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Original poster

Nanny to go or not to go?

39 replies

2plus1 · 14/06/2012 16:06

I have some slight concerns re the nanny for our triplets who are 'at home' tots. The nanny has been with us a few months and really from the outset was not fulfilling our requirements ie domestic duties poorly carried out, poor hygeine (washing up, dirty toilet, messy tables and floors) that we had one trip who was sick......, poor personal appearance with un-ironed clothes with old stains on (was asked at tots group if they were actually paid), cannot cook so I have to do all of the purees in the evening and lastly has never cleaned the trips bedroom at all. These tasks are in the contract so I feel that this has never been complied with to satisfactory standards. I was going to dismiss the nanny within the first few weeks until I got told they were pregnant prior to taking the job. So was advised I couldn't do that. I went through disciplinary procedure instead (not personal appearance though as I wimped out). allowing time to get it sorted but they have not improved to anywhere near the standard. Now on final warning so do I now dismiss without fear of tribunals for discrimination. I have a full list of issues dating from the first day of employment. Having had previous nannies this one is really not up to what we would expect at all, especially for the wages. Ofsted reg was supposed to happen but the paperwork (insurances) were not done by the nanny and now we find that quals are not suitable either.

What do we do.......? I am at the end of my tether doing all of the cleaning up and re-doing tasks after my day at work.

OP posts:
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thisisyesterday · 14/06/2012 16:57

regardless of whether anyone on here thinks it's too much work, the nanny agency obviously thoufht it was ok, and the nanny herself presumable agreed to it when she signed the contract!

if she is struggling with it now it's a reality then she would need to speak to the OP and explain what she isn't managing and why, and sort it out

it'ss no excuse for burning food and not clearing up after the children really is it?

worrywortisworrying · 14/06/2012 16:50

I love the 'I find poo that was not mine' - like... do you leave YOUR OWN poo in the toilet? I like to clean up after myself!!!!

4goingon14 · 14/06/2012 16:46

Even the cleaning duties that you think 'are to be expected' of the nanny seem a bit unreasonable. Maybe for 1 child but 3?? Why on earth do babies/toddlers need their clothing ironed??

Perhaps you need to hire a cleaner in addition to a nanny.

worrywortisworrying · 14/06/2012 16:45

Do you have to call them 'trips' and how many hours does she actually work???? She seems to be doing alot after the trips have gone to bed?

As I Said, I have 2 kids, and when they go to bed SO DO I!!!!

lisaro · 14/06/2012 16:43

Ok, fair enough. But why does her being pregnant stop you firing her?

worrywortisworrying · 14/06/2012 16:43

13 months APART. Not 13 months OLD

worrywortisworrying · 14/06/2012 16:42

I'm sorry, but you sound like a bit of a nightmare.

I have two kids who are 13 months old and have sole care (DH not about). I have only RECENTLY started ironing their clothes (and that's only because they've started nursery and I don't want them to look like scruff bags at school. On home days, I don't iron their stuff)

I rely on quick food (pasta and ready made sauce for instance) at least 1, often 2, times per week

I don't think you can, seriously, say that one bout of illness when considering 3 children over the space of a few months is excessive. And you certainly can't blame her for it.

If your standards are so high, I would seriously suggest you give up whatever job is allowing you to pay for a nanny and do it yourself. You may well reconsider your job spec Wink

TheCrackFox · 14/06/2012 16:39

How old are your triplets?

Original poster
2plus1 · 14/06/2012 16:36

Ok we have had previous nannies train with us at our old location and as we moved we employed an 'experienced nanny'. The food requirement is to make basic things such as pasta, boiled veg/pots etc for finger food but this gets burnt. The cleaning is purely after the children ie if one spills food over the table or juice on the floor but not hoovering/dusting the house as I do this myself etc although the trips room is to be kept tidy. Toilet hygeine is cos I find poo in the toilet bowl when I get home that was not left by me!! The laundry is only the trips clothes/bedding which is exactly what is usually expected by an experienced nanny just like a parent would do at home. I cannot do trips clothes in just the weekend!! Ironing could be done after the trips are in bed and this is limited to just a few items unless they are not neatly folded from the dryer. The duties were fully endorsed by a nanny agency so is what would be expected.

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 14/06/2012 16:34

Well if she has been with you less than a year she will not having any legal protection.

However, by the sounds of it, you are asking far too much of her. You will find yourself in the same mess with the next nanny. The important thing is does. she actually care for your children well? Do your triplets seem to get on with her? This is far more important than your impossible list of cleaning duties.

lisaro · 14/06/2012 16:34

I know I'm out of the loop but why is her being pregnant stopping you firing her is she isn't doing the job? Also - how many nannies have you had and how long did they last/why did they leave?

EmmaNess · 14/06/2012 16:25

I'm confused - the triplets are still on purees, but you have had more than one nanny before? Why did the previous ones leave?

Cleaning and clearing up after the children is part and parcel of a nanny's job - or she a nanny/cleaner? If the latter, I do think that's asking a lot of someone, if the cleaning duties are meant to be carried out whilst she has sole charge of the babies.

LaurieFairyCake · 14/06/2012 16:18

I would post this in Legal - as far as I can see (and I'm really not an expert) if you have documented all the tasks and the disciplinaries carried out when she hasn't performed then I think you can dismiss her.

Is she currently on her last warning? I would also have thought that having proper insurance would be a condition of her employment.

QuintessentialShadows · 14/06/2012 16:09

Are you serious?
Are you expecting a nanny of triplets to both look after 3 children, cook and clean and iron, clean toilets and mop floors?

Is this a common expectation for somebody who looks after 3 children?