Sick in my car!

[Thoughtfulduck]

Im a nanny, I use my own car and get paid mileage. One of my charges projectile vomited in my car...obviously I cleaned it as best as I could but I'm going to get my car valeted because of this incident.

Would I be unreasonable to ask my employer to pay or at least contribute?

[aintgonnabenorematch]

If it was my child I'd offer but if it was my car and not my child and valeting wasn't offered - I think I'd suck it up as 'accidents happen'. I'd do the same if it was an adult as no-one plans or intends to throw up in someone else's car.

Though MN over the years has taught me that I am apparently very laid - back!.

[alibubbles]

I've had three minded children be quite copiously sick in my car, not one parent offered to pay for a clean or help clean it. I had to smile when their child kept complaining to the parent my car smelt of vomit, so took great glee in saying well it's your vomit and I can't afford to valet it everytime someone is sick. What do you do when your child is sick in your car to the parent, err, surprise, get it valeted was the answer!

[legolegolego]

No, but the point I was making was, if you don't want to get sick on something of yours, don't make it available for work. You obviously took the job knowing your car was going to be used, and as a result your car would get messy. In the same way you wouldn't wear expensive clothes to work and then get upset that they got ruined. If you don't want to clean sick from your car, say 'no' when asked if you have your own car at interview stage. Or, do as PP suggested and cover floor and seats with plastic during work time.
Why don't you buy some car shampoo so you can clean it yourself whenever this happens? A lot cheaper than £30 every time...

[HirplesWithHaggis]

Number3, it's very, very unlikely that a nanny will be self-employed. So no, OP can't write it off as a business expense.

[WaferInMyCoffee]

My children get travel sick and never once have I paid for a valet. It can be cleaned. My daughter was sick in the childminders car and I offered to clean it, childminder laughed and said no don't be silly I'll do it myself!

It's a pain in the bum, travel sickness. :(

[electionfatigue]

If sick went on the seats and soaked in I would definitely offer to have it cleaned.

[Fourarmsv2]

I think maybe you could ask for half? As presumably not all of the car will require cleaning?

[Noneedtoworryatall]

Goes with the territory I say. I wouldn't ask or expect it.

[TheFairyCaravan]

I'd offer. DS1 puked in the car on the way to the doctors once. It went absolutely everywhere. Fortunately DH is a neat and clean freak when it comes to cars and was out there for days hours on end cleaning it.

Do you know anyone with a Vax or similar Thoughtful? That'll shampoo the upholstery in your car for you.

[Number3cometome]

Are you not self employed? surely that comes under expenses in your tax return?

[Thoughtfulduck]

Yes I think you can ask for it, it doesn't always come with a standard valet

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I've never had my car valeted, would they actually shampoo the car seats? I thought they hoovered and polished.

[Thoughtfulduck]

Well Lego, I can't exactly put my car interior in a washing machine, can I now? If it was as simple as that there would be no dilemma.

And to clear it up, the child hadn't been unwell beforehand. This was the beginning of the day, no prior warning.

I'm going to leave it, as I generally get on with my employers and don't want to cause any ill feeling. I'm shocked that they haven't offered, I know if it was the other way round I would definitely have paid!

Thanks everyone

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Yes Lego, that's how I see it.

[legolegolego]

I'm a nanny and it wouldn't even occur to me to ask for a valet. If a child was sick over my clothes, I wouldn't expect them to pay for my clothes to be dry cleaned - its kind of the same thing I think. It's just a part of the job.

[wonkylegs]

I'd offer to pay (and I'm tight with money)
It's not an everyday occurrence like General dirt & mud, it's an exceptional circumstance
My DS has never been sick in a car (or anywhere else) so it would be an unfortunate and rare occurrence that I would be keen to sort out. It's just polite.

[SorchaN]

I don't think it's something you can reasonably expect as part of your work, and I think the parents should pay for the car to be professionally cleaned.

If I were going to be really awkward I might ask you why you took the child out in the car if she'd been unwell that day... But presumably you had your reasons...

[whois]

Oh just ask then them to pay. This pussy footing around saying "oh, woe is me, my car smells, sob sob" is a crap way to go about getting what you want.

[DancingHat]

If my CM asked for money to cover valeting her car after my DD had been sick I would be happy to. Presumably OP you had to clean it up and deal with a sick child (yes I know that's the nature of childcare but it doesn't mean it's OK to expect people to be out of pocket AND do that) so I would think the least I could do as a thank you for dealing with the situation is pay the clean up bill.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I agree with Mrs C, I wouldn't dream of asking! ( ex nanny)

Zoflora will remove any smell.

[Klayden]

Although mileage is for wear and tear on the car, this sounds like quite an, erm, event. As a parent, I would offer to pay for this.

[UmmErrWhateves]

I definitely think the parents should pay. I would ask them straight. Tell them that despite your efforts to clean their Childs vomit the car still stinks and that you think they should pay for all or most of it.

No games, no hinting, no quiet resentments.

[Steadycampaign]

Any decent employer would offer to pay. Totally miserly not to! (And poor manners.) I'd be mortified if my child threw up in someone's car, whether it's the nanny's or not. Of course your employers should pay for the valeting; would have thought that it was the hygienic thing to do for all concerned anyway if presumably the dc are continuing to be ferried about in your car.

op, I'd introduce a gentle reminder in to your next conversation with your employers, such as "I haven't been able to get the smell of vomit out of the car yet despite using bicarb..." and then leave a long silence for your employer to fill ... hopefully they will do the decent thing.

Hope poor child feeling better now anyway!

[knittingdad]

My assumption is that the mileage rate would be high enough to include an allowance for wear and tear and mishaps such as this, on top of the cost of fuel. So in my opinion I would think that your employer has already paid for this to be done.

If my assumption is incorrect, and the mileage rate you are paid is only enough to cover fuel costs, then I would think that your employer should pay for this expense (and then a higher rate of mileage).

[Lavenderice]

MrsC I don't really want to say which area, for fear of an outing. But I can assure you when a child threw up all over my car it was paid for and it's happened to a few colleagues too. I think because although we are not classed as essential car users but people using their own cars which increases their productivity it's the least they can do.