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Original poster

Where do I stand with nanny?

31 replies

Yabing · 18/07/2015 10:46

Nanny has been with us for 3 years. In April we made her an offer for July this year (reduced hours but increased hourly pay), to account for a change in circumstances. She accepted this offer verbally.

Yesterday she told me that she was going for an interview today, and has given me one week's notice this morning.

The notice terms on her contract are 8 weeks, with a statutory minimum of 4 weeks due to her length of service.

I know that I cannot stop her from leaving, but if you have been in this situation before, please can you share how you handled it? I cannot think straight at the moment, as I feel so disappointed. I know that the first priority is to put new childcare into place. This is the first nanny that we employed, so not sure how to terminate the arrangement properly given the breach of contract.

Many thanks for your advice.

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Zhx3 · 18/07/2015 11:31

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Original poster
Yabing · 18/07/2015 11:27

The 8 weeks was to protect both parties, I would not have dreamt of giving her 1 week's notice of our intent to terminate her employment!

We have had an excellent relationship over the past 3 years, so this had come as a real shock. I am actually really upset. Luckily we are ok for childcare for the next month or so, but it is an added stress to now have to put something into place before September.

OP posts:
Redspottygranola · 18/07/2015 10:53

Sorry re-reading the op - I guess she just got a better offer but still a bad way to end the relationship Sad

Cantkinsale · 18/07/2015 10:51

Not very professional at all. I have no advise for you on the legal side of things, I'm sure there will be someone come along who can help. More fool her though if she doesn't get offered the job today, karma I'd say.
Good luck though. Good riddance to her if that's the way she can treat you at the end.

Redspottygranola · 18/07/2015 10:50

I don't have experience with a nanny but if she is in breach of a contract she has previously signed that I suppose you could take her to court over it. An awful way to end 3 yrs of employment however and a real shame for your DC who must have come to love her. Will she not negotiate at all? If she is only going for an interview then she may not have Nother job lined up so it's odd she would give her notice like that! Has something happened? A row with you or something with the DC?

totallybewildered · 18/07/2015 10:49

terms of notice in childcare are a bit silly, because you would never leave your child with someone who doesn't want them, or expect to keep a child who's parent doesn't trust you any more. It's fine as a guideline, but even so, 8 weeks is ridiculous! a teacher doesn't have to give that much notice, with 30 children!

Just make the last week a happy one, or if you feel like you can't trust her, explain why nicely, and make new arrangements as of today.

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