Sick pay for nanny in first month

[cowbags73]

Hellooo. I want to do the decent thing by my Nanny and despite putting (only) Statutory Sick Pay in her employment contract, I was intending to pay her as long as she didn't take advantage of it.
She joined us on 1 October and everything seems to be going well but she called in sick on Monday and Tuesday this week which left me in dire straights.
I was quite shocked that she would take time off sick so soon, but my husband pointed out that you can't help when you fall ill. I'm now torn about whether to pay her, or whether that sends out a signal that I'm a soft touch.
I had to pay for emergency childcare on Monday and Tuesday so would be out of pocket to the tune of £150.
Perhaps I could say that I am happy to pay her on this occasion but if it becomes a habit (how do you define 'habit'?!) I will revert to the contract.

Interested to hear from both Nannies and parents as to whether you think this is fair...

Personally I wouldn't sign a contract without sick pay but that's me :)

What I think is fair for nanny and employer is a weeks sick pay

So mon to wed nanny 3 days a year and full time 5 days

What was wrong with your nanny? Unless s&d most nannies will make the effort to go in and if need be have a quiet sofa /tv day

Did you ask previous employers about how many sick days they had in last few years?

As an employer opinion and nanny been with you a month I personally wouldn't pay her

From a nanny it would be nice but she happily signed contract stating ssp only

So no I wouldn't pay this time and see what happens or change contract

Some employers have a bonus if no sick days off in a year

I wouldn't pay this early in since it's in the contract, although it might depend on what was wrong with her.

I am quite clear with my nanny that I expect her to work unless she is dying only half joking if she needs to come and sit on the sofa and the children have an unproductive day watching cartoons and eating sandwiches then that is preferable to me than her calling in sick.

I don't think you should pay her - you will set a bad precedence if you pay her so soon.
I've only ever had SSP in my nanny contracts and never had sick nannies whereas several friends who pay seem to have sick nannies. I'm sure there's lots of exceptions, but you can always pay next time.

bonus for no sick days encourages bringing in potentially contagious illnesses into the house, but allowing up to 5 paid sick days a year may have the effect of just giving an additional 5 paid holiday days -it all depends on the individual and their attitude. Do you think it's genuine? what was it for?
I've had similar experience - with one nanny, she didn't turn up on her first day because her car window needed mending (why that didn't wave a great big red flag at me, I don't know), didn't come in when it snowed a week or so later and she had lots of single days off sick which I paid. As soon as I stopped paying them, the sick days stopped.
Current nanny had a day off sick within first month but was straight after children and i had had a brief bug- so absolutely knew it was genuine, and she went to great lengths to help cover the day. Of course I paid.
A nanny saying they won't sign an agreement without sick pay is pretty punchy in these days of decreasing f/t jobs, takes confidence. Don't know anyone who puts it into the contract, everyone I know leaves it as statutory and handles it discretionarily.

I would not set the precedent now. She has lost you £150. If she learns now you pay when off sick even though the contract says not she will take advantage. Most workers are not given anything other than SSP which means nothing for the first 3 days. No reason she should be treated better than that.

Ditto platinum - if we take a day off then our employers bed to find cover

I've always had sick pay in my contract - but as I'm so rarely ill new employers obv talk to current /old employers and know that and maybe take into consideration.

I think you should weigh very heavily what her references said about how many sick days she's taken in the past.

If she is the kind of person/nanny who'll come to work if at all possible, she will likely feel distrusted and a little offended if you refuse to pay simply because it's early in the contract. You don't want that!

OTOH, if she is the kind of person/nanny who would be likely to take you for a ride (i.e. she has taken loads of time off with past employers), you would certainly not want to set the paying precedent now.

I would wait and see what happens on return to work. Will you have a discussion about it when she returns, sort of checking she is fine but also trying to establish if there is any cause for illness (doubt she went out all weekend drinking but you never know).

As this is still during probation, I would be inclined not to pay but if things continue fine for the rest of probation then at end of probation perhaps giving a small bonus, or you may tie that in with Xmas bonus depending on how long probation is in your contract.

Will not paying leave nanny in financial hardship? Does paying leave you in financial hardship? Maybe do a half pay situation, making it clear that it is a one off special as you don't want her to suffer too much financially having just started the job.

Tricky one, as you have yet to build up a good relationship with her or her with you, so you are in the stage of trying to be nice to each other.

If I was able to cover the days without being hit financially I would pay her on this occassion. However, it seems that wasn't the case here. This choice, for me, is largely because I cannot afford to pay for two lots of childcare. If the cost was not actually an issue , I would probably pay her this time.