My nanny got cosmetic surgery and can’t work

The “nannies” there are really glorified maids and don’t have the capacity to think about their work ethic ans the effect on the employer due to their absence.

Wtf.

Your nanny clearly had the surgery planned in advanced. Therefore, she's taking the piss, if she honestly thinks contacting her employer the day after her planned procedure to say she'll need 3-4 weeks off work, is acceptable.

It's immaterial if she's a nanny or works in a factory, you don't spring this on your employer!! Any procedure that requires time off work, needs to be notified in advance, so the employer can make alternative arrangements.

This isn't a case of your nanny falling down some stairs and breaking her ankle, and needing time off work to recover. That's an accident, and we all know accidents happen unexpectedly. It can't be helped. Planned cosmetic surgery is very different, it's not an emergency or unexpected.

Personally, I'd take a copy of the Nanny's contract of employment to a solicitor and seek legal advice. You need to make sure you follow the employment law of the country you are living in, so there's no come back onto you. I would have thought you'd be within your rights to terminate her employment. Whatever happens you need to find a temporary new nanny, at the very least.

I work in the public sector in Scotland and we don't get sick leave for elective surgery.

Edit: I meant to quote

Neurodiversitydoctor

In the NHS it absolutely would be paid sick leave. I don't know about other organisations.

I would be looking for a new nanny. She's not reliable and I wouldn't have some random relative foisted onto me.

All these people saying ‘sack her!’ have obviously never had to rely on a nanny.

OP if she is good then I would let her know you’re not happy with having no notice like this, tell her you won’t be paying her any more sick pay than is in her contract, and it will not happen again, then move on.

If she’s not great anyway then I’d start looking for a new nanny.

Nowt else you can do really, you can’t start lengthy battles and arguments with domestic staff it just doesn’t work.

Unfortunately if someone who works in my home, and especially someone who works with the kids, raises a reason for me to develop trust issues with them - I can’t go back and I would be looking to find someone else.

It’s childcare. I’m sure the housekeeper part isn’t an issue but OP needs someone to care for the kids while she works - this is like your nursery telling you with a days notice that they are shutting for a month

we have no idea if the nanny is young or not. My nanny was the same age as me and I am lucky that she was incredibly professional. We didn’t really have any other choice childcare wise unfortunately and it sounds like OP doesn’t either given the hours she needs covering

I read the thread title and assumed your grandma had recently had a face lift!

I was more questioning the dig about vanity tbh. Of course with any surgery you inform your employer.

I would check the legality of employment law in the country you are in but the fact she had the surgery yesterday and then told you with no scope for you to be prepared would be the decider for me and I would fire her. An agency should be able to get you someone in for the short term and from the sounds of it, you’re going to need that anyway so just ask the agency to look for someone who could be available long term if it works out.

This is your employee, not a member of the family no matter what you have written in your OP.

Yes that’s what I asked has she said why on earth she didn’t think to give her notice…

@kenadams5 Yes, surgery is surgery but from a work perspective, not giving notice that.you have a procedure scheduled for X date is poor behavior.

I had an accident last year and had an op a few days later (I was pretty much bed bound until then). Obviously I informed my employers of the surgery date!

Different cultures have different ways of looking at life. Working long hours in a low paid job she probably thinks she doesn't owe you anything. I'm guessing Dubai or somewhere in the Gulf.

But her role isn't essential as in the majority of people don't have nannies or housekeepers.
OP will survive
Nanny is likely very young (I am making assumptions here) and needs to be given a chance

If you children are attached to her, I would factor that into any decisions you take about her future employment with you. But yes she has let you down.

surgery is surgery. Also LOL at vanity. God forbid. 🙄

OP sounds like you are in a pickle now. Did she not think to give you any notice whatsoever? Surely that’s just the normal no matter what industry you work in.

In the NHS it absolutely would be paid sick leave. I don't know about other organisations.

of course you can be pissed off! How many of us will send such a message to our bosses?

You are probably in the middle east or asia? The “nannies” there are really glorified maids and don’t have the capacity to think about their work ethic ans the effect on the employer due to their absence. Their mentality is completely different.

and please …. She is a part of your household and not your family …….

Why does she need time for an eyelift? My friend took a week off then worse big glasses for a week. If she's fearful your children might catch her eyes then glasses are a good option, but an eye lift is not really like a tummy tuck or boob job is it?

I'm going to have mine dine and, like my friend, I'll just need a week off so the worst of the swelling ones down.

It would be helpful if the OP lets us know the country and nationality of her nanny.

I imagine looking after a toddler is a lot more physical work than working from home or office work

No paid sick leave in my (UK) contract for cosmetic work if there is any suggestion of sick pay

She is very unreliable and I would be looking elsewhere

An eyelift

Do you mean a blepharoplasty to remove excess fat/skin from the eye lid??? My mum has this done in her early 70's and was driving 10days later!

But she isn’t keeping family life going! Can you imagine telling any other employer you are going to have to take 3-4 weeks off work at short notice