Nanny always late - what steps to take?

[NannyTroubles]

I’ve namechanged for this as I think this could easily out me.

We have been employing a nanny two days a week, term time only since the end of April. She looks after my toddler all day and does school drop off and pick up for my older child. The children are really happy with her which is great as they had a brief and unsettled period with a childminder who gave notice after a very short time due to personal issues.

The problem is that the nanny is consistently late. She is supposed to start at 8 and occasionally arrives on time, but more usually between 5 and 10 past. There have been 4 occasions when she’s been really late – between 8.15 and 8.30, usually blamed on the bus. Bearing in mind that she's only worked approx 15 days in total her hit rate has been very bad. DP - who does the hand over in the morning as I have an early start - tried to address this fairly early on but she got very defensive. As we are also having problems with younger DC having to be prised off his leg screaming so that he can leave the house it has been difficult to have a dialogue about it. I have mentioned it to her on one occasion. On Tuesday this week she called DP at 7.50 to say that she’d only just got up as she’s been ill “because of the humidity”. By the time she arrived, he’d done the school drop off and got to work more than an hour late.

I suggested that we have a review as she is coming to the end of her probationary period so that we could discuss punctuality as well as seeing if there is anything that we need to address on either side. This was scheduled for today which is not a day that she normally works but she picks up some other children from school today so we agreed to do it before then. She cancelled me by text yesterday because some other ad-hoc childcare has come up which is fair enough as I know she needs the money.

Because I’m now not going to see her before she comes next week I responded with some info about her payslip which has just been processed and explained that DP has got a busy week at work next week so can she ensure that she is on time so he can leave promptly. She replied with the following message: “Will do but dp never leaves promptly. Takes 12 mins to say goodbye. A quick exit better for dc.”
Now obviously I don’t doubt that a quick goodbye is better all round, but I feel that she’s deflecting attention from the issue of her punctuality. DP feels really angry that he doesn’t know what time he’s going to get to work. Fortunately they are reasonably flexible but I would have lost my job had I been in his situation.

The more I think about it, the more I think we need to get rid of her. If she can’t manage to get to work at this time of year when it’s pleasant to get up then what’s she going to be like when it’s dark and raining and the busses are really slow. She’s still in her probationary period. The plan had been to run till the end of term and then pay her a retainer over the summer holidays. The contract says for disciplinary issues I have to give her a verbal warning, written warning and then dismissal. Realistically I don’t want to keep her on after the end of term. I need to give her two weeks notice according to contract. Do I just say that she hasn’t passed the probationary period or do I need to go through the disciplinary steps?

I would simply give her 2 weeks notice. She should work those 2 weeks, but you may find that she doesn't...while within your rights not to pay it may be simpler to pay up and wave good bye.

I wouldn't keep her on tbh. Punctuality is really important as a nanny (well actually in any job) and lateness really bugs me. I think she might need to learn this the hard way. I don't really think it's her business if your DH leaves promptly or not. He might have stuff to do that he can't do with the children around. And you are paying her from 8, so she should start at 8. No question. If the bus is always late, she needs to catch an earlier bus.

But, I would give her notice. Once she is out of her probationary period, it wil get more difficult to do this, so get rid while it's easier to do this. I don't think she will get better, if you can take a good impression at the start I don't think it will improve once she is really settled.

She sounds unpunctual and also unreliable - I would give notice. You don't need to go down the disciplinary route as long as the probation period was in her contract.

I would have addressed this the 2nd time she was late and given verbal then written warning and not left it 8 weeks

If everything else is ok I would say to her that if she is late again verbal then written warning

Yes you can give her 2 weeks notice now as in probation period if you prefer that

Being late is unprofessional and also makes the employer late which makes them look bad

Maybe she needs to get an earlier
Bus or another method to work

How far away does she live?

You don't have to give any warnings really as that is just so that a dismissal would be fair if for conduct issues and no right to claim unfair dismissal until 2 years employment. I would talk to her and explain the lateness is causing major issues and you don't want to give her notice but will have to do so if late again as you need to be able to rely on her.

Thanks for the replies. I think you're right blondes, we should have addressed it in a more serious way sooner. I have spoken to her, albeit in a fairly gentle way and so has Dp, although only once. She lives a bus ride away and I'm fairly sure that this is part if the problem. She definitely needs to ensure that she gets an earlier bus. In every other way she's great, and my child, who failed to settle with the previous CM, is very happy with her. I think this is why we've been reluctant to rock the boat. The thought of him being with a third carer in six months is horrible.

For me it is not so much the 5 or 10 min late, this can easily happen, but when it happens the person who is late is apologetic. The problem is her attitude.

Her text reply was very rude and i think you are a saint, iwould be fuming if i received that.

Definitely what Laquitar said.

I was never late for work. I was aware that if I was late then obviously that makes the parents late. In one job the parents left within 10 minutes in another it could be an hour later but it was not my business. I had my hours to do and that was what I did.

In terms of notice, one job was one month probation with one weeks notice during that time and after that it was 3 months notice. They rang 15 minutes before I was due to leave for work to give me notice after 2 weeks of working there and I got a weeks pay in the post a few days later. I returned their car seat that day much to their apparent surprise .

If you are going to give her another chance then I would formally extend the probationary period so you can easily get rid of her if it doesn't improve.

She's been rude when she should've been apologetic, so for me she would have to go - how will she respond to other situations as they crop up in future?

i need the nanny there before i leave for work, as there is tuff i just can't get dome whilst alos looking after the kids, so the comment about "Will do but dp never leaves promptly. Takes 12 mins to say goodbye. A quick exit better for dc." is complete rubbish as far as i can see.
She should be there to facilitate his exit.
But saying that our nanny is never on time getting here, and i am never on time getting home so we are a pair.

Infrequent punctuality will equal frequent unreliability. I wonder how she would react if you paid her a day late???

Shocking way to react when pointed out that you've been late. If you can, two weeks notice.

I hope your next nanny is the keeper for years nanny.

SarcyMare -maybe your nanny is late in as she is annoyed you are late home?

If you want to get across the seriousness of the situation without having then to hire another nanny, I would consider extending her probation period and telling her why during a meeting. Simply because you have already said she is good with other aspects of her job. I would also mention her text message in that meeting. She is entitled to those opinions but it is actually none of her business how long it takes your husband to leave, or why. Mentioning it is unprofessional and crossing boundaries that should not be crossed.

Thanks all.
I'm really torn because the children really like her - loads of people have mentioned how happy they seem when they're out and about and I would feel awful upsetting all that given that they've already had a lot of upheaval.
I think extending her probation would be a good way to deal with it actually. How much would be a good amount of time bearing in mind she only does two days? A couple of months? I need to make it clear that we will give notice if things continue as they are.
She was on good form today and assured me that she would be on time from now on...

extend probation but make very clear that if she is late she will get a verbal warning, twice a written one and 3rd time lose her job

its great she gets on with your kids and people remarking when out and about is nice but being on time is also essential

"assured me that she would be on time from now on..."

That's good of her!

Extend probation and follow disciplinary. If you don't raise it finally you can't mention it in a reference an as it's essentially the reason you're letting her go that's something it would be handy to know!

Thanks. Good advice. Yes, I will be very clear and will put the whole review in writing afterwards so it's documented. How long do you think I should extend probation for?

Turn it on it's head - how long can you put up with the lateness for? Usually it's extended by a maximum of a month.

If you chose to extend the probation period I would make it clear that this now is the verbal warning and ask her what she thinks she can do to address her punctuality you would hope she says get an earlier bus.

I mentor student nurses in my day job and hate hate lateness and often leave my office and go about my day without them I won't be late. One thing many blame is late buses or didn't know it took so long to get to you (I always did and still do a dummy run if an important meeting etc) and I tell them to get an earlier bus then usually get tears or stropiness (neither cut it with me) about the earlier bus is an hr earlier and they will have to get up early sorry not my issue.

I suppose what I am saying is don't be drawn in by tears or sob stories about bus times she took a job with an advertised start time and actually it is good manners to attempt to arrive 10mins early so you can take coat off n have a wee so you can start work on time.

Sorry I do so hate lateness