at the end of the day, but it sucked because I didn't have a change of clothes with me except for a short sleeve dress I always have with me because I get hot during the day.
My boss offered to stop by at target on her way home and get me a change of clothes. She also knew I didn't have my macbook charger with me, so she stopped at the store and got it. She didn't even want to hear about me paying her back.
She told me I risked my life getting there in the morning and that was the least she could do.

I'm so grateful to work for such an amazing family.

And next time I will take the snow warning more seriously and stay overnight with them.
I think they said there were 140 accidents (or so) by 10 a.m.
Wow.

Anonymous wrote:I once ventured out to work on a snow day, and got rammed in the middle of Conn. Ave. Luckily I wasn't hurt, but my car was totaled.

Everyone later said it was stupid to go out.
Except the MB. She was mad I never made it in that day.

This is what happened when I "made an attempt." Yes, I learned my lesson the hard way, but at least I learned.

If you want a stupid nanny to make an attempt just for your ridiculous fantasies, you'll have to get a stupid nanny. But why would you be that stupid?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We often have our nanny spend the night when there is the threat of significant snow. But it is a challenge when the weather doesn't follow predictions (and we're lucky that she would prefer to spend the night rather than worry about driving in snow.)

Today however, I had to go to work and no one realized how bad the roads were until we were on them. Had I know the situation I would have stayed home and would have told the nanny to stay home also. It was unexpectedly bad and treacherous (at least in Montgomery County).

I'm assuming you pay her for staying the night, yes?

Nope. She asks if she can stay because she'd prefer that to worrying about the drive. She doesn't work at all, has her own bedroom/tv etc... and often joins us for dinner (that I make).

It's her choice and she isn't working so no payment.

You sound like a very reasonable mb!