My au pair manhandled my dog.... is it gross misconduct?

Hope OP’s busy giving the AP the boot.

It's not gross misconduct OP. It's someone abusing your pet in your own home and you have every right to kick her out on her arse right now without giving it a name. She isn't an employee, she is a guest that does chores and childcare in return for a free room. You don't have to follow guidlines as an employer for this kind of arrangement

Please come back and update?

Whilst I agree that this is a sacking offence, I would worry about throwing the au pair out immediately.

She is a young woman in a foreign country. She has been with the OP over a year and would have been feeling settled there. If thrown out immediately, where would she go? Does she have enough money to get home or to stay in a hotel for a few nights while she is sorting out her journey or look for another position?

Despite the au pair's behaviour, because she is an au pair rather than an employee, it seems to me that the OP has a responsibility to ensure that she does not put her in a vulnerable position.

I've been watching this op as we got a puppy this weekend.

Dogs are just trusting of you. They literally see the good in everyone.

Hope you are ok.

You have a difficult conversation to have but your nanny has behaved appallingly.
Xx

Poor doggy, extra cuddles for him tonight. She needs sacking this weekend for sure, this won't be the first time she's done this.

I’d feel sick to my stomach knowing that had happened. Yes, instant dismissal.

Dismiss her. If you found her via an agency, let them have a copy of the Video footage so she doesn’t get the chance to do the same again on their watch.

I'm not an animal person but l wouldn't stand for that. Nasty woman

Cant believe you're even asking this op!!! Of course you should sack her, she's abusing your dog.

grab her by the scruff and throw her out, see how she likes it!!!!

Sack the bitch. Fuck knows how many other times shes done similar.

Dismissal and reporting to the RSPCA here as well.

She would leave my house immediately- and I would be hard pushed not to land her one. I have never hit anyone in my life but I know how angry I would be.

Get rid, she’s at home with your poor dog.

OP, I'd have been round home when I seen that video and flung her out on her arse, fire her immediately and go to the police.

@SoloMummy I don't know what planet your on but I have 2 dogs and I have never and would never kick them out of bed to go for a toilet, I wouldn't even tap them dogs know when they need to go for a toilet and if they were showing signs of needing out then I'd encourage them to go I'd never attempt to kick them out of bed though and even (I'm really, REALLY trying to see your point here) if I did tap, TAP not kick my dog to get out of bed if my dogs were disinterested I wouldn't then grab them by the collar to try and force them out. I don't know what people you know but it's wrong to do that regardless. As for looking after the dog, it probably will be in her contract or will have been discussed otherwise there would have been no reason for her to be attempting to get the dog outside for the loo, which she could have done without using any force at all. You look for the body language that the dogs are doing, they'll let you know when they want out, they won't be sitting in their bed minding their own business and then getting harassed to go outside by getting kicked and then lifted by the collar. Disgusting @SoloMummy shame on you

"Plenty of dog owners do as you have described op...."

What sort of people do you mix with, SoloMummy? Normal people do not treat their dogs or any other pet as the OP has described.

MissionImplausible, you're perfectly right, legally and morally, to dismiss the woman with immediate effect. She should consider herself lucky that she's not my au pair for if she was she would be leaving in the same way in which she caused my dog to go out of the door. You would be wise to contact the police, the agency through which she came if there was one, and to ensure that she is never employed in a position of trust with animals or children again.

If she's been in your employment for a year I would suspect that this is not the first time she's treated your dog like this.

A man caught on cctv punching his ddog was prosecuted and banned for 10 years from owning a ddog.Worth reporting imo.
As seen on Dog Rescuers recently..

I have two dogs that I love to bits but I think without actually seeing the footage we can't completely judge.
Was it a nudge with her foot or a violent kick? Presumably the dog must be small if she can lift up. did she throw it out violently or pick it up and put it outside, perhaps with the dog wiggling and jumping out of her arms? I say that because sometimes I've put my cats out if they've caught something or about to be sick, even used the term quick throw the cat out! I definitely dont hurl the cat out like a rugby ball , but with cat wiggling it might look like I've dropped it out the door rather than placed it gently on the ground!

why was aupair putting dog out in first place, does the dog have a history of having accidents in the house and has she been told to make sure it goes out? Of course you are within rights to terminate her contract , perhaps a safer route would be to get a dog sitter and a nanny or child minder .

Delighted that you are going to get rid of this abusive woman, I hope you can get her out ASAP. Please before you do so send copies of the abuse to the police, to the rspca and to the au pair agencies. If she argues you can let her know that you've already alerted the authorities and her agency. That should make it clear that you are serious and not willing to listen to her excuses or to let her stay. She should not be allowed to take any role caring for others and potential employers should be warned.

What a disgusting human.

Sacked. No ifs, no buts.

She should have been packing her bags five minutes after you saw the video, OP. I would want her out immediately - your colleague is an idiot.

I’d report to the RSPCA.

What action would you expect them to take?