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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Expecting nanny to come in whilst they are on holiday

141 replies

pezza15 · 04/07/2018 18:18

My friend is a nanny and the parents are off on holiday in August for two weeks and have hinted that perhaps my friend should go to their house whilst they are away to “do a few bits” - meaning batch cooking etc.

Taking the piss or what???????

OP posts:
pinkunicorn20 · 04/07/2018 18:19

If she's not gong to paid she's not available for work.

HollowTalk · 04/07/2018 18:19

Are her holidays separate to theirs? So does she get eg 4 weeks' holiday that she can take whenever she likes? If so I think they're right - she could easily do something like batch cooking to make things easier when they return.

Pengggwn · 04/07/2018 18:19

Does her contract specify that their holiday is her holiday?

Allthewaves · 04/07/2018 18:20

If she's batch cooking for the kids, doing their clothes, sorting bedroom then that's fair enough. Anything else no

WheresTheEvidence · 04/07/2018 18:20

If this holiday takes her over her holiday entitlement then yes they are reasonable in asking her to come in. She will be paid for say a 40 hour week and theyre asking for 6 hours of already paid time.

Allthewaves · 04/07/2018 18:21

And presuming it's not her holidays and she's being paid

kaytee87 · 04/07/2018 18:21

Will your friend be on annual leave during that time?
If yes then they're taking the piss
If not then it's a pretty good deal I'd say

fiorentina · 04/07/2018 18:22

Our nanny gets to choose two weeks and we take two weeks. During which time she’s off on holiday as we are.. she does get extra days when we take extra time off, but that’s our problem/bonus holiday for her and we wouldn’t make her do stuff at home.

PalePinkSwan · 04/07/2018 18:23

that’s normal.

We were away for 2 days last week - our nanny still came to work.

She batch cooked for the freezer, tidied/reorganised the playroom and children’s bedrooms, sorted out old clothes and toys for the charity shop, took some time to plan activities.

It was all stuff that’s normally part of her role, just concentrated into two days.

She said it was great having time to just get it all done in peace.

Frankly I assume she worked shorter hours than normal and that’s fine, but I’m not going to pay her to do nothing when there’s work to do.

eggcellent · 04/07/2018 18:23

Well if she's getting paid then I don't think that's cheeky at all.

ilovewinterpansies · 04/07/2018 18:24

Is she being paid or not? Is she on holiday or not?

All hinges on this really as to whether it's taking the piss or not.

Original poster
pezza15 · 04/07/2018 18:24

She gets paid holiday but surely if they are away she’s entitled to do her own thing - if it was me I’d be off sunning myself somewhere

OP posts:
livingthegoodlife · 04/07/2018 18:25

Pretty normal I think. Assuming nanny is getting paid and not on annual leave herself.

NapQueen · 04/07/2018 18:25

Depends. Is Nanny also on leave? If not then she ought to be volunteering for jobs to keep her occupied while she gets paid. Surely this is a good time to sort and clean the toys, put all the games and jigsaws back together, sort all the clothes, flip kids mattresses and air their duvets etc.

Original poster
pezza15 · 04/07/2018 18:26

And sorry yes she will be paid

OP posts:
NapQueen · 04/07/2018 18:26

Yes but Op Are these two weeks her annual leave? Or not?

runwithme · 04/07/2018 18:26

But if she's not taking it as annual leave then she should come in. If your boss is on leave, you'd still work, wouldn't you? Of course you'd leave a bit earlier. -And come in a bit later

EveningHare · 04/07/2018 18:26

Is she on holiday or not

SandyY2K · 04/07/2018 18:26

Is cooking part of her job description? If it is and she's being paid (and not on holiday/leave herself), then it's reasonable.

I didn't think cooking would be in a nanny's JD... meals for the kids while working I'd expect...but batch cooking. Mmmm

Pengggwn · 04/07/2018 18:27

No, OP, she is still employed and being paid. They have every right to ask her to do tasks relating to her job.

SandyY2K · 04/07/2018 18:29

Sounds like she's not on leave herself...so it's a reasonable request.

LastGirlsFinishNice · 04/07/2018 18:30

I think it's a great idea. So long as it's not her holiday and she's being paid then why not? She can get ahead of her normal day to day jobs.
I'm not a nanny but in my employment have never assumed I'd have a week off paid when my manager did🤷‍♀️

LIZS · 04/07/2018 18:31

Does she have to take leave when they are away according to their contract or is she free to choose when to take it? Often they can choose some weeks and nanny chooses the rest. If she is not using her leave, she is available and can be asked to work while they are away and book leave for another time.

icelollycraving · 04/07/2018 18:31

I would expect her to come in, do a good sort out of bedrooms, batch cook etc. Yes, she may work a shorter day but it allows her to catch up without the children.

bluemoonchances · 04/07/2018 18:33

If the two weeks aren't her two weeks paid holiday then yes of course they would still expecting her to do some work. She's not on holiday time!
If however the two weeks are also HER holiday then they can't do that.