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Original poster

Nanny and Xmas time...

30 replies

BonaDea · 02/08/2014 22:42

I know it's 5 months away but we're trying to figure out our own annual leave and family visiting schedule.

This is the first year we'll have had our nanny. She is fantastic and we want to do what is 'the done thing' and be very fair but obviously don't have unlimited time off or money!

Are most nannies expecting to be given time off for Xmas without having to use up their own annual leave days? We normally take the bank holidays only and so work between Xmas and new year. Would that be frowned upon if we expect her to work (or of course use her own holidays)?

If you are meant to give time off, how much? And is this on top of a financial bonus?

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Iggly · 03/08/2014 06:24

We give ours the time off and it comes out of leave except the actual bank holidays.

I wouldn't dream of making ours work then - it usually is only a handful of days. But I take it off too.

We were upfront about any times of the year when nanny couldn't take leave, because my job didn't allow it. You should tell her now or should have done at the start because it isn't fair IMO.

I'm guessing you have a 50:50 split in terms of when she can take holiday and when she has to?

Ericaequites · 03/08/2014 04:00

Who gets Christmas to New Years off? I close at noon on the 24th, then open at the usual time the 26th.

Callaird · 03/08/2014 00:55

You don't have to give her that time off. If you need to work then you can ask her to come in. Or if you can get time off or cover you can take it out of your annual leave or discuss taking half and half.

Technically employers can ask you to work any day they choose, including bank holidays if the contract states 5.6 weeks as long as they have their 28 days a year.

Which is why I have 5 weeks plus all bank holidays in my contract to cover Christmas because when I was younger and naive I hated working between Christmas and new year when my employers were off and chilling out! So I have in my contract, a week at Christmas, two weeks of my choice, two weeks employers choice and all bank holidays. Also if there is an extra bank holiday in the year (jubilee/Kate & Will's wedding) employers don't have to give it.

FabulousFairy · 02/08/2014 23:21

As a nanny I have always taken Christmas and new year off as my holiday choice. That way I get two weeks to fly away. Perhaps I have been unlucky but have never been given extra holiday then for reasons that you state. Work and finances of employers.
Other jobs don't give extra days off, willy nilly. So don't feel bad. 20 days plus 8 bank holidays is the norm for most employment be it in the world of banking or in a factory, so don't feel bad.
This is my experience and opinion.
You must do what you feel is right for you and your nanny. However, I am sure she will not be expecting extra time off. If you take more than your half of her holiday, you can ask her to do nursery tasks in the house or give her extra paid holiday. This should all be in your contract with her though. Good luck.

OutragedFromLeeds · 02/08/2014 22:51

Most families do take the days between Christmas and new year and so most nannies do get these days off, but that does normally come out of holiday allowance (although lots of nannies also get extra holiday).

I think it depends a lot on your nanny. Does she have children? Is she likely to be away over Christmas i.e will she be visiting her home country? If so, then I would take some of the days as your holiday and let her take the other half from her holiday. If working will be no problem for her then it's fine to ask her to take it out of her holiday.