Anonymous wrote:I understand you have a contract, but you knew you were trying to screw her when you put that BS in there. If she works 44 hours per week for you and you expected HER to be available, you should offer the same level of guarantee. She probably didn't think it would ever matter, but you knew better, and that's why you're uncomfortable now that she's called you on it. Do better.

Exactly. Sorry, OP.

I have a similar agreement. I guarantee our nanny a certain number of hours a week. I offer her more hours most weeks well in advance, make it clear she can decline without any hard feelings (since I have other babysitters I can ask to do it for straight time rather than time and a half). She has accepted the extra hours 90 percent of the time and appreciates the courtesy of first refusal. The actual number of extra hours per week is variable so I do not want to guarantee the extra hours.

I think the agreement is perfectly clear, 40 hours guaranteed. And OP says she "reminded" the nanny that she'd only need her the 40 hours during maternity leave, indicating they'd discussed it before. So the nanny might be disappointed (because of course the extra money has been nice!) but has no basis for thinking she's been treated unfairly.

OP your post is kinda confusing based on the responses too.

Can you plz clarify??

I understand you have a contract, but you knew you were trying to screw her when you put that BS in there. If she works 44 hours per week for you and you expected HER to be available, you should offer the same level of guarantee. She probably didn't think it would ever matter, but you knew better, and that's why you're uncomfortable now that she's called you on it. Do better.

She's obviously accustomed to her established income, and not prepared for an unexpected cut.

You should prepare to having to find another nanny. I'm sorry for your child. This will be a difficult situation to manage.