Coronavirus- can nanny still work?

We’ve interpreted the guidance as meaning unless our jobs were essential then nanny does not need to come in and we still pay her (though hoping to benefit from the 80 percent furlough reimbursement eventually). We are not keyworkers and are both working full time from home and just juggling childcare.

P.s. my comment about essential workers was only referring to the the term ‘essential work’. Not at all about key workers! They are in a completely different league and of course need the help more than the rest of us!!

@Pidgythe2nd Thank you for saying that! That’s what I kept thinking while reading the comments. It is near on impossible for my DH and I to work while looking after our children. I will have to take leave/unpaid leave to manage which means our income will be massively reduced. My concern is that we can’t do this long term. I think it’s very naive of people to think that if you’re not an ‘essential worker’, your work is not essential. My work is essential to keep my house and food on the table. We are not high earners, we don’t have an unlimited pot of money. I also think people have jumped on the ‘essential work’ band wagon because of the initial wording on the gov website - which they have since edited.

I’m trying to keep up with developments but have no clue what to do. We love our nanny, she has chosen to self isolate because she’s concerned. We can potentially do SSP (new legislation allows SSP if you choose to isolate and are not unwell) but I believe there is a limit on how long you can claim.

Thereafter I suppose it’s the retention scheme - if we qualify as domestic employers! Or potentially unpaid leave but I know she won’t want to do that.

Very torn as I want to look after her but also very fearful of our own future.

So many responses on here and other threads along the lines of the parent is working from home, so no need for the nanny to go in?!
WORKING from home. Clue is in the name. 99% of parents are not sitting around. It’s practically impossible for us to work from home whilst supervising 3 young children.
It’s dangerous to not supervise and actually work.
What this will mean is that people (including me) will end up taking unpaid leave and having to let nannies go. It’s not even clear that employers will get the grant for any furloughed employees so a huge financial risk.

I would tell her to come in, she can’t work from home.

ZydecoLaywee. I wouldn’t have her come in.

I’m struggling so much with what to do about our nanny. She’s currently self-isolating for 14 days due to symptoms that disappeared after day 2. I would like her to come back after her 14 days. Both DH and I are key workers, but DH can work from home (scientist crunching numbers for SAGE), so people are suggesting because of that she shouldn’t come in? I am, heartbreakingly, living away from DH and DCs to protect them. Do I tell DH to manage or ask her to come back?

Leanne086.

I wouldn’t go in in that case. What are their actual jobs?

Hi, I’ve just agreed to go into work for my family as they are both key workers. I have children of my own so it wasn’t an easy decision. BUT after agreeing this I’ve realised that one parent is working from home apart from every third week. Am I within my rights to say that if they are working from home then I shouldnt be asked to go in? I obviously feel with having my own children that the less I need to work the better.

Thank you

mumyof3

It sounds like you need to stay at your own home to me. It's strange that your employers want you to come into work when one of them works from home.

Goodvluck.

Hi!
few days before lock down i had to be isolated as one of my children was sick. My employer keep asking if i am coming back after two weeks(lock down is on now).
I don't know what to do as i am afraid what if other member of my family get sick towards the end of 2 weeks recent isolation? Does that mean i have to be in new 14 days isolation?
I am also scared that my health is in danger(even i travel with my own car) as their children are quiet often sick. I am afraid i will pass ilness to my family...
i have to mention that ine parent is key worker but other work from home
any sugestions?

This is all interesting to me. My nanny family are calling tomorrow to chat about our plan for the next few weeks. I'm isolating until Monday anyway. Neither are key workers and both are working from home. And their children are older (one year 4 and the other year 6)

Ok, so you have proposed financials over the virus just as your employers are.

@bringonspring
If I resign I will loose 7 years redundancy pay for a start , plus I wouldn’t be entitled to any financial help as I would have made myself unemployed! One of my employers is not even working now, they are out cycling everyday. I work for millionaires , who have two homes.
But it’s not just about me, I have several nanny friends in the same position. It’s up to the employer to lay us off.

Lottie just quit then. Why aren’t you resigning?

Of course you couldn’t sue, no way could you prove it.

Sorry care workers

The government have said it ok to go to work as long as you can maintain social distancing.
Some people like careers, nurses etc obviously can’t do this either but their job is essential. Also a nanny for key workers is also essential.
But a nanny to two parents , neither in key jobs is NOT essential.
You said earlier you are a key worker, so my argument is not with you.
But there is no way employers are providing a safe environment.
Just accept unless you are a key worker , you should send your nanny home. Claim furlough payment for him/her. It won’t cost you anything.

@LottieBees19 but you just said earlier nannies are allowed to work. So the government have said it's okay, so you can't sue for that. They are sticking to the rules and it's considered safe.

Covid-19 RNA were found in the Princess Cruise ship 17 days after its passengers had left, a lab found the virus on plastic and metal after 72 hours. You could get it from opening a gate etc.

It's impossible to reduce risk down to absolutely zero.

I dont see the postman or go out other than to work. The virus lives for 24 hours on cardboard, so unlikely to get it from post or food shopping.
So if I get it I will be from my nanny family. My family is not going out either. So yes I would sue as they are not providing a safe work environment as per government guidelines. Like all nannies I have insurance for legal representation and I would use it.
If you have a nanny and are key workers that's fine. Otherwise you should consider your nanny's safety and not ask her to work.

Oh good god I would not be suing my nanny family if i caught coronavirus. And I don't think anyone would have a leg to stand on. There is no way to prove that is where you caught it. You could catch it walking down your street, touching a car door, popping to the shop, food being delivered, letters through the letterbox.
Whilst I feel strongly now that nannies should only really be working for key workers, saying that you will sue them is absolutely terrible since they are just following the (limited and extremely conflicted) advice.

Your family will sue the nanny family if you get Covid19? I don't think they will get very far with that. You could just as easily pick it up from the postman, or you could spread it to them - should they then sue you?

The government says you should continue to work, in fact they provided updated advice clarifying that anyone who is unable to work remotely can go to work.

My nanny PAYE company have also said my nanny should work.

I've sent her home though, but this is just because we are taking this very seriously and not having contact with anyone and I'm not sure she is doing the same.

I wouldn’t work for anyone who puts themselves in close contact with people they don’t know. Thems the rules - for good reason. Why would you expect anyone to?

Let the nanny go for their own safety

ChloeR81
Only you can lay your nanny off or make her redundant. Your nanny can not refuse to come to work. If you lay her of you can apply to HMRC for 80% of her salary .
Otherwise check with your employer insurance and see if you are covered still.

thewayoftheworld I’m a nanny and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I do 2 hours in the morning and an hour in the afternoon - although yesterday was longer. The children (5 &8) read to me, I do a spelling test and yesterday I did their science homework with them. It’s working well. The parents can get a few hours uninterrupted work done and I feel like I’m doing my bit for them. I am also researching resources for them online and trying to come up with ideas of things to keep them amused. Plus I get to see the children every day which is lovely.