Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Nanny resignation - warning signs?

54 replies

katharinehepburn · 31/05/2012 23:03

We have had a nanny for nearly 4 years and have (up till now) thought we had a good working relationship.

However she has just handed in her notice for four weeks time.

She has found another job. Hourly pay rate similar but fewer hours. No changes in her personal circumstances to explain it. Nor in ours. All previous jobs she had stayed till the children were at least 8 yrs old.

I now have a distraught child (asleep at last) who thinks nanny doesn't like her or her brother anymore and I can't explain to them why this has happened because I don't understand it myself.

I guess what I wanted to know was, how common is it for nannies in a long term post (we will need a nanny for years to come) to suddenly decide to leave without even warning the parents that this was a possibility?

If she had told us she wanted to do less we could have actually worked it out quite easily. I know she is perfectly entitled to do this but to just do it without any warning leaves a bad taste in my mouth and an uncomfortable end to her employment with us.

Off to look at CVs now.....

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
blapbird · 31/05/2012 23:42

I gave three months notice once because I wanted to help a smooth transistion for the family and to help them train a new nanny, it was a really horrible, confusing time for all involved like 'the long goodbye' I know it's confusing but a change is as good as a rest and she has the right to press the 'refresh button' on her life and bring her skills to another table at any time she likes.

Your children will adapt very quickly you are their primary attachment so the boat wont be too rocked.

Try not to let it leave a bad taste in your mouth, it may turn out to be for the best, it's better this way than she stays but is infecting the house with negativity.

Good luck finding someone
x

GinevraMollyWeasley · 31/05/2012 23:34

Makes me really sad to read that, I know as someone in my last month with childen I've helped raise over the last 18 months I'm devestated to know I won't be a part of their lives for much longer. No child has ever just been a paycheck to me. There are far easier jobs than working a 60 hour week, with the constant snot, pooey nappies, tantrums, etc (ok not constant but I don't know how many office workers have to deal with a screaming 2 year old in their average working day!)

colditz · 31/05/2012 23:30

She has given you warning, she's given you four weeks notice. This is the price you pay with nannies, to your kids she is a second mother, but to her your kids are a pay check.

GinevraMollyWeasley · 31/05/2012 23:27

Well, as a nanny all I have to say is I live in hope of finding that elusive long-term job! Pretty much every job I've had has started off being long-term, meaning at least 2 years, then circumstances change and I end up jobhunting again. Most recently because the mum has decided to stay off work after maternity. The only job I ever quit was after a long 13 months of trying to make it work, for the sake of consistancy for the child even though I was becoming more and more miserable (this was abroad). When I did hand my notice in the parents barely cared!

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is for myself and most of my nanny friends, leaving a position without lots of warning or a really good reason would be a last resort. Is there any chance something happened, something changed in the job or in her personal life? I know of some nannies who like to change, keep it fresh or whatever, but after 4 years it's odd.