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Original poster

Nannies and Xmas holidays

31 replies

lobsters · 16/04/2009 19:17

I'm still working out costings on getting a nanny and was wondering how those of you who are nannies or have nannies deal with working over Xmas. Is it normally given as additional leave or does it come out of the normal leave allowance?

For the next few years I imagine I will take quite a few days off over Xmas and New Year to spend with DD, I'm unsure whether it's best to offer 20 days leave plus Xmas and bank holidays, or 25 days leave which it is expected will include Xmas plus bank holidays, what is the norm?

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nbee84 · 16/04/2009 20:41

Extra paid time off is always appreciated

Overnight care with time off in lieu is usually okay too - just make sure you let nannies know about this at the interview stage.

Original poster
lobsters · 16/04/2009 20:37

Blondes - that was my thinking, partly from a selfish point of view, if I get day off to spend with DD I want her to myself. I get loads of leave, so would be able to offer more leave to a nanny. Hence thinking of 5 weeks.

nbee - interesting about the increased min holiday, hadn't seen that before.

As I type this I know it is quite a stupid question, is it considered bad form to give nannies (paid) days off if I'm taking a day off to spend with DD.

I'm guessing this depends on the nanny, but how would those of you who are nannies feel about very, very occasionally being asked to do overnight care, and being given one or two days off in lieu at a later date.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 16/04/2009 20:32

i have always had minium of 5 weeks- 2 my choice, 2 theirs and a week bewteen christmas and NY

but i am also the exception

tbh if you or daddy are off, i think it is mean to ask the nanny to work - though obv some employers have to work never work for doctors

nannynick · 16/04/2009 20:22

My view is that each nanny will have different expectations. When I worked in retail, working xmas week was expected, so when I changed to nannying I was not expecting to get lots of time off over xmas.
So do ask nannies when you interview them with regard to holidays they expect off, I expect most will want xmas-new year off, but some may prefer only having a few days, thus giving them more days to use later in the year.

nbee84 · 16/04/2009 20:19

Holiday entitlement changed on 01/04/09.

The minimum you can offer someone working a 5 day week is 28 days. You can include all bank holidays in those days.

You can check holiday entitlement here

Simplyme · 16/04/2009 20:04

As a general rule of thumb nannies receive 20 days paid holiday per year plus bank holidays. This is usually divided as 2 weeks for nanny to choose dates and 2 weeks for employer to choose.

So you can either choose your 2 weeks over Christmas or another time of year. If you choose to take off more time than the 20 days then your nanny still needs to be paid.

You can either have her work with you at home or if you are away come in and do extras like cooking for freezer/sorting out toys etc or just be lovely and generous and let her have the extra time off!

HTH