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Paid childcare

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

Boss always late!

56 replies

sharkteeth · 03/03/2015 15:46

Hiya! I am looking for some advice. I am a nanny and I work for a family 3 days a week 8am-6pm. In the beginning mum was always home at 5:45-5:50 meaning we could have a chat and handover and I could leave at 6. She was very occasionally late and I know that you can't help being late. She was very apologetic and I honestly didn't mind.

But since the New Year she has been late 2,sometimes 3 days a week. She's a cyclist and sometimes gives the excuse of traffic. Other times she might text saying she's running 10 minutes late and that usually means twenty. Once she just outright said she was down at the pub!

I'm not leaving work now until 6:15 at the earliest. I'm not even getting apologies anymore or any extra pay.

I was wondering what others would do in this situation? Would you say anything/ ask for extra pay? Or just let it go?

Thanks :)

OP posts:
nbee84 · 03/03/2015 20:03

I had this in a previous job - and mb would text 10 mins after she was due home to say sorry she was running late. I had a chat and asked if she wanted to change the contracted hours but she said she would make the effort to leave the office on time (like Aberchips she would get caught by colleagues as she was leaving) She did improve greatly but would usually get home at my finish time and then spend 10 mins chatting about the kids and what we'd been up to. I just accepted this as in all other respects the job was great and they were paying well, but if she had slipped back to as bad as things were originally then I would have had another chat.

letsplayscrabble · 03/03/2015 19:34

I don't think this is acceptable, I employ my nanny until 6, I'm always home by 5.45 and often earlier. Would agree that you need to discuss.

DearGirl · 03/03/2015 18:12

Could have written your post. I also need to get brave and speak to bosses about habitual lateness.

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/03/2015 16:55

ask for a chat and say you have noticed she is often late/past agreed contracted hours and ask if she is finding getting home on time hard and did she want to discuss a later finishing time

Aberchips · 03/03/2015 16:42

I would raise it with her - she may not be aware that you find it an issue. If it carries on then I would maybe politely just suggest that if she is struggling to get home for 6 that they extend your hours to 6.30pm (if that would work ok for you?) so that she doesn't seel rushed & you can have a decent handover. She may genuinely be struggling to leave work in time to get home & have good intentions to get there on time. I work 3 days a week myself & on countless occasions colleagues have grabbed me "just for a quick word" as I'm heading out of the door which adds another 10 mins on my day often.

As a cyclist she shouldn't really be able to play the traffic card as cyclists in my experience tend to whizz past the queues (lucky things!)

Yerazig · 03/03/2015 16:37

I'm a nanny you should make it clear in a polite way it's not on and she needs to come back on time. I've just started a new job and made it clear if they can come home 5/10 mins before so there's enough time for a handover. We work enough hours without having to stay any longer and not being paid. So really you can suggest that they move your finish time till a bit later. Or you start charging them say for every 15mins their late like some childminders/nurseries do.