I have no problem with my nanny running minor errands while out and about (bank, cvs).

Anonymous wrote:Do a lot of people really not let their nanny run reasonable, minor errands during the day? Unlike most professionals, nannies don't get a lunch break with which to run out for toothpaste, go to the bank, etc. I tell my nanny she's welcome to run minor, occasional personal errands as long as she doesn't abuse the privilege. Hell, my toddler loves going to the grocery store; nanny makes it a teaching experience just like she does everything else. Nanny tells me what they did at the end of each day and I'd say ~1 a week it involves a personal errands that takes 30 minutes or so? Or she tacks on a personal errand to something she's doing for me (i.e., buys some groceries while shopping for us). It just seems like no big deal at all to me. Nanny does tell me if she's putting my kids in the car for something that isn't a pre-planned outing, so I know if/when they're leaving our neighborhood.

It's one of those things that is great until it's a problem. Getting toothpaste is obviously no big deal. Taking my kids to her weekly chiropractic appointment is. So, in the beginning, it's best to discuss these things and figure out where everyone is comfortable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So where was she, OP, in that 75 minutes before she had to pick up her daughter?

So apparently she had to go to the bank which closed at 1 pm. TBH I'm not 100% believing that, either, because what bank closes at 1 pm on a Monday?

She has only worked for us for 3 1/2 weeks so it's not some super long relationship where this has been her only offense and I feel like firing her.

Also FWIW maybe I'm using the word nanny too liberally here. She works 24 hours a week, which works out to 2.5 days a week. I'm paying her time and a half to work on her off days- so I don't think it's some "huge favor" for her to be over here- good money for her and she can bring her daughter.

I just feel like this early, it was stupid of her to just assume and not ask. Honestly had she presented the scenario the way she did after I got home, I would have been inclined to say yes. But not happy to be totally caught off guard like that. I'm surprised so many people would be okay having no idea where their kid is!

It's still a favor even if you're paying her for it. And you're paying her time and a half? Does that mean she's earning less than she would on a day with both children? You sound like you get worked up easily. If you want her not to run errands while she's keeping DD, let her know. You're allowed to do that. But don't expect her to work on her days off if you're going to be so rigid. She saves her errands for her days off. Her life has to continue running even when she does favors for her boss.

This is such an unprofessional attitude and it is so sad that you don't realize it. It might be a favor for the nanny to agree to work on her off day and something for MB to consider whenever nanny asks a favor of her. But that is where the favor ends; it should be "business as usual" when nanny is caring for DC. Let's say you're a waitress and the manager asks you to take a shift on your day off. Does that mean you get to take an extra long lunch break or pop out on your shift to swing by the drugstore? You're doing your boss a favor by showing up so you should get these little extras, right? Hell, no!!! If nanny has to get errands on her day off, she can either 1) ask MB -in advance- if she can run such and such errand, or 2) she can say NO, I will not work on my off day, thank you very much. As to the comp, MB is probably paying nanny the standard hourly rate for ONE CHILD by paying time and a half. Example: nanny share rate is $10 per child so $20/hr for two kids. 1.5 times would be $15/hr which is market rate (in my area) for one child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So where was she, OP, in that 75 minutes before she had to pick up her daughter?

So apparently she had to go to the bank which closed at 1 pm. TBH I'm not 100% believing that, either, because what bank closes at 1 pm on a Monday?

She has only worked for us for 3 1/2 weeks so it's not some super long relationship where this has been her only offense and I feel like firing her.

Also FWIW maybe I'm using the word nanny too liberally here. She works 24 hours a week, which works out to 2.5 days a week. I'm paying her time and a half to work on her off days- so I don't think it's some "huge favor" for her to be over here- good money for her and she can bring her daughter.

I just feel like this early, it was stupid of her to just assume and not ask. Honestly had she presented the scenario the way she did after I got home, I would have been inclined to say yes. But not happy to be totally caught off guard like that. I'm surprised so many people would be okay having no idea where their kid is!

It's still a favor even if you're paying her for it. And you're paying her time and a half? Does that mean she's earning less than she would on a day with both children? You sound like you get worked up easily. If you want her not to run errands while she's keeping DD, let her know. You're allowed to do that. But don't expect her to work on her days off if you're going to be so rigid. She saves her errands for her days off. Her life has to continue running even when she does favors for her boss.

Do a lot of people really not let their nanny run reasonable, minor errands during the day? Unlike most professionals, nannies don't get a lunch break with which to run out for toothpaste, go to the bank, etc. I tell my nanny she's welcome to run minor, occasional personal errands as long as she doesn't abuse the privilege. Hell, my toddler loves going to the grocery store; nanny makes it a teaching experience just like she does everything else. Nanny tells me what they did at the end of each day and I'd say ~1 a week it involves a personal errands that takes 30 minutes or so? Or she tacks on a personal errand to something she's doing for me (i.e., buys some groceries while shopping for us). It just seems like no big deal at all to me. Nanny does tell me if she's putting my kids in the car for something that isn't a pre-planned outing, so I know if/when they're leaving our neighborhood.

I would want to know where my kid is. I always asked my nannies just to send a quick text of where there were going. Most of the time I didn't see the message, but if there were an emergency at least I could look back and know!

I'd be upset as well and make sure she knows you want to know where they are - at least the plan for the day and if the plan changes she lets you know.

Also - I don't think they shoul do personal errands without clearing it first. I don't actually have a problem with it - but given we are paying we should also be aware of personal activity. I am not allowed any personal errands at my job.

Banks are under federal regulation and cannot close at 1PM. It sounds like you have a language issue happening, OP, and she meant something else. Perhaps a credit union or check cashing place - or that she needed to get to the bank before a check cleared.
Just tell her that you do not want her running any personal errands without clearing it with you first. Problem solved.

Yeah, no bank closes at one o'clock unless you are in Europe.

She is obviously a liar and that in and of itself would be grounds for handing her her walking papers stat.

Anonymous wrote:So where was she, OP, in that 75 minutes before she had to pick up her daughter?

So apparently she had to go to the bank which closed at 1 pm. TBH I'm not 100% believing that, either, because what bank closes at 1 pm on a Monday?

She has only worked for us for 3 1/2 weeks so it's not some super long relationship where this has been her only offense and I feel like firing her.

Also FWIW maybe I'm using the word nanny too liberally here. She works 24 hours a week, which works out to 2.5 days a week. I'm paying her time and a half to work on her off days- so I don't think it's some "huge favor" for her to be over here- good money for her and she can bring her daughter.

I just feel like this early, it was stupid of her to just assume and not ask. Honestly had she presented the scenario the way she did after I got home, I would have been inclined to say yes. But not happy to be totally caught off guard like that. I'm surprised so many people would be okay having no idea where their kid is!

So where was she, OP, in that 75 minutes before she had to pick up her daughter?

I wouldn't fire her, OP, but I would address this head on. She doesn't need to tell you where she is beforehand, but saying that she is "out" with your child and refusing to give specifics about exactly what she is doing is a problem.

Our nanny tells me each day where she plans to go with the kids. She usually goes somewhere in the morning. In the afternoons she is home or at one of the parks within walking distance. , If her plans change and she goes somewhere else she sends me a text. It is very important to know where my kids are if they are not at home. Heaven forbid there is some kind of incident and I'm left wondering if my kids were in the vicinity and cell phone service has crashed because everyone it trying to call everyone else. If anyone was here during the earthquake a few years ago, you know what I'm talking about. In short, I think it completely reasonable to know where your nanny is taking your child. Especially for an infant they get plenty of stimulation walking around the block. Assuming you are paying your nanny, I don't see it as a huge favor that she came in on her "day off." Presumably she'll get another day off, was paid for today, and got to be paid for work while her child was with here. Seems like a win for all concerned.

Your nanny gave up her day off to benefit you. Get over it. The stuff she needs to do still needs to get done whether she's working or not. If you didn't want her to carry on with her life then you shouldn't have asked her to work.

I don't see the big deal. You're mad because your plans were interrupted, but presumably your nanny didn't know you would be coming home to pump - so why would she sit around all day waiting for that? You should be happy your kid is getting out and about, and that your nanny was willing to work for a crazy person on her day off.