does anyone know what I can do for this nanny?

[breadandroses]

Hi, I have been talking to a nanny who's charges are friends with dd, and her conditions sound pretty poor. Apparantly she gets paid only for when she works, no sickness or holiday. The family she works for frequently call her up to say she's not needed, if for instance grandparents visit and when they have their holidays she doesn't get paid either. Her English is quite poor. Do nannys have any sort of union or are their any regulations that are being breached here. Needless to say employers and nanny don't pay tax on this. Can anyone advise on a course of action she could take?

Meant to say, I'm a childminder myself but know that the rules are different, thought about calling NCMA, but thought I'd ask you guys as font of all wisdom and that.

i agree... SHE can help herself by leaving!

An annoymouse tip off might make them think twice about exploiting someone again! + give them a £3000 fine!

This sounds terrible. Echo what others have said as well - if it is so bad why does she stay? If you act like a doormat, you get trodden on.

I would tread cautiously - there are always two sides to a story, and this sounds a bit too black and white to reflect reality to me.

She should move on and find someone to treat her with a bit of courtesy.

well obviously she deserves it goldenoldoi, seeing as she ' acts like a doormat'. Serves her right, eh? I bet you'd be lovely to work for....

I agree with Goldenoldie. I wonder if the employer would tell the same story. And, also, she does have the option of saying goodbye. No one is keeping her from doing so.

Donnie, I feel your response is a bit harsh. Goldenoldie did not condone the employer's behaviour just questioned if the story was acurate. There might be 2 sides, you know.

There are always two sides to any story... for now only one side has been presented, so that is all we can really comment on.

If the nanny is Live-Out then they will have normal employment rights. If they are live-in then a number of their usual rights go out the window... alas uk laws do not protect employees who live at their place of work. However, as the employer in this case appears to be able to call up their nanny and say that they are not needed for work, I would guess they are Live-Out, so usual employment rights will apply. Details on the usual rights that exist can be found \link{http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/individual.htm\here at DTI.gov.uk}

The nanny should speak with the following for advice:
ACAS - 08457 474747, though if English language is tricky, then perhaps better to see someone in person - so try local CAB \link{http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/winnn6/index/getadvice\Find Local CAB}
Minimum Wage Advice: 0845 6000 678

There is no real union for nannies. Nannies can join PANN which is part of Professional Association of Teachers.

With regard to breaches or regulations, I expect it will be things like Minimum Wage Act, Employment Relations Act.

ACAS have Language Line so can get an interpreter on the phone within 60 seconds for a three-way conversation. If she rings the number and, when someone answers, says the language she needs, someone should help her.

Having said that,Language Line is so rarely used in a lot of situations, I'm sure it would help her if someone could call for her and get this set up with the operator.

Thanks for replies- she doesn't have much English and was hired as mum wanted someone to speak her mother tongue to her children.

Thanks Jura, NannyNick and Acnebride- will definately call and tell her what is advised.

Thanks esp for pointer to language line.
She is live out btw

Uwila- nice to see your compassionate side.

Will let you know the outcome!

Donnie - anytime you are looking for a job - let me know!

well it is just sad that you find exploitation of immigrant workers funny goldenoldie.I guess those dead Chinese cockle pickers were a bunch of doormats too, yes? letting themselves be exploited like that ?
The fact that you find this sort of thing funny speaks volumes about the type of person you are.

Oh Donnie. Nobody said it was okay for this girl to be exploited. Of course she is being treated poorly. But, if I were being treated like that you bet ya I'd walk out the door without notice. I'm going to hazard a guess that this girl is also paid in cash and has no ontract. And if that is the case I'm afraid she won't have any proof with which to go to the authorities. So she reall probably is better off just finding a job with an employer who will treat her fairly.

Donnie - chillout. Think you are getting a bit overwrought.

Of course, I always chain my nanny to the pram and only feed her for good behaviour!

As I say - there are no victims, only volunteers............

Is this nanny legally in the country? If she is, then in her shoes I would walk and find another job. Even if her English is not very good, she did find one job where she speaks her mother tongue so she might find another? Otherwise, if she has no contract, no tax being paid, and is not even being paid very well, wouldn't she be better off doing anything else - cleaning, factory work, whatever doesn't necessarily require strong language skills? However, I suspect that the reason she stays in this job is because she doesn't have a work permit and is therefore in no position to complain to the IR because she then risks deportation. If that's the case, then it's a tricky and horrid situation and I don't know what to advise.