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Original poster

Should I pay?

31 replies

BlossomOnTrees · 19/03/2021 15:21

Employed a nanny and she was meant to start a month ago but circumstances meant I had to withhold the position for about 6 weeks. She said she was not OK to wait for this long and would have to withdraw her offer of help. But she also wants paying for the time she has waited saying that although she has done no actual work for me, we still verbally entered a contract. So she is now asking for 2 weeks worth of pay. Is this right? I understand her frustration but there was always a job at the end so it's not like I cancelled the role entirely?

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Lochroy · 19/03/2021 15:32

I don't think your logic of 'there was always a job at the end of it' really works because what did you expect her to do in the mean time - go for six weeks without pay?

Can you clarify on the timings? How long after verbally offering her the job did you then say you needed to delay?

Titsinknicks · 19/03/2021 15:29

If you were offered a job and the employer said actually I don't need you for much longer you'd be pissed off. It's not like the bank will wait for the mortgage payment... I'm fairly sure legally you have to and morally it's the right thing to do

zzzebra · 19/03/2021 15:29

Did she sign a contract with you? Or have you put in writing offer and the original start date?

Also how much notice have you given her that she's not required for another 6 weeks?

I'm pretty sure you'll need to pay her the notice period that's stated in the contract, usually 2-4weeks.

Could you come to an agreement where you give her partial payment for the 6 weeks delay? She probably had bills to pay and potentially wouldn't have applied for the position if she'd known it wasn't going to start for 2+ months.

Titsinknicks · 19/03/2021 15:25

Verbal contracts are binding. What was your first agreement, what was the notice period? I would pay her if you massively changed the start date, yes.

steelserenade · 19/03/2021 15:25

You don't have to sign anything to have an employment contract.

Speak to Acas.

Kattenzz · 19/03/2021 15:23

No, if she didn't sign anything then you don't have to pay her. She's trying it on.