sack nanny after neighbours spoke to us about observed behaviour

[oldshprite]

we’ve employed a nanny to cover for our regular one over the past 2 weeks and we were planning to continue part time in the future, to supplement our reg nannys hours. found her via a babysitting website, so no personal recommendation. she seemed ok, not super warm at first but ok. we had a visit from the downstairs neighbours today, they came to say they are concerned about the new nannys behaviour as theyve noticed her visibly annoyed when our child was crying and left her to cry at some distance from her ‘for a long time’, displayed lack of patience, etc.
i felt as if i have no other option but to sack her, immediately. aibu? feel a bit bad in not giving her a chance to explain/investigate but equally feel uncomfortable leaving my child with her

I'd still do it x

That'd be really stupid as they wouldn't be allowed as evidence in court.

Why on earth wouldn't you just put cameras up and tell the Nanny you're doing it??

We sacked one, when we had reports which weren’t great. Your responsibility is always to your child.

Immediately fire this person. Trust your instincts.

Unless you have bad blood with neighbours I would absolutely listen to them.
not sure what a conversation with nanny would achieve, she’ll of course deny it

I'm 80% team neighbour here, but I would be inclined to use their input as a red flag rather than an immediate reason to let the nanny go, unless you think there is actual danger to your child. Monitor the nanny more than you were planning to, "any doubt - out", but I wouldn't feel comfortable outsourcing the entire process to my neighbours.

Also: You haven't said how well you know your neighbours, but it they are good people then they will actually be happier with "Thanks for the heads up, we started to look more closely and it seems you were right, we let her go" versus "Oh right, we'll fire her immediately". Your life is a continuous dance of events and people.

No need of this kind of nanny. End of

Is it? Loads of people have cameras inside their houses, why would it be illegal?

With any luck you'd be caught and imprisoned with all the other voyeurs then. But, good on you for admitting it. Most voyeurs do keep it quiet!

It's illegal to have hidden cameras in a workplace/to secretly record employees. In the case of a nanny she is your employee and your home is her workplace. You can have cameras, but they can't be hidden.

Oh, I hadn't read about it going to court. I wouldn't do it to use in court, but to see how they were behaving with my child. If there was something that wasn't ok with me, I'd catch them out in another way. If you tell someone they are being watched, they will behave differently.

I would ask nanny her version before telling her what neighbors said

how old is child - can they say ? Or could it be a toddler tantrum ?

and yes cameras are allowed in your home but your home is the nanny’s place of work so needs to be told

just like your work would say if had cameras

I'd get the nanny's version of events, but I also wouldn't be able to leave my child with her again unless there was a credible reason for her behaviour, and assuming your neighbour isn't a vindictive nutcase. So I don't think you're unreasonable letting her go immediately, I couldn't leave my child with someone I didn't trust and was warned about. Not worth the risk.

Wow. I once told someone about their nanny as well and they weren’t interested. Friend of mine from NCT went back to work around 6 months and I had longer off so would see this nanny around a bit.

We did a baby music class and this child would be crawling around while the nanny (who didn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the box) sat in the circle singing the songs and doing all the actions, but not engaging the child at all. I have twins and I’d be there like a maniac in their faces trying to get them to watch and listen and watching their reactions etc.

Same nanny always on her phone while at the park with the child.

I mentioned it to the mum and she wasn’t interested, went on to have 2 more kids and kept the same nanny throughout! Up to her but this was years ago and I still remember it and it makes me feel a bit sad.

OP I’d sack her no question, no second chance.

I agree that the neighbour won’t have spoken to you lightly, so you need to take it seriously. Why would you take a chance with your own child’s care and wellbeing?

Sack the nanny.

Oh I couldn't possibly leave my child with her again. For the neighbour to intervene (who must be used to seeing the regular nanny with your child) it must be bad. Tell her you need to let her go and why.

No it's not a lot of people do it in their elderly relatives rooms in care homes because they are abused behind closed doors I wouldn't trust this nanny

Yes it is (though there are some exceptional circumstances where it can be used, but I think this is only under police supervision).

Other people doing it doesn't make it legal. Otherwise drugs, murder, rape, domestic violence would all be legal because lots of people do it!

Trust your instincts I call them Spidey senses, and also trust your neighbour who you known longer ? And also why would they have any reason to lie about it, I'd say thankyou for the time you have provided us but we are no longer requiring your services, then possibly do an in depth CRB check and ask around about her look her up on all socials if you get any feeling she could be a risk to any other kids then report her to the police on the non urgent line maybe ask for advice ? There are too many psychopaths out there nowadays, Lucy letby is 1 of them a person in a trusted position, no one has ever looked after my kids ever, not since I learned that my son's uncle his father's brother was arrested for pedophilia and charged, my heart sank because I had no way of knowing if he ever hurt my child, but when I met my son's father his brother was working in a nursery he went to uni to become a teacher and he also failed at being one but went to work in a respite home for disabled children, it's absolutely terrifying that's just one sick instance of it, be vigilant be cautious, ask your little girl if she's old enough of the lady was mad at her at all. Good luck hope you make the right decision for your child! And your conscience.

he he I don't think many that do it get jail time tbh.

Wow, though - what a jump! You could be competing in the Olympics!

I don't/have never had a nanny but if I did and I had been told they were not behaving as I would hope them to I'd sack them, straight away, I will never learn anything that could endadnger my child through hindsight, however if the OP wants to find out more before firing them then imo they shoudl put a camera up.

It would depend on how much i trusted the neighbours. If I trusted them, if I believed them Id probably sack her.

Shes a stranger to me. If they said it about my regular nanny or a recommended nanny I might think twice. But with my kid, id trust my instincts

It's illegal to install nannycams in your own home? Really?

I think you'd be absolutely right to sack them.

You'd be well within your legal rights to put up a camera and tell the nanny about.

A hidden camera would be illegal. As it should be. Voyeurism isn't something we should be encouraging. I doubt you'd appreciate it if the nanny hid a camera in your house to check out if you were good parents!

It's illegal to have hidden cameras in someone's place of work/secretly record employees.

You can have cameras, but they can't be hidden and the nanny would need to be informed.

You sound like the odd one at the music class 😂