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Original poster

Should I pay Nanny for sick days?

32 replies

TerrysNo3 · 26/01/2017 21:50

Our Nanny started with us at the beginning of November, shes great and we really like her but since she started she had one day off last year, a day where she asked to go home for a nap because she wasn't well (I was working from home and DS2 was sleeping for some of it) and last week she had 2 days off with a sprained wrist.

She messaged me at 6am last week to say she wasn't coming in as she didn't think she could do her job and she also said she was happy to take it as unpaid. I was really annoyed, mainly because DH and I are so busy at work and we thought having a Nanny would make this problem less likely. And as parents we never really take sick days so we're not that sympathetic in that respect Blush

Her contract says she should receive SSP but I am not sure what to do. I don't want to penalise her for being unwell but I am worried if I pay her she will be less incentivised to turn up if she's under the weather?

We can afford to pay her but also we had to find alternative childcare when she was off so it would be costing us twice. I don't want to be a horrible employer as (apart from the slight unreliability thus far) she is pretty good.

WWYD? Please tell me!! Pay day is tomorrow Confused

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Original poster
TerrysNo3 · 26/01/2017 22:08

*Quark" according to the HMRC website you are not eligible for SSP until you are off for 4 days.

And please don't misread me - we are pretty generous employers, we paid her without question for the 1.5 days last year and we gave her a Christmas bonus even though she had only been with us 6 weeks so it is really not about money. I want to keep her happy as I think she will do a better job if she is happy but it just worries me.

OP posts:
MadHattersWineParty · 26/01/2017 22:06

SSP only kicks in after 4 consecutive days of sickness.

Original poster
TerrysNo3 · 26/01/2017 22:05

Thanks cushion and madhatters I think its quite a lot too, its basically 8% of her employed days with us.

I really don't mind paying her and I would like to keep her happy as she is doing a good job but I am concerned that if I do she might be more likely to take more sick days and we can't really afford that (from a job perspective).

She only works 3.5 days a week (as that's what I do) so it makes it so difficult if I have to miss work as I am the only part time person in my team.

OP posts:
Quarksoundslikequack · 26/01/2017 22:03

Isn't it the law to pay SSP??

MadHattersWineParty · 26/01/2017 22:02

She took two days off with a sprained wrist?!Shock

She's taken the same amount of days off since November as I have in three years as a nanny, OP.

You wouldn't be a horrible employer not to pay her, I certainly wouldn't have taken two full days for a sprained wrist.

cushioncovers · 26/01/2017 22:02

I'm torn, she has only been with you for 8 weeks and has had 3 or 4 episodes of sickness. That's a lot to be honest. I work for the NHS and I would be called in for a meeting and put on stage 1 sickness by now.

Geraldthegiraffe · 26/01/2017 21:56

Pay her.

Can't believe that just because you've not been sick enough to need time off work that justifies you sneering about those with ill health.