Coronavirus- can nanny still work?

Wow how offensive @sociallydistained. Really you have no idea.

I think anyone making their nanny work through this is selfish and simply risking somebodies life (as well as your own families)

My employers have been advised by Nannypaye that they are fully eligible but I do understand there is a risk. Looks like payments are going to start rolling out soon so I'll let you know. I've been furloughed for 4 weeks I'm sure I'll be straight back in after that.

too much wine!! Ignore the typos!!

It’s a huge financial risk for nanny employers. Particularly as in most cases the work is still there. Just because parents are at home, they are usually working!
In normal circumstances when working from home we still need a nanny or some form of childcare - this is no different, despite the protests from various Nanny groups that they shouldn’t be working as parents are at home.

@Bringonspring I’m also genuinely worried about my children big this hoes on for much longer it’s not only not fair on them, but dangerous for my toddler. He’s already had a cut lip and numerous bumps and bruises as we cannot supervise him at the level he needs.

Sunshine-yes I agree, the guidelines make a distinction between sick pay and furlough. There is no way HMRC are just going to reimburse an individual who has been on full pay. So all individuals who have let their nanny stay at home expecting to be refunded whilst having their full salary paid to them should plan to not receive the funds.

It is totally different if the employer has been furloughed/their business has stopped. Then they can get reimbursement.
M

Sociallydistined, that’s great they are in a position to be able to and also to manage without a nanny. Sadly that is not the case for the everyone.

My employers are topping up the 20% too. Are you pissed off at that also?

@Pidgythe2nd yes exactly - @sociallydistained are you saying that where nannies are working that their employers do not "genuinely care"?

Perhaps some of us have nannies that want to work, perhaps for their own mental health and for the benefit of their own children that they bring with them to work. That understand that in some cases the ongoing risk is minimal (not the case in all situations but it can be in many). That appreciate that furlough only applies in certain circumstances.

And that nanny employers are not bottomless pits of cash - it's a gamble furloughing not knowing what's reclaimable!!

@bringinspring my thoughts exactly. No way HMRC/Gov give free money to people like us. For a start, they’re taxing it. For a second, they may decide were not eligible later on. Can’t see nanny paying it back in those circumstances, can you?

Wobbly I would have to do what you have had to do. It’s just not fair on my children that they are not properly looked after whilst I try to work. If the risk was even low rather than remote (family and nanny all under 40 with no underlying conditions) then I would reach a different conclusion.

The bill is higher than HMRC thought it would be for furlough. It wouldn’t surprise me if they started checking people’s tax returns and when they see the the employers pay wasn’t cut (it was just the nanny not wanting to work) they will not pay it.

@Wobblywombat totally with you.

@sociallydistained rtft... 2m is ‘where possible’. And please stop insinuating that people who cannot furlough their nanny indefinitely, do not care. It’s beginning to grate. Did Martin Lewis tell you that?

@Pidgythe2nd I was prepared to go to work. I had raised my concerns about it and I felt it was not morally right to do so but I was fully prepared to go in because the guidelines are not clear. However, after voicing my concerns my employers agreed and decided to furlough me and stated it was their duty as an employer. I for one am extremely thankful for them and will return to my job knowing they genuinely care.

@Pidgythe2nd Yes and all of us will be going shopping ourselves for essentials so then the risk rises. Going into somebody else's household and mixing households is not acceptable. It's also not possible to have a 2m distancing rule as with the workplaces which are having to remain open.

The risks are actually quite low if everyone is taking appropriate precautions.
Unfortunately, our nanny expects to he furloughed indefinitely but my employer has only agreed to give me (unpaid) time out for another 2 weeks.
I will therefore need to lay my nanny off and find someone new - I have already found 2 good candidates.
I would have preferred to continue with our old nanny but after 4 weeks of paying her full wages while my pay is cut, I have decided I need to do the right thing for my family and get the help we need to keep our own jobs and income.
Unfortunately, like many other nannies out there, our nanny seems to thinK that being furloughed is costless to her employer. She is replaceable and unfortunately not everyone can be paid to do nothing indefinitely.

@sociallydistained, personally I think the risk is minimal for most. Far higher risk going shopping actually.

Are you applying the same logic to anyone that is being ‘made’ to work? (In that their employer is ‘selfish’?)

My employers have decided to furlough me for mine and my families well-being. I really appreciate that. They will struggle but they will survive.

I think anyone making their nanny work through this is selfish and simply risking somebodies life (as well as your own families)

@sunshine no not yet but I know what their answer would be so not sure I’ll put myself through the pain of an HMRC phone queue.

I’ll keep fingers crossed she’s happy to keep working for now

@Littlemissweepy funny what the thought of not being paid does to focus the mind! Did you ever call/get through to HMRC on the furlough point?

Totally agree pidgy and sunshine.

Funnily enough my nanny seems to have mellowed a bit now and seems happy working. I can’t keep up!

I agree with that approach. Sadly I don’t think nanny employers as individuals (as opposed to large corporations) are in a position to be paying full pay indefinitely whilst also covering the nanny’s job personally.

We are doing the same pidgy, a short time you can get by but not longer.

You’re right, one nanny isn’t ‘essential to the population’ but we’re not just talking about one nanny.
I’d say nannies are essential to keep the economy going.
I can work from home. We’re being told ‘business as usual’, but to prioritise. This is just about manageable in the very short time, but not for months on end.
We’ve furloughed our nanny for 3 weeks as she’s not coming in anyway, but will then reassess. Either she returns, or we find a temp replacement or I take unpaid leave. She’ll be unpaid for the last 2 options.
It’s not fair on my children to be basically left to their own devices so often, when I feel it’s a choice she is making, and a low risk situation.

yes I agree!

I only found out about nannies still able to mix households, so went to see my gd this afternoon.
Sauce for goose is source for the gander.
I don't begrudge nannies working, but they aren't essential to the population, just the individual.
They aren't key workers.

In my case, I would like our nanny back as soon as possible - but I also want to be respectful of the fact she does not agree.