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Original poster

Nanny and holidays

36 replies

shuhs · 19/06/2023 12:15

Advice needed please. I have a nanny. I wrote out a contract of employment myself. I have home insurance which covers the nanny working in my home.

My accountant helps me with her pay slip and paying her NI, Tax and pension.

In the terms I outlined that she would get 20 days holiday, plus bank holidays of course.

I told her it would be great if we could arrange to take holidays at a similar time. But of course, it won't always be possible. With my last nanny, we managed to do that a couple of times. Another time, she took her holiday and I took a few days off work to cover that time.

My nanny doesn't have any holidays planned yet over summer, but I've got family visiting and also want to go and visit my family perhaps. It just means I have to pay her even though she's not working, right ? That's what I did with my last nanny anyway. But thankfully it didn't happen that often.

Just wondered if anyone has experience at this and there's any other way to go around it ? Just because it will be difficult for me, if she decided to take all her holiday later in the year and I've already used mine up etc. I'm sure we can work a way around it.

OP posts:
unfortunateevents · 20/06/2023 09:58

If you say you have a good relationship with her than just talk to her. It's already the midpoint of the year and if she hasn't booked any holidays in it's not unreasonable to ask her what her plans may be. If you are using a lot of your own holiday before September, then you are going to be really stuck if she decides to take all four weeks in October and November. Employees in all kinds of situations can be expected to make advance plans for holidays or have a minimum amount of notice to request time off.

AbacusAvocado · 20/06/2023 10:14

Right but even if she’s just there as an extra hand you’ll still have to pay her normal rates and all expenses. Many nannies actually prefer sole charge care rather than helping out with the parents as it’s easier for them to decide what to do/set boundaries without the parents there.

Original poster
shuhs · 20/06/2023 10:29

AbacusAvocado · 20/06/2023 10:14

Right but even if she’s just there as an extra hand you’ll still have to pay her normal rates and all expenses. Many nannies actually prefer sole charge care rather than helping out with the parents as it’s easier for them to decide what to do/set boundaries without the parents there.

Well yeah of course I will. And I thought we'd need to pay her extra, because essentially she's away from her family and will probably be helping out a couple of hours extra, to help me put the kids to bed.

Just for clarity, I'm not taking my husband with me. So she'll be essential to helping me with the kids while my family are working etc.

I'm just considering it at the moment. I'm not sure if I'll ask her, but I know she's keen to get away and do something different / be somewhere different.

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 20/06/2023 10:29

shuhs · 19/06/2023 12:20

Ah ok. Thanks. I could talk to her about something similar, it would really help. I'm sure she wouldn't mind.

Show quote history

That's what we always did too.

underneaththeash · 20/06/2023 10:30

NEmama · 19/06/2023 12:19

You can't make her take holidays when she doesn't want to. But she also has to take them when convenient. 20 days isn't much. Ask her to book her dates in?

Actually that's not right either. An employer can dictate when all holidays are taken, but obviously if you said that you wouldn't have a nanny any more!

AbacusAvocado · 20/06/2023 10:38

Ah right. Yes we paid for any extra hours, but we didn’t pay extra just for being away from family etc, it was part of the job. But we had known we’d need that help, so it was always in the contract!

Original poster
shuhs · 20/06/2023 12:23

AbacusAvocado · 20/06/2023 10:38

Ah right. Yes we paid for any extra hours, but we didn’t pay extra just for being away from family etc, it was part of the job. But we had known we’d need that help, so it was always in the contract!

Yeah it's not in the contract. I wrote out the main terms, but didn't go into all the details.

I did know my nanny before and I know she's very reasonable.

In fact I just mentioned the holiday thing to her and she actually assumed that's how we'd do it anyway. 50-50.

She's also happy to come with me to see my family if I need her to. If she helps me with getting the kids up in the morning / putting them to bed at night, I can pay her extra for those hours. Plus all of her expenses of course.

OP posts:
Original poster
shuhs · 20/06/2023 20:56

Oh gosh sorry for asking something else, but this has helped me a lot.

What about sick pay ? I've put in the contract that we pay statutory sick pay.

So if she was sick for 4 days, do I pay her SSP for those days or do I pay her the normal wage ?

OP posts:
HanSB · 20/06/2023 21:03

We did half and half choice for holidays but have a chat with her about it so both sides are clear on expectations. We told her dates that we knew we would definitely not need her, eg around Christmas time. She may know some days she needs off for weddings etc. The more notice the better for both sides. Sick pay our nanny was never off for more than a day at a time so we paid her the usual full day rate.

Cantthinkofadifferentname · 20/06/2023 21:08

NEmama · 19/06/2023 12:19

You can't make her take holidays when she doesn't want to. But she also has to take them when convenient. 20 days isn't much. Ask her to book her dates in?

Basic employment law any employer can tell an employee when to take holiday as long as double notice given, i.e. if you want someone to take 2 days holiday you have to give 4 days notice.
I do this with some of team as otherwise we get a log jam. You wouldn't want to tell someone when to take all their holiday but its not solely in the employees choice

mayash · 20/06/2023 21:43

lm a nanny and standard is you split your holidays 50/50 and if you go over your holiday entitlement then it’s paid regardless. You can ask your nanny to come in to do child related chores however giving the nanny extra time off would be much appreciated by her. Nanny’s look after your pride and Joy so knowing you appreciate her hard work goes along way and extra paid time off deffo shows that ☺️

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