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AIBU?

To tell my nanny she can't take days of for her wedding.

1002 replies

Foreverondiet · 25/01/2011 20:18

Have had same nanny for several years and each year she does some sort of retreat thing in June, 2 weeks. She is allowed 2 weeks holiday when she chooses and the rest when we choose (usually another 4 weeks worth).

Anyway she tells me she is getting married.... I think nothing of it until cleaner says did you know it was in September this year. I ask the nanny and she said, yes she was thinking she's take some unpaid leave. Try to push how much she needs, she wants another couple of weeks. I suggested maybe she wouldn't do the retreat this year but she was almost in tears and said she couldn't believe I wouldn't give her time of for getting married (she's going back home to eastern Europe to get married).

I asked her why she thought it would be ok, as I don't have enough holiday to cover it because we have already committed to go away with DH's parents. And yes I can take unpaid parental leave but this would be very expensive, and leave my boss being a bit annoyed with me.

The reason we have a nanny is that I have 3 DC, aged 4,7 and 9 months and its the only way I can work (full day nursery/childminder for baby plus after school would cost almost the same and this way she looks after older DC if they are ill or during school holidays).

Her wedding is on a Saturday and she works for me Mon/Tues and Thurs so its not as if she HAS to take time off, and if it really was that important to her why does she not cancel the retreat?

OP posts:
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Seabright · 25/01/2011 20:19
Biscuit
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RespectTheDoughnut · 25/01/2011 20:19

I've never had a nanny, so I don't know. But from an outside perspective, I think perhaps you're being a little mean. It is her wedding & she's presumably been very good for 'several years', so surely you can come to some arrangement as a one off?

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SauvignonBlanche · 25/01/2011 20:20

[bbiscuit]

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didldidi · 25/01/2011 20:20

is the holida agreement in writing/contract?

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lifeinagoldfishbowl · 25/01/2011 20:20

She is being unreasonable.

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rinabean · 25/01/2011 20:20

[bbiscuit]

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HecateQueenOfWitches · 25/01/2011 20:20

Ask her why she doesn't cancel the retreat?

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Rhinestone · 25/01/2011 20:20

One just can't get the staff these days. I knew this would happen once trade unions were legalised - staff wanting time off for their own weddings. Tsk tsk.

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gordyslovesheep · 25/01/2011 20:20

you give her 4 other weeks off - ergo you have 4 others weeks worth of leave - use that

oh and yes Biscuit

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pjmama · 25/01/2011 20:20

She's getting married! Surely if she's been with you for so long and you value her as an employee you could be a bit flexible as it's a one off for something so important?

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ballstoit · 25/01/2011 20:20

Are you joking?

Does your DH not get Annual Leave?

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 25/01/2011 20:21

A religious retreat? That's probably important to her as well.

So you're suggesting she does her work that week, hops on a plane home, gets married on the Saturday and is back in time for work on the Monday?

Yes I think YABU. It's her wedding, presumably a once in a lifetime occasion and it's September not next week. It's still on January, plenty for time to plan temporary cover.

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Foreverondiet · 25/01/2011 20:21

Sorry not sure I understand why you gave me a biscuit.

Before I get any more biscuits, my only choice is to take unpaid leave myself, which would be difficult/expensive.

Its written in her contract that she gets each year 2 weeks of her choosing and 2 weeks of ours, but we usually manage to give her 4 weeks (paid) of our choosing.

OP posts:
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ILoveFrogs · 25/01/2011 20:21

[bbiscuit]

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GloriaSmut · 25/01/2011 20:21

Have I accidentally stumbled into an episode of Bleak Expectations?

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reelingintheyears · 25/01/2011 20:21

Are you for real...
If not you sound horrid.

September is ages away.
You can easily sort out cover between now and then...

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scurryfunge · 25/01/2011 20:22

I would work my own leave around it if I wanted to retain this nanny and she is otherwise reliable.

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PatFig · 25/01/2011 20:22

The ungratefull cow

I would sack her

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LindyHemming · 25/01/2011 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisyesterday · 25/01/2011 20:22

i think it would be utterly heartless of you to refuse to let her have time off for her wedding actually!

she is entitled to 6 weeks yes? so 2 for her retreat, 2 for her wedding and 2 others when you choose

why can you not choose to let her have those 2 weeks? how horrid

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balia · 25/01/2011 20:22

Of course it isn't important to her - the lower classes don't have finer feelings like we do - she pop to the registry office during her tea break, surely? So long as she polishes all the silver and takes the baby with her, obviously...

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rolandweary · 25/01/2011 20:22

I think you are being monstrously selfish

Shock

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RealName · 25/01/2011 20:22

YABVeryU

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MilkNoSugarPlease · 25/01/2011 20:22

Seriously?!




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usualsuspect · 25/01/2011 20:22

Its like another world on here sometimes...

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