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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Sick in my car!

62 replies

Thoughtfulduck · 08/06/2015 20:38

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?

OP posts:

Klayden · 08/06/2015 21:40

YANBU. For the sake of goodwill, the parent/s should pay.

Original poster

Thoughtfulduck · 08/06/2015 21:41

Yes flying it has been mentioned, no offer as yet...

I'm very much like you, hence the questioning of whether I should. I think I might mention I've had to have it valeted and hope they offer something.

OP posts:

Original poster

Thoughtfulduck · 08/06/2015 21:42

The worst was cleaned off by me, it's just the staining and smell I'm bothered about, tanaqui. I'm thinking just a £30 valet to include shampooing of the seats, not a full works

OP posts:

ThunderAndFrightening · 08/06/2015 21:50

As a nanny employer, I would offer to pay for it to be cleaned and wouldn't be offended if you asked, because to be honest first thoughts would have been about puking DCs and may not think of your car needing a valet.

WeAllHaveWings · 08/06/2015 21:57

Incidental expenses for the costs of any damage to your personal property, including cars, should be covered in your contract with the parents and it should state who is responsible.

If you are an employee of the parents I think you are not being unreasonable to ask. If you are self employed the costs of these type of expenses should be included in the cost of the service you provide.

Original poster

Thoughtfulduck · 08/06/2015 21:58

That's very true, thunder. Poor little poppet was unwell all day

I might just wait and see if my employer thinks about it now dc is better, no doubt the kids will talk about it when they are next in my car! Maybe that will be a good prompt.

OP posts:

Lavenderice · 08/06/2015 22:00

I work for children's social care. If a child is sick in the car our employers pay for a valet.

ChopinLiszt · 08/06/2015 22:05

I'm the last person anyone would think was mean but I wouldn't pay for a valet I don't think. Or I might but secretly feel outraged.

I agree with pp who said the car is used for work and it's part of the hazard.

And we don't know the situation - was the child already ill? Was the OP taking a chance? Or was it completely unpredicted? Either way I truly don't think the parents should HAVE to pay. It's kind and generous if they offer but it shouldn't be demanded.

MrsCs · 08/06/2015 22:07

Lavender what area is that?! My mum works in that sector (as do I) and once got fleas in her shoes during a visit. Her clothes and shoes were affected, as was her car when she got in and she was told it wasn't their problem!

MammaTJ · 08/06/2015 22:07

Poor little poppet indeed! I would happily pay anyone whose car my DD DC had vommed on. You should certainly mention how much it is going to cost to clean and hope they pay up. If not, be applying for jobs elsewhere and explain why.

I think it is perfectly reasonable that the parents of the vomiting child pay for the clean up of the vomit!

worridmum · 09/06/2015 00:12

I would say parents should pay for the valet as they would not be in the car other than for job purposes and thus employer should fit the bill.

and people saying childcare is expesive enough you do know most childcare providers get paid bearly above minmium wage (avegere nanny wage is slightly higher that avegeres at about £9 per hour net but this figure is massively screwed by london / south east etc and would not be surpised if you exclude london the averge would drop to slightly higher than minium wage)

And child minders unless they are maxed out spaces all full time + charging extra for food and activites are deffinitly not raking it in.......... and covers on seats would not protect the car that much unless you totally blocked the view to the back seats with a cover (totally dangerous when dealing with young children and inceases chance of travel sickness etc

stillsingingintherain · 09/06/2015 00:24

I am a nanny and would expect employer to pay! Its not preventable like muddy shoes and gets everywhere (and is completely vile!). Nannies are not self employed, they arent obliged to use their car and 'suck it up'. If I vommed all over bosses car id pay for valet. Works both ways!

Lavenderice · 09/06/2015 10:01

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.

knittingdad · 09/06/2015 10:08

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).

Steadycampaign · 09/06/2015 10:09

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!

UmmErrWhateves · 09/06/2015 10:23

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.

Klayden · 09/06/2015 10:41

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.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 09/06/2015 11:17

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

Zoflora will remove any smell.

DancingHat · 09/06/2015 11:54

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.

whois · 09/06/2015 12:14

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.

SorchaN · 09/06/2015 12:30

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...

wonkylegs · 09/06/2015 12:37

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.

legolegolego · 09/06/2015 13:23

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.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 09/06/2015 13:27

Yes Lego, that's how I see it.

Original poster

Thoughtfulduck · 09/06/2015 13:43

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

OP posts:

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