Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

OP, you never answered what you would want in the reverse. You know, that whole do unto others thing? I highly doubt you or any MB on here would count it toward guaranteed hours if your nanny had asked for the time off, but because her plans changed she became available. We should ALL be responsible for our choices. You said she could have off, she should have the time off. If that leads you to play silly games about keeping your vacation plans a secret, so be it, but know that your nanny will cease to view the extra time off as a benefit (as I'm sure you advertised it to be) and your job becomes less attractive. Nannying, more than most other industries, tends to be a 2-way street. Your job is almost as replaceable to your nanny as she is to you.

Op here. If I thought one of my responsibilities in my job was cancelled and then it was not I would do what needed to be done even if it meant altering my personal plans.

I find the ad hominem part of this board infuriating but to respond to those who think I am terrible I have worked with my nanny for 4 years. I pay well am honest and she has repeatedly said how happy she is with us. She is a great many and I am lucky. I am also a manager at my job and I have virtually no attrition on my team. My group is a happy place and one that my colleagues envy. I am straightforward and have respect for everyone who works for me. This was an honest question, and in reality I give my nanny advance warning of all our trips and in the summer that is often more than 6 months. I have no problem when she chooses another summer week for her own vacation, but this was not "advertised" to her in any way before we worked together. If you think I am a PITA you don't need to work for or with me but I do not find that that assessment (at least in terms of being a manager) matches my experience in real life.

Still didn't answer the question. If SHE had asked for the time off, but had her plans cancelled and became available to work, but you didnt need her because you'd come up with alternate plans, would you expect it to be her problem (ie. It still comes out of her vacation time) or would it now be your problem (ie. She is now available to work but you don't need her, so it's guaranteed hours, not PTO).

Most people, including you most likely, would say that if you ask for vacation time but have to cancel your plans, it's not on your boss to find work for you. So it should still count against her PTO. So, under the same idea of personal responsibility for the outcome of our own choices, if you had needed to cancel your plans, that'd be your burden to bear, not your nanny's. In no way shape or form is it reasonable to require her to take unpaid time, or cancel her plans because of YOUR choices/circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. Totally within rights to ask her to come in. Guaranteed hours are a two-way street. I guarantee consistent availabilty and you guarantee a consistent paycheck. That said, the courteous thing to do would be to offer to let her either take the time as unpaid or to use her week of paid vacation for those dates, and if she does work try to make it an easy week if you can. But no way should you feel you are stuck home with disappointed kids and suitcases to unpack while she goes on a paid vacation. That is not what guaranteed hours are for.

To the nanny who says she shouldn't have to sit home and twiddle her thumbs just because her boss is out of town, no, but you should be make flexible, easily-changed or -cancelled plans for those random weeks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

OP, you never answered what you would want in the reverse. You know, that whole do unto others thing? I highly doubt you or any MB on here would count it toward guaranteed hours if your nanny had asked for the time off, but because her plans changed she became available. We should ALL be responsible for our choices. You said she could have off, she should have the time off. If that leads you to play silly games about keeping your vacation plans a secret, so be it, but know that your nanny will cease to view the extra time off as a benefit (as I'm sure you advertised it to be) and your job becomes less attractive. Nannying, more than most other industries, tends to be a 2-way street. Your job is almost as replaceable to your nanny as she is to you.

Op here. If I thought one of my responsibilities in my job was cancelled and then it was not I would do what needed to be done even if it meant altering my personal plans.

I find the ad hominem part of this board infuriating but to respond to those who think I am terrible I have worked with my nanny for 4 years. I pay well am honest and she has repeatedly said how happy she is with us. She is a great many and I am lucky. I am also a manager at my job and I have virtually no attrition on my team. My group is a happy place and one that my colleagues envy. I am straightforward and have respect for everyone who works for me. This was an honest question, and in reality I give my nanny advance warning of all our trips and in the summer that is often more than 6 months. I have no problem when she chooses another summer week for her own vacation, but this was not "advertised" to her in any way before we worked together. If you think I am a PITA you don't need to work for or with me but I do not find that that assessment (at least in terms of being a manager) matches my experience in real life.

Still didn't answer the question. If SHE had asked for the time off, but had her plans cancelled and became available to work, but you didnt need her because you'd come up with alternate plans, would you expect it to be her problem (ie. It still comes out of her vacation time) or would it now be your problem (ie. She is now available to work but you don't need her, so it's guaranteed hours, not PTO).

Most people, including you most likely, would say that if you ask for vacation time but have to cancel your plans, it's not on your boss to find work for you. So it should still count against her PTO. So, under the same idea of personal responsibility for the outcome of our own choices, if you had needed to cancel your plans, that'd be your burden to bear, not your nanny's. In no way shape or form is it reasonable to require her to take unpaid time, or cancel her plans because of YOUR choices/circumstances.

This is not how it works. Just isn't. It sucks to have promised days off cancelled, and I would expect people to quit any place of employment where it happened frequently. But it happens all the time that people get called into work when they were expecting off. They are paying for your time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

OP, you never answered what you would want in the reverse. You know, that whole do unto others thing? I highly doubt you or any MB on here would count it toward guaranteed hours if your nanny had asked for the time off, but because her plans changed she became available. We should ALL be responsible for our choices. You said she could have off, she should have the time off. If that leads you to play silly games about keeping your vacation plans a secret, so be it, but know that your nanny will cease to view the extra time off as a benefit (as I'm sure you advertised it to be) and your job becomes less attractive. Nannying, more than most other industries, tends to be a 2-way street. Your job is almost as replaceable to your nanny as she is to you.

Op here. If I thought one of my responsibilities in my job was cancelled and then it was not I would do what needed to be done even if it meant altering my personal plans.

I find the ad hominem part of this board infuriating but to respond to those who think I am terrible I have worked with my nanny for 4 years. I pay well am honest and she has repeatedly said how happy she is with us. She is a great many and I am lucky. I am also a manager at my job and I have virtually no attrition on my team. My group is a happy place and one that my colleagues envy. I am straightforward and have respect for everyone who works for me. This was an honest question, and in reality I give my nanny advance warning of all our trips and in the summer that is often more than 6 months. I have no problem when she chooses another summer week for her own vacation, but this was not "advertised" to her in any way before we worked together. If you think I am a PITA you don't need to work for or with me but I do not find that that assessment (at least in terms of being a manager) matches my experience in real life.

Still didn't answer the question. If SHE had asked for the time off, but had her plans cancelled and became available to work, but you didnt need her because you'd come up with alternate plans, would you expect it to be her problem (ie. It still comes out of her vacation time) or would it now be your problem (ie. She is now available to work but you don't need her, so it's guaranteed hours, not PTO).

Most people, including you most likely, would say that if you ask for vacation time but have to cancel your plans, it's not on your boss to find work for you. So it should still count against her PTO. So, under the same idea of personal responsibility for the outcome of our own choices, if you had needed to cancel your plans, that'd be your burden to bear, not your nanny's. In no way shape or form is it reasonable to require her to take unpaid time, or cancel her plans because of YOUR choices/circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

OP, you never answered what you would want in the reverse. You know, that whole do unto others thing? I highly doubt you or any MB on here would count it toward guaranteed hours if your nanny had asked for the time off, but because her plans changed she became available. We should ALL be responsible for our choices. You said she could have off, she should have the time off. If that leads you to play silly games about keeping your vacation plans a secret, so be it, but know that your nanny will cease to view the extra time off as a benefit (as I'm sure you advertised it to be) and your job becomes less attractive. Nannying, more than most other industries, tends to be a 2-way street. Your job is almost as replaceable to your nanny as she is to you.

Op here. If I thought one of my responsibilities in my job was cancelled and then it was not I would do what needed to be done even if it meant altering my personal plans.

I find the ad hominem part of this board infuriating but to respond to those who think I am terrible I have worked with my nanny for 4 years. I pay well am honest and she has repeatedly said how happy she is with us. She is a great many and I am lucky. I am also a manager at my job and I have virtually no attrition on my team. My group is a happy place and one that my colleagues envy. I am straightforward and have respect for everyone who works for me. This was an honest question, and in reality I give my nanny advance warning of all our trips and in the summer that is often more than 6 months. I have no problem when she chooses another summer week for her own vacation, but this was not "advertised" to her in any way before we worked together. If you think I am a PITA you don't need to work for or with me but I do not find that that assessment (at least in terms of being a manager) matches my experience in real life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

OP, you never answered what you would want in the reverse. You know, that whole do unto others thing? I highly doubt you or any MB on here would count it toward guaranteed hours if your nanny had asked for the time off, but because her plans changed she became available. We should ALL be responsible for our choices. You said she could have off, she should have the time off. If that leads you to play silly games about keeping your vacation plans a secret, so be it, but know that your nanny will cease to view the extra time off as a benefit (as I'm sure you advertised it to be) and your job becomes less attractive. Nannying, more than most other industries, tends to be a 2-way street. Your job is almost as replaceable to your nanny as she is to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

OP, you never answered what you would want in the reverse. You know, that whole do unto others thing? I highly doubt you or any MB on here would count it toward guaranteed hours if your nanny had asked for the time off, but because her plans changed she became available. We should ALL be responsible for our choices. You said she could have off, she should have the time off. If that leads you to play silly games about keeping your vacation plans a secret, so be it, but know that your nanny will cease to view the extra time off as a benefit (as I'm sure you advertised it to be) and your job becomes less attractive. Nannying, more than most other industries, tends to be a 2-way street. Your job is almost as replaceable to your nanny as she is to you.

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannyhere- I've been with the same family for 10 years and would have zero problem coming in to work. Guaranteed hours means you're available to work. If the family's plans change, you still need to be available. The nannies harping and complaining are probably the same ones who can't keep a job longer than 6 months.

Stop embarrassing yourself. I am a previous poster telling OP that it would be wrong to ask her nanny to work and I am an MB.

Anonymous wrote:I'll take not being able to keep a job for more than six months than be a doormat any day.

Anonymous wrote:Op here - we ended up going so no conflict.

I can of course take care of my kids all the time. They are good kids. I cannot take care of my kids 24/7 and do my 60 hour per week job at the same time. Hence why I have a nanny.

I agree it is not great to tell her that we don't need her and then reneg. But it creates this perverse incentive for me to not tell my nanny if we are thinking of taking a trip until the last minute so that this conflict doesn't come up. That doesn't seem great either. I would rather my nanny know that with 98% chance she can have time to herself and her family so she can plan something great than give her that day off with no warning.

The contract phrasing seems like a good suggestion.

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny works 5 days a week, salaries and is not on vacation this week. We were supposed to take the kids to go visit cousins this week but it looks like we need to cancel because one of them is ill. We had told
Our nanny we would be away and we're going to pay her for that time though as she is salaried. Can we now ask if she would be able to work? I know it would be best not too but I am just so tired from this year and could really use the time to catch up at work. She generally ends up with 2-3 weeks of paid time we are away (not her vacation) although it is not necessarily relevant.