Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Do you pay for nanny's flu jab?

25 replies

Novstar · 21/03/2012 14:49

Just wondering, because our nanny's been off sick for the week probably with flu, if other employers ask for their nannies to get flu jabs and reimburse the cost.

If you're a nanny, do you get a jab every year?

And does it count as a taxable benefit in kind? I get flu jabs at work for free and I'm pretty sure I'm not taxed on it, but I may be wrong.

OP posts:
weevilswobble · 21/03/2012 14:55

Splitting hairs?

HolyLentenPromiseBatman · 21/03/2012 15:04

I've never been asked to get a flu jab

drinkyourmilk · 21/03/2012 15:05

I had the jab because I nannied for children with low immune systems. I never asked my employers to pay. I did it because I worried about making the kids very ill. However im not sure how I would react if my employer told me I had to get vaccinated.

eeyore12 · 21/03/2012 15:05

I get one every year as have asthma, but it only protects against one kind of flu bug anyway as the flu virus changes all the time, so even if she got one she could still get flu. It costs between £5 and £10 from a chemist and I think if you want her to get it you should prob pay for it.

nannynick · 21/03/2012 16:10

If you're a nanny, do you get a jab every year?

No. Are we entitled to have one? I didn't get a letter from my GP saying I could go and get a jab. So guess we are not classed as being in an at-risk group. NHS:Who Should Have The Flu Vaccination

Original poster
Novstar · 21/03/2012 16:25

You wouldn't automatically be entitled to it just because you're a nanny. It usually protects against the strains predicted to be the most prevalent each year (so yes you'd have to get it done every year to maximise protection and even then it may not work). I wasn't going to tell or even ask nanny to get a jab -- perhaps offer as a perk, as I do at my work, but I won't if that would come across as odd or interfering. Also just curious about the tax treatment.

OP posts:
HolyLentenPromiseBatman · 21/03/2012 17:49

I think it would come across as odd, unless there is a specific reason e.g. one of your children is immunosuppressed.

nannyl · 21/03/2012 17:55

even if my boss wanted to me to have a flu jab i wouldnt have it....

if it was a job requirement (ie drs are required to have some vaccines) then i would oblige as part of the job...

I would not nanny for any person who wanted to to dictate their medical opinion, especially when its different from current medical advice.

So no i wouldnt pay for it, and nor would i have it if my bosses wanted to pay either

AuntLucyInPeru · 21/03/2012 17:59

I ask my nannies to have it done privately and I pay. I'm asthmatic (so i have one on nhs) and so does my husband. I offer the same to all our employees in work. Everyone is free to refuse if they hate needles etc, but I would them only do statutory sick pay if they refused the jab, got the flu and needed 2 weeks off work to recover.

seeker · 21/03/2012 18:01

So you can tell whether the fluu they get is the flu they would have been vaccinated against? How clever of you!

redglow · 21/03/2012 18:21

Auntlucy are you for real? So ad I don't work for you.

AuntLucyInPeru · 21/03/2012 18:31

Tbh I'd probably take a view. The situation has never come up yet. But I'm self employed so if my nanny takes 2 weeks sick, then I have to stay home and can't earn money myself. If the cause of the sickness was something that they had chosen not to prevent despite it being easy and free, then yes, I would find that irritating. I say at interview that I would like them to have the jab and If were worried about that then I'd expect it I be raised and discussed then.

seeker · 21/03/2012 18:36

Interestingto see what an employment tribunal would think of you "taking a view" of what strain of flu your nanny was surfing from!

AuntLucyInPeru · 21/03/2012 18:39

Wouldn't be a prob. My nanny contract says stat sick pay only except at the discretion of the employer.

redglow · 21/03/2012 18:42

Fair enough if you mention this at an interview. Everyone has a choice then.

catepilarr · 21/03/2012 20:55

i personally wouldnt have the flu jab. payed for or not. if i wanted it , i would pay for it myself i guess. its wouldnt be a matter of money but my health and i dont believe flu jabs do you any good. not even doctors themselves are sure whether they do more harm than good.

HolyLentenPromiseBatman · 21/03/2012 21:04

AuntLucy some people have a really bad reaction to the flu jab. If your nanny has the jab and is then sick does she get some sort of compensation?

south345 · 21/03/2012 21:26

Just because you have the jab doesn't mean you won't get poorly, I'm asthmatic and so get it free but have still had flu after.

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 22/03/2012 10:26

Good Lord you cannot force your nanny to have a medical procedure.

you can offer it and offer to pay but cannot FORCE someone to have it.

AuntLucyInPeru · 22/03/2012 10:35

Of course not, nor would I ever attempt such a thing. I say at interview that I am asthmatic on steroids and we prefer everyone working in the house to have the flu jab. In November each year I offer to pay for for the jab privately and for it to be done in working hours. If they prefer not to, that's entirely their prerogative and business. If, having opted not to get the jab, they were then unlucky enough to get flu and had to take time off work, they would be paid sick pay in line with their contract.

Original poster
Novstar · 22/03/2012 11:10

AuntLucy - thanks, that's very interesting - FWIW I think that's fair given your situation, although it's probably less important for us as DH and I have fairly flexible jobs.

Any other employers have any views? Given how horrible flu is, I'm amazed that some people would decline it even if offered. I would do anything to reduce the risk, especially if it's free and easy, even if it works only half the time. Just different a view on risk/benefit.

OP posts:
AuntLucyInPeru · 22/03/2012 11:23

The views on here seem mostly to be from people who view the jab as dangerous and/or otherwise undesirable, but I share the same view as you that flu is a miserable illnesss, the jab is widely regarded (by the GMC and other reputable medical organisations) as safe, and most of those to whom I have offered it have seen it as a good thing, and been pleased to embark on their winter tube journeys knowing they're not going to pick up flu on the way home.

SquishyCinnamonSwirls · 22/03/2012 11:28

My DH has the flu jab every year and charges the cost back to his company as an expense. I have the jab every year and put it in my accounts as an allowable expense (childminder), if I am unable to work it has a huge impact on all the families I provide care for.

I think AuntLucy has a very valid point.

OP, I would offer your Nanny the cost of the jab, if she chooses to have it that's her decision.

HolyLentenPromiseBatman · 22/03/2012 12:47

'If, having opted not to get the jab, they were then unlucky enough to get flu and had to take time off work, they would be paid sick pay in line with their contract.'

That all sounds very reasonable, but what you fail to mention is that they would get less sick pay if they refuse the jab than if they don't. So it's not just a nice offer, you're twisting their arm and if they don't want it, effectively, punishing them. You clearly know enough about employment law to not have that reflected in the contract, but that is what you're doing.

SuiGeneris · 23/03/2012 11:23

Agree with Aunt Lucy. I am asthmatic too, so maybe that colours our view, but both DH and I are offered and take up vaccines at work and we offer the same to our nanny (though thinking about it, I do not recall her taking us up on it this year).

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread