Nanny puts heating on AIBU

[littlesue]

Hi. Well first time in AIBU so ready for a flaming. I recently hired a before and after school nanny. DH hates the central heating unless it's cold as he gets really hot and sweaty and I am superfrugal so hate it on unless it's freezing cold. So I gave nanny an electric heater (radiator type) in case she gets cold. Problem is she switches on heating in the summer and today when I got home it was so hot I had to open the windows when she left and the internal temp was 24 degrees inside without the heating. I've no problem if she wants to put the heating on when it's cold but gas/electric has gone up 18% and DH thinks she must have a health condition. So AIBU? Does anyone else need heating at 24 degrees inside? Or am I the odd ball?

[Littlefish]

But Mog, we're not talking about a house that's freezing. We're talking about a house which was allowed to get up to 26 degrees. That's ridiculous. At this time of the year, it's not unreasonable to expect people to wear more than a tshirt and a thin acrylic type cardigan in the house.

The default position should be to put another layer on before putting the heating on.

[LauraIngallsWilder]

We dont put our heating on until at least the October Half term regardless.
Even after that our heating isnt on all that much - it doesnt normally go on at all unless the indoor temperature drops below 17 degress (or lower).
I dont have it on the timer - I switch it on and off as and when - running upstairs to switch it on warms me up a bit!!!

Socks, vests and thermals are uniform in our house in the winter
Definately character building :)

[northernrock]

Thermostat set to 16. we wear jumpers when it gets cold, and if I get really cold at night I have a throw on the sofa that I wrap myself in. The bathroom is bastard cold in the morning, but it's better than being bankrupt.
Also, we never get colds. Hardy, like.
Tell your Nanny to fidget more.

[ThePrincessRoyalFiggyrolls]

my work colleague is like this, it can be 30 outside and she would still have the heating on, wear uggs and two jumpers. But to be fair she is consistent! To come into your home in light clothing when she could wear a sweater and then turning the heating on is ur.

[roses2]

My central heating thermostat has a feature where

1. you can program it to show a temperature up to 3'c than it actually is
   
2. limit the max temp it can be set to
   
   Check yours!!! Mine is a honeywell wireless controller and worth every penny!

[AuntiePickleBottom]

no wonder my gas bill is so high, i have the heating on 35 and sometimes i will have the fire on aswell

i am cold blooded.

[littlesue]

OK I don't know for sure she doesn't pay the bills but I assume this as she is quite young for her age, she is 24. She told me her parents do most things like the food shopping, cooking, driving her around, filling in her forms (I also help her with that), chaperone her to London, take her clothes shopping, give her spending money, and she has never left home. So she was probably like me when I was 16-18 years old.

Definitely don't want her to freeze, which is why we tried to compromise with the electric heater instead of the CH. I think the thermostat is the way to go.

[littlesue]

I have to type faster and keep up with the conversation. You have a point she probably isn't moving very much as she doesn't like sports and prefers to sit and read/colour pics/do jigsaws rather than have a game of football, chase DS or go on a bike ride etc, which would warm anyone up in a few mins.

Probably explains why I am so warm as I'm always on the go doing housework, not doing sporting activities I should add.

[devonshiredumpling]

sorry to put a spanner in the works but yabu for the simple fact that as an employer you have to ensure that the people in your employ are comfortable in their workplace and having one room in a house which is heated is wrong for the fact would you expect your children to stay in this one room

[littlesue]

It's not one room. As I mentioned earlier it's open plan so downstairs it's the living room, dining room, playroom, kitchen and the hallway. All rooms were heated from the electric heater as it was on full blast. If the heat didn't have chance to escape to other areas it would have been like a sauna.

I guess we will have to decide on a comfortable temp for everyone.

[BoffinMum]

I have to say I am often guilty of nudging people's thermostats up. But certainly discuss with her the difference in cost between having it at 22 and 26, for example.

[halcyondays]

Most workplaces wouldn't have the heating on in summer, it shouldn't be necessary for a healthy adult, does she wear a jumper or just a tshirt? I've worked in places that were far too hot, hated it, at least if it's a bit chilly, you can put a warm jumper on. It was a lovely warm day today where we are, definitely no need to put the heating. It is so expensive now that we wouldn't think of putting the heat on until October unless it was really freezing.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

shouldnt need heating on in the summer

gawd knows what your winter heating bill will be if gone up almost a 5th and she hasnt been there that long

i HATE being cold and my own house is always warm but at work mb/db dont feel the cold so dont have the heating on as much as i would

mb was lovely and brought me slippers and a heater for the playroom - seems silly to heat whole house up when in one room most of the time

but if i want the heating on, i do put it on

if nanny is wearing a t shirt/skimpy cardi then she needs a nice warn fleece and slippers :) BEFORE she puts the heating on

[MumblingRagDoll]

Is she skinny? When I was skinny I was SO cold all the time. It's really uncomfortable if you're cold. I still feel the heat even though I'm fat a bit more padded these days.

[ChippingIn]

The other thing you have to consider is that the house always feels too hot when you come in from the cold and someone has the heating on, it never feels anywhere near as warm when you have been in the house all afternoon.

You need to compromise, she needs another layer and warm footwear and you and DH need to accept that she needs to be comfortable.

I'm rarely cold these days - I'd be willing to send her a layer of blubbler to keep her warm

[mynewpassion]

So she's using the electric heater that you told her to use if and when she gets cold, so not using central heating. It just feels like central heating because the open layout of your home.

I would talk to her about leaving it on for two-three hours and then turning it off the rest of the time so that it will be room temperature when you guys get home.

[CheerfulYank]

Get her some lovely pretty slippers and a woolly cardigan and then have the discussion.

I'd feel the same btw- here the winters are -40 so no heating at all isn't an option, but we definitely keep it low and add layers.

[DontGoCurly]

I don't think she should be allowed near the heating !! The way she is using it is totally irresponsible. Her parents obviously have her totally destroyed (filling in forms for a 24 year old!!! ) and she obviously has no comprehension how much it costs.
It's September, not November, tell her to put on a jumper.

[Iggly]

Maybe she doesn't get that 24 is actually quite high (to me) and I speak as someone who gets cold easily - my hands and feet always cold.

What measures have you taken to ensure your house retains the heat? Keeping doors closed, windows closed, draft proofing etc?

No need to make a big deal, just get rid of the electric heater, suggest she wears a jumper and buy her some slipper socks and point her in the direction of the kettle

Also consider setting the timings for when she's home although if only a short time in the morning, it won't be long?

We have a draft victorian flat but the living room can be warmer - it's not open plan though (no wonder your bills have gone up!)

[Meglet]

Yabu. 24 is comfortable for me, even in fleece pj's and thick slipper socks.

Being chilly makes me seize up and slow down. I get grumpy and distracted too.

Let her have some heat in the house!

[Groovee]

It's cheaper to have the heating on low all the time than firing it up constantly. The electric heater will cost you a fortune.

Although it's her place of work as long as the house is above 17 degree's she can't complain. I'd tell her to wear more clothes.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

YANBU! I can't believe people are suggesting that you buy her a cardigan FFS!

In my house heating doesn't go on until October no matter how much DH moans and I would not alter that for a nanny who couldn't organise herself to wear a jumper. There is no need for it. If she has a medical condition which means she feels colder than most such as poor circulation, and takes steps on her own account by dressing appropriately, then she can discuss that with you and you should meet her needs. But a silly girl who doesn't understand that a) gas costs money, b) she is making you uncomfortable by making your house too hot and c)you wear warm clothes when you feel cold does not need pandering too.

[slavetofilofax]

I don't see why you wouldn't want to buy her a cardigan. It would make the chat about heating a bit nicer, and they do lovely fleecy type house jumper things in M&S. They are like a dressing gown, but only waist length. I practically live in mine!

She's not a tradesman that is coming into your house for a short amount of time, she is someone you trust to look after your children for a significant amount of time each day, and they will have a bond with her. Apart from family, she is probably the adult that the children are closest too - she's important!

[MumblingRagDoll]

I would be if my employer bought me a cardi....it's so OBVIOUS....it suggests she hasnt got one... or the sense to wear it if she has.

patronising.