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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be suspicious of this?

25 replies

Kitsilano · 02/01/2009 08:35

My nanny told me monday 23rd Dec she had the noro virus. She was suppposed to come to work on Wednesday 31st but called to say she had been to the Doctor and he thought she did have the noro virus and had given her antibiotics. Then last night she called again to say she still had an upset stomach so wouldn't be coming in today. Surely you don't get given antibiotics for a virus? And does the noro virus really last this long (ie 12 days?)

Obviously I don't want my kids to catch anything if poss but this doesn't seem to ring true to me.

OP posts:
RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 02/01/2009 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SofiaAmes · 02/01/2009 08:39

Norovirus is just that...a virus. And therefore cannot be treated with antibiotics. It sounds to me like it's time to find a new nanny. How can you trust this one after she has blatantly lied to you.

rubyslippers · 02/01/2009 08:39

you don't get antibitoics for noro virus

i think she either has something else or she is fibbing

either way, you need a doctors note not a self certificate

ditzzy · 02/01/2009 08:39

If she's old they might have been worried the virus would make her susceptible to other bugs and might have given her antibiotics. They did this with my dad over a flu-type virus because they thought it might lead to a chest infection.

And then of course the antibiotics would upset her stomach for a few days themselves...

I would give benefit of the doubt in this case... Or does she have form for this kind of thing?

ditzzy · 02/01/2009 08:41

[blsuh] read 'granny' instead of 'nanny'

if an employee is off for more than five days you should get a doctors note....

Original poster
Kitsilano · 02/01/2009 08:42

I feel like asking for a doctors note is basically saying "I don't believe youo".

Also she texted me over Christmas saying she had "gone to stay with a friend" because her housemates were worried about catching the virus. This was after I said we might pop round with her Christmas presents. Why would her housemates get her to leave her own houose when she was ill? And what about the friend?!

OP posts:
RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 02/01/2009 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

rubyslippers · 02/01/2009 08:44

Kit - any employer would request a note for a lengthy work absence

i would , as an employee, expect to produce one

don't feel bad

Tee2072 · 02/01/2009 08:46

When I was out of work for 3 weeks with Antenatal depression, I had to have a doctors note for my company. Why should your nanny be any different?

BouncingTurtle · 02/01/2009 08:46

you have to self-certify for the first 7 days of sickness, beyond that you must have a doctor's note.
So should have sent you a self-cert (she could pick a form from the GPs) in by now, and should have had herself signed off sick for the remaining time she is off.
I could be wrong but without these you are not legally obliged to pay her sick pay, as she sould be consider on an unauthorised absence.
This is how it would work in a company, she is your employee and should abide by the same rules.

Tillyscoutsmum · 02/01/2009 08:48

She's lying... we've all had noro over Christmas and it lasted 2-3 days at most. Dr also would not give antibiotics.

Definitely suss - ask for a doctors note

AndATigerschickInAPearTree · 02/01/2009 08:54

I don't know about the legal aspects of this but ...

I know a lady who has something similar to the virus (d+v with on-and-off high temperature) who has been treated with antibiotics and has had it for over 3 weeks now.

My point being, she may not be lying to you - or, at least not intentionally.
I'd ask for a doctor's note before jumping to conclusions.

kslatts · 02/01/2009 08:55

I agree you should ask for a doctors note.

giraffescantdancethetango · 02/01/2009 08:59

Ask for a Drs note and see what it says. (or what she says!!) It maybe shes lying as shes had something else and is coverin it...or it may be shes just lying full stop and fancied a piss up. Either way would ask for a Drs note and take it from there.

If you feel uncomfortable asking for one say its for your employee records or something, bla bla playing sick pay.

ShinyPinkShoes · 02/01/2009 09:00

Hmmm I thionk you are right to sound suspicious.

A member of my team was off with the norovirus, it did really floor her I have to say. She went to her GP on day 2 and was told to treat it like any other D&V bug- drink lots of fluids, be scrupulous about hygiene and to take rehydration salts if she felt she needed them.

How much sick pay is written into her contract?

Original poster
Kitsilano · 02/01/2009 09:21

I called her and left a message saying we really need her to come in today. She texted back saying she can't, she has a hospital appointment. Surely this can't be true either?! When I last spoke to her on Tuesday she said she would be in today. If she had a hospital appointment today why did she only let me know last night that she wasn't coming in today and say it was because she had diaorrhea from the antibiotics??

I will ask for a doctors note but I am so pissed off. She must have gone away.

OP posts:
2pt4WiseMen · 02/01/2009 09:34

I would keep a note of all the things that dont add up (like the hosp appt that you only found out about last night when she said on Tues she'd be in work today) and ask her to explain them plus definitely ask for a Drs note too.
Sounds like she is taking the piss.
If you dont pull her up on it this time she will most likely do it again another time!

Original poster
Kitsilano · 02/01/2009 09:38

No - I only found out about the hosp appointment this morning! Last night she said she wouldn't be in because she still had diarrhea then when I said we really needed her she suddenly had a hosp appointment! She can't have arrange a hosp appointment this morning can she? Surely she would have to go to the Dr again first?

OP posts:
naturalbornmum · 02/01/2009 10:09

Ok, she may be lying. But if she is generally a good nanny and you are happy with her - ask her for a sick note and if she produces that - end of - if not prehaps a warning?

nappyzonehasastroppytoddler · 02/01/2009 10:18

tell her you need the docs note to claim ssp to be able to pay her or she ownt get paid.

Mooseheart · 02/01/2009 10:48

Ummm, can I just add my twopenceworth here... she may have an embarrassing illness and be using the norovirus to cover it. Sad for here she's not got her facts straight about the nature of it but still...

A very close friend of mine (NOT your nanny BTW!) has had a herpes flare up over Xmas, has involved numerous trips to docs and SHC. This has been really awkward for her as she's living at home with her parents and has therefore had to cover it up from them by saying it's something else.

Just another slant on the situation, goeasy on her I don't think she's giving you the whole truth but I also don't think she's skiving (sp?).

Mooseheart · 02/01/2009 10:48

Sad for her, not here!

PaulaatMummyKnowsBest · 02/01/2009 10:52

as a nanny myself, i have never had much time off work due to being ill myself but if i had, i would have been more than happy to provide a doctors note.

Ask her at least you'll have more of an idea about her honesty

llareggub · 02/01/2009 10:57

You will need the med cert to pay SSP, won't you?

SofiaAmes · 02/01/2009 15:35

She's lying. And I question how you could give someone you can't trust the most precious responsibility of looking after your kids. Find a new nanny.

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