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Am I too soft with nanny? Help appreciated

49 replies

Bobbiesmum · 10/12/2010 20:18

Hi, I have also posted this in AIBU but would really appreciate other nanny/nanny employers' perspectives.
A bit of background...
My ds is admitted to hospital literally every 2 weeks with chest problems. We have exhausted goodwill from friends so employed a nanny who literaly earns more than me but is essential so we have no worries about looking after dd when we are in hospital.
Nanny has in her contract to do cleaning/ironing one day a fortnight and she has been doing the ironing at home and I generally have no problem with this.
Today she planned to take ironing home in the afternoon( but obviously I was still paying her as normal) but we were readmitted to hospital and I asked her if she could leave the ironing and care for dd instead. She flat out said no as she had to go food shopping (for herself) this afternoon. She then watched me try unsuccessfully try to get another sitter and still didn't offer to stay.
Dh finally said that as she was being paid we needed her to stay and she has but she is clearly not happy.
I think we are very good employers, always let her go early, paid time off no questions asked for family emergencies etc.
ThIs not an isolated incident,another time I had to take DS to docs in an emergency at 5pm and she is paid until 5.30pm. I said I should be back on time but was she ok if not (she has in her contract that she may needs to be flexible by 15 mins at begining and end of day)and again she said no.
Now I realise a massive part of the problem is my failure to address this, I am soft, she is older than me and frankly i feel intimidated. We have never had a nanny before and she has years of experience with good references.
SO, any opinions on the situation and how to grow some balls/handle situation greatly appreciated, specifically am I being out of order?

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Bobbiesmum · 11/12/2010 12:05

References were glowing which is why i feel a lot of this is down to my bad management. There was one recent job which she didn't give reference details for which she has mentioned vaguely that they parted on bad terms.
She is a nice person and great with kids but just not flexible enough for us.

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rubyslippers · 11/12/2010 12:08

Intesretsing that she parted on bad terms from a family

Look, it is very hard and will be a PITA but you will fins someone else

Maybe there have been elements of you being soft but she sounds very unaccomodating

nannynick · 11/12/2010 12:09

I wouldn't worry about her blacklisting you with her friends. Her friends may not be ideal candidates for the job... they probably already have work.

It does not sound like it's working out, so discuss how things have gone during probation period and that you are not happy, give notice, provide a reference and move on. That is why there is a probationary period.

She may be the ideal nanny for someone else but not for you. Agree on a leaving date. Decide if you want her to work during notice period, or if you will just pay that, letting her have more time available to herself to find replacement work.

Finding a replacement may take a while... following your chat with her, put ads out, contact agencies, look at listings sites to see who is looking for a nanny job in your area. Consider if you really need the cleaning/ironing... it may put some candidates off - and a nanny may be good at childcare, but bad as a cleaner/ironing person.

StealthPolarBear · 11/12/2010 12:12

"TBH id be wanting to tell her that all hours are worked in your house, unless she can follow suit and give as well as take."

completely agree with this. Also sounds as though there were issues with her last employer (which I'm sure you've figured out)

MoonUnitAlpha · 11/12/2010 12:31

Why on earth are you allowing her to take advantage like this? Every example you list is worse than the last.

If she's still in her probation period tell her it's not working out and find someone else. Try to remember YOU ARE THE BOSS next time - you're paying a nanny to do a job, she isn't doing you a favour.

Bobbiesmum · 11/12/2010 12:54

Moon I know! I am horrifying myself seeing it in writing! I am new to this and have so much on with my sons constant hospital admissions I have been burying my head in the sand!
Am so grateful for all your help!

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ChippingIn · 11/12/2010 13:02

I'm pleased that you aren't keeping her on - she's not a good fit for you and she isn't making your life easier - which is one of the main reasons to have a nanny and not a cheaper childcare option.

It doesn't sound, from what you have said, that you need a nanny to be that flexible really, just stay later occasionally or change what she is doing on employed days. There are plenty of nanny jobs out there that require a much greater degree of flexibility.

Little things like swapping the playdate over can be a little annoying if the parent changes their working days often as you don't feel like you know where you're at - however, although it's a little frustrating, you'd still rearrange the playdate and accomodate the parent rather than yourself/other nanny.

There's no way you should have suggested or she should have allowed you to be doing the housework, while she ran a playdate. I personally think it's better to have a nanny and a cleaner - but I can see why you have done what you have done and if she agreed to that, then it shouldn't be an issue.

I don't think there is any problem with you 'letting' her do the ironing at her house or being flexible with the hours etc there aren't any hard & fast rules to how it 'should be' - however it needs to work for both of you and this is only working for her.

Don't worry about her 'blacklisting' you, either her 'nanny friends' know what she's like and although they might be friends with her, they quite possibly wouldn't employ her themselves! and as has been mentioned - they already have jobs. Nanny jobs are a bit thin on the ground right now, so you will find someone else easily.

Don't feel bad, this is what trial periods are for :)

MoonUnitAlpha · 11/12/2010 13:05

You sound like a lovely boss, but maybe this nanny was a bit too set in her ways and used to running the show?

Leaving a job on bad terms would be a red flag for me (I'm a nanny too btw) unless she had a good explanation and was willing to give you the details. Anything less than glowing references from every job would be a problem - there are plenty of great nannies out there. Make sure you speak to all the referees and ask them if hey would employ the candidate again!

ChippingIn · 11/12/2010 13:39

BobbiesMum - I have sent you a PM (Inbox at the top of your screen - I know not everyone is familiar with them yet! Apologies if you are!!).

Bobbiesmum · 11/12/2010 14:01

Thanks chipping but it doesn't seem to have arrived

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ChippingIn · 11/12/2010 16:13

How odd.... I have sent you another.

Blondeshavemorefun · 11/12/2010 17:15

glad you have decided to let her go,its not working out

the playdate thing i can understand, she had arranged it and tbh she could have cleaned on a fri instead

the dog issue is a no go,why should your dog be locked up as HER child doesnt like dogs Hmm

Bobbiesmum · 11/12/2010 17:25

Thanks blonde. Am going to let her go, so do you think it was reasonable of her to refuse to change the playdate?
I won't mention it to her as an example of inflexibility if so. She couldn't have cleaned on a Friday though as I was working and obviously she needed to have the children.
I was also wondering if anyone can help, if I give her notice and she chooses to work it, how do we get round the inevitable awkwardness?
I assume if SHE chooses not to work her notice I am not obliged to pay?

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Bobbiesmum · 11/12/2010 17:27

Chipping- thankyou so much for your pm. I am on my I phone as still in hospital with my son and it won't let me reply. I am in a different area but I greatly appreciate your help

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Blondeshavemorefun · 11/12/2010 17:30

guess what im saying, is that i would be a bit peeved if i had organised something in my normal working hours, only for my mb to say i cant do it,as her plans have changed and therefore i must clean

you said your dd is 3,can your nanny not hoover while your dd plays with play dough/looks at a book,even gawd forbid watch tv

i agree that you either need a nanny or a cleaner, but understand why you said to clean every 6th day as you are about

maybe you could take that day to do something for you (sounds like you need a bit of me time) or even go shopping without kids etc

Bobbiesmum · 11/12/2010 17:37

Good point, I am now starting to think therefore that I HAVE been unreasonable and when I asked her not to do ironing and have dd so I could go to hospital she was obviously peeved that I was asking her to change her plans AGAIN

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Blondeshavemorefun · 11/12/2010 17:44

but she should be happy to have dd,as thats her job so she was unreasonable about that and the un flexilbity of her hours, just not the playdate thing iyswim

RibenaBerry · 11/12/2010 17:46

I think the whole playdate thing risks obscuring the big issue - she was hired to give you flexibility, I am sure you explained that. She is refusing to give that, so I think it's not working out and you need to part company.

If she refuses to work her notice, you don't have to pay her for it. If she's willing to and you ask her not to, she's entitled to be paid anyway.

lollipopmother · 11/12/2010 17:47

Jesus, of course it was unreasonable for her to not change the playdate - you are her employer and you gave her a task (cleaning) that she refused to do - how comfortable would you be in flatly refusing to do a piece of work your boss had given you? Hmm.

I am a CM and I regularly cancel/rearrange playdates or meet-ups at playgroups etc for my mindees and I am my own boss. Equally if a parent asks me whether I could do something specific with their LO, such as make a card, work on eating with a knife and fork etc then I'd bend over backwards to do it. One mindee has had a berevement in the family and parents were going to the funeral which is not close by - I offered to have mindee overnight for free so that they didn't have the worry on such a difficult day - taking your son to hospital so often must be very worrying for you and you need someone with a bit of compassion, not wanting to work a couple of minutes later is ridiculous.

Basically this nanny is taking the p* out of you, make sure you sack her ASAP.

MoonUnitAlpha · 11/12/2010 17:49

I can understand her being irritated about the playdate, but regardless she should have done as she was asked! If my boss told me I had to cancel something and do something else, there is absolutely no way I'd just refuse. Very unprofessional.

GaribaldiGirl · 11/12/2010 18:28

i think a nanny who can't be flexible when a sick child is involved should consider a different career.

ChippingIn · 11/12/2010 18:49

BobbiesMum -

With regard to the ironing/looking after DD, there is no issue whatsoever with you needing her to change her plans. You pay her to work those 3 days and looking after DD comes first.

With regard to the playdate, it is annoying if you have your time with the children planned and the parents keep changing their plans and you are expected to keep changing yours - however, if it's only occasionally then that's fine. You want your nanny to do things/go out/have playdates/go to classes etc, so when a nanny has those things planned you do need to respect that. However, occasionally changing isn't an issue.

Of course, as others have said, you could take the view that you are the 'Boss' and she is 'the nanny/employee' - that works really well if you want to keep changing nannies, but if you don't then working as a partnership works much better :) However, she shouldn't have 'refused' to do it, she should have said 'Yes, I can - but I would rather not because of xyz or yes I can this time, but I wouldn't want to do it too often' or whatever. Refusing without good reason is a bit churlish if you don't ask her to do this frequently.

You are also NBU re asking/telling her that DS/DD are not to go to certain places/do certain things - so long as you were upfront about this before she started, so that she knew what the restrictions were. If she agreed before starting, she should not be complaining about it now and under NO circumstances should she be taking them when you have told her you don't want them going there. A Nanny either respects that or talks to you about it, to come to an agreement - telling you that is what is happening or just taking them and telling you not to worry is not on especially when you have immuno comprised children.

FunkySnowSkeleton · 12/12/2010 15:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bobbiesmum · 12/12/2010 17:13

Thanks for all your replies. Well we have decided to let her go as the more I think about it the more angry I get as I would help a stranger out in this situation never mind someone I was PAID to help.
Just got to have the dreaded conversation now.

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