Really cross with nursery - horrid way to treat their staff

[edam]

Have been increasingly unhappy with nursery (which used to be excellent but has been going downhill) and am planning to take ds out and employ his old keyworker as a nanny - she'd already handed in her notice as being very poorly treated. She's leaving in a fortnight and using up her holiday next week, so going back week on Monday. She's lovely and ds is very attached to her.

She came round yesterday to babysit and told me on Friday night nursery manager called her in and said 'don't bother coming back after your holiday, it would be too disruptive for the children.' So she's had no chance to say goodbye to the kids (and I'm pretty sure they will miss her, she is lovely), as far as they are concerned she's just disappearing. And she hasn't had a leaving do or collection or anything. What a dreadful way to behave to any employee, let alone someone in such a sensitive job. Especially when lots of members of staff are leaving (manager must be a cow of a boss), I would have thought it's important for the children to say goodbye and have a chance to prepare for the break.

Luckily her day ended nicely - got back from our day at a wedding to discover her boyfriend had come round and asked her to marry him. She was looking so happy! A wedding and an engagement all in one day - made me feel quite soppy...

It's not on is it Edam?
Thank God your kid is out of there. Dd's nursery lost a lot of staff (tempted away by similar offers) but the manger always took it with good grace and gave them a proper farewell.

You're lucky to have such a nice girl.

probably trying to stop her telling parents she was going- rotten thing to do though

Interesting to hear that, Moondog - it's the way I'd expect any decent manager to behave (used to be a manager myself).

Good point Pixiefish. I've worried and worried about this decision but seems too good an opportunity for ds to turn down - he really does love this girl.

The only thing that occurred to me was, what if there was a reason for the manager to ask her to leave early? But then, if she'd done something dreadful, she'd have been dismissed instantly, or at least wouldn't have been working her notice - would she? Manager's barely there now anyway - nursery chain have pulled her off to go and 'support' another branch four days a week. And lots of key people have left which makes me feel it must be nursery that's at fault here, not this girl. Wasn't happy with nursery anyway before she told me she'd handed in her notice.

It's sour grapes Edam. I'm sure of it.

I'd complain in writing to the manager and copy her regional manager if there is one, there is with big chains.

Well, I would, but don't want to alert them to the fact I'm employing her; no doubt they'd sting us for a month's money for enticing a member of staff away. Which we didn't, she'd handed in her notice already. Another (key) member of staff left to nanny the baby sister of a kid that goes to nursery and won't be doing nursery pick-ups for that reason.

A lot of nurseries do seem to have a very high staff turnover, don't they. Such a shame for the children .

I think one of the underlying reasons is low pay - every assistant in the baby room is earnign the nursery 3k a month yet I gather they are paid just £11,000 a year. Shocking.

But in this specific instance it must be the manager being a cow, as so many people are leaving at once (and people who have their own rooms and have been there for years). Shame, it used to be really, really good.

An update, just in case anyone is interested. Collected ds tonight and got an official letter saying the woman I want to employ had decided not to come back after her holiday. Sat down with manager and asked what was going on, confidentially. As you'd expect, she said she couldn't go into any detail as it was confidential, but then said the woman I want to employ had decided herself not to come back. That was a big fat lie. Idiot.

The thing is, I've never felt comfortable with this manager since she arrived at nursery. She was only 24 when she was appointed (don't know where they go her from) which I thought was unusual (not saying you can't manage a whole nursery at 24, but she never struck me as particularly outstanding, I suppose).

Be glad you're outta there,edam!

edam is this the same chain as messed up your vouchers payments?

I am wondering because there has been a change of management at our branch, and while some of the improvements have been immediate and excellent, some things are emerging that I am not so sure about
Glad you are both out of it now.
I am very sad at the pay these staff get when you look at the fees charged to parents