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Original poster

Nannies -if your ill during working day what do you do?

42 replies

DillyDallyDayDream · 07/11/2012 18:54

It seems that yesterday afternoon I came down with a stomach bug and was sick 2 times whilst at work. After being sick the 1st time I rang Mum boss to explain that I was unwell and could she possibly ask her Mum to come take over from me so I dont spread the illness to the children (liklihood is i already had). She stated no she was at work I had to stay for the rest of my working hours which was 4hours. Then she was half hour late with warning.

Was i unreasonable to suggest what I did?
What do you do if you become ill during your working day?

Thanks

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Welovecouscous · 07/11/2012 19:03

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Original poster
DillyDallyDayDream · 07/11/2012 19:04

She's a deputy headteacher and had 'important' meetings.

OP posts:
Welovecouscous · 07/11/2012 19:05

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mogandme · 07/11/2012 19:22

If my boss could come home she would however as she is often away/uncontactable I have 2 contingency plans 1) Im live in so go to bed and DC (aged just 5 watches dvd/plays etc) 2) Friends would have him either mum friends or nanny network.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/11/2012 19:28

Tbh I'm rarely ill so if felt under the weather then would have a sofa and tv day

Throwing up is different - I would call my Mb or db but also know that they may not be able to just come home and also likely to be 1.5/2hrs with travel etc

I would probably call a nanny friend who knew my charges and see if she could have them if felt so ill that I couldn't carry on

OP - your Mb sounds horrible / understand that maybe she can't come home but if her mum was free then that's a solution but to do nothing and be late home is just taking the piss :(

fraktion · 07/11/2012 19:29

I would have sought permission to find an emergency playdate with a another nanny/charge's friend.

Extremely poor IMO. I hope you'll be observing the 48 hour rule now.

cathpip · 07/11/2012 19:34

Well lets just hope that the headteacher tells her no she cant go home sick when she throws up twice............

PhyllisDoris · 07/11/2012 19:38

People can't just walk out if work! But if you really feel that you might ever suddenly feel too ill to look after the children again, at such short notice I suggest you discuss a contingency plan with the mother. But bear in mind that parents who are ill have to carry on looking after the kids, so it's not impossible.

Welovecouscous · 07/11/2012 19:42

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mogandme · 07/11/2012 19:43

Dilly - why did she say No to Grandma taking over?

PhyllisDoris · 07/11/2012 19:45

Regardless, people can't just walk out if work. If you have a job, it's assumed you have adequate child care - you can't just leave.

mogandme · 07/11/2012 19:45

Agree with the welove - Phyliss if it had been their child who had been sick at another childcare provider then they would have had to leave or have a contngency plan in place. My MB has a contingancy plan for when I call in sick etc so know that she would some how cobble it together. I am an employee and if I was sick in an office/factory/shop I would go home so why wouldn't I as a nanny?

AndBingoWasHisNameOh · 07/11/2012 19:49

If you put it as "so I don't infect the kids" then she may have thought you were giving her the option. If you said "I feel awful and really need to go home" that would be a but different.

PhyllisDoris · 07/11/2012 19:52

I don't know what the answer is, but I know you can't just walk out of work. Best to arrange contingency probably.

knackeredmother · 07/11/2012 19:56

As a parent it would be near on impossible for me to come but I would try to ask a neighbour/friend. However, the reason I pay the vast proportion of my salary to my nanny is because I simply very little backup, my nanny is my backup.
It's very difficult.

mogandme · 07/11/2012 20:03

I understand that Knackered - My boss is a single parent with no local links to the area other than work so I know she would struggle if I couldn't do my job however I work with her to ensure that if this happens that it all works out. However for the flexibility I give and the way I work hard to ensure it all works seamlessly I do expect my boss to come home if possible and wouldn't be impressed with the situation Dilly was in - no backup and boss coming in late.

forevergreek · 07/11/2012 20:55

I would drop at friends or snuggle down on the sofa with tv ( my charges never have tv so I think I could pass a few hours that way if needed)

I would call employers and mine would try and leave as early as possible ( def not be late!) and would work from home.

But I many neighbours are close friends so I could probably split up and drop a child a a couple of different people ( so they ended up with one extra instead of 3)

Being a nanny is different from a parent. A parent can snuggle into bed with kids with them and dose. A nanny is expected to entertain, bake cookies, and get homework done. If I am ill, as an employee it's in my rights to take time off ( have taken half a day in 6 years, and that was only after I dragged myself in feeling rotten and then felt too dizzy to safely look after babies), so I would hope they would understand that I really was sick

wickedwitchofwaterloo · 07/11/2012 21:06

I disagree somewhat forevergreek on a normal day, that is what a nanny does but if you are sick, you are sick. I don't know a single family I have worked for (bar maybe one Wink) that would object to me sitting on the settee, under a duvet and allowing my charges to watch TV for a few hours if I was feeling rotten if there was no back up plan. As someone else said, we are the back up plans. I have dragged myself into work in various states and my employers appreciate that they can go to work so turn a blind eye to a less than productive day.
Saying that, I've never thrown up at work due to illness...

wickedwitchofwaterloo · 07/11/2012 21:10

Although I will say Dilly, your boss does sound a bit mean! Sad

SamSmalaidh · 07/11/2012 22:30

Phyllis - if your child is at nursery and becomes ill then the parent does have to leave work to get them, or have someone else who can. That's the same if someone has a nanny who gets ill!

pushmepullyou · 07/11/2012 22:35

That is a bit mean - I understand her not being able to come home, I am often in the same situation, which is why I don't use a nursery/childminder. However, if she has parents nearby who could help then not contacting them and then being late is very inconsiderate

McPhee · 07/11/2012 22:36

And this sort of attitude, is precisely one of the reasons I want out of the childcare sector.

We have the same rights as every other employed person up and down the land. And are most certainly NOT second class citizens who have to 'put up or shut up'

ceeveebee · 07/11/2012 22:43

Is your employer a single parent? Is there a father that could have come home?

As an employer I feel it's my responsibility to have a back up plan. In my case I have specifically arranged to meet a couple of my nanny's friends so that if she had to leave them with someone else I would feel comfortable. My first choice would be for me or DH to come home but its not always possible to drop everything.

forevergreek · 07/11/2012 23:31

Ceeveebee- that's a great idea. Like you say many can't drop things in seconds and get home, but they could at least be home on time!
I have had others like this where an emergency came up and nanny had to leave at say 1pm ( usual 7pm finish). The granny managed to pick up from me at 4pm

ConfusedPixie · 08/11/2012 09:08

My employers would either cone home (a two hour venture or so) our call in their old nanny who covers when I am not available or when they need extra help but I'm at my other job. Your employers should have arranged something if you'd been sick.