nanny and child both sick

[sarajane03]

Hello,
i work as a nanny to a lovely little girl. This past week I came down with a horrible cold, I told the mum that I was ill but was willing to work if she felt comfortable with it, she said yes and has not seemed concerned about me being ill (she hasn't even asked how I was feeling or what was wrong with me, although I made it clear that I was probably contagious and that it wasn't a minor cold). The problem is, the little girl is now coming down with a cold. I was due to have the majority of next week off because the child is going camping and I have a final project for University that i need to complete next week. I am already feeling very worried/stressed about my uni work as my illness is increasingly getting worse (going to the doctor on Monday). Today, the mother told me that if her daughter is sick and unable to go camping that I would need to come and work full days (12 hours) as the mum and dad would both be at work.
Obviously, we won't know anything until Monday. But my question is this. If I am still really ill and the child is still ill and unable to go camping, is it right for the parents to demand that I come into work or should they themselves take that time off work to stay home with their child?
Normally I would be more then happy to stay with a sick child, but I cannot imagine having to work when I am still this sick and also having the stress of a massive university project hanging over my head.

I would appreciate your opinions.

thank you!

if you have booked next week off as your annual leave they need to make other arrangements

Surely you have booked next week off? Therefore it doesn't matter if you are well or sick, you should have off regardless. Like you say you also have plans for that weeks as booked off. What would they do if you had booked to fly abroad that week?

Thank you missmoomoo. I haven't booked the week off. I was told about two months ago that she would be gone for the week and that I could use that time to complete my uni project. It would be different if I wasn't also ill but I am not sure if I would have the energy to look after the child, do my project whilst also being ill.

I am only asking this question now because I want to be prepared if this does happen next week.

So had they booked it as their choice of holiday out of your allowance?
If not, and you we're just being paid as an extra you should be prepared to work.
Saying that, there's plenty of time before next week for her to fell better to go to camp.

I think we've discussed a situation like this before and views were mixed. Some people were of the opinion that if holiday/time off is given as an extra it can be revoked if necessary. IMO once the holiday/time off has been given i.e. you've been told you can have it, then that's it and it can't be taken back. Was it made clear that you could only have the time off if the child went camping?

Being ill is a separate issue. If you're too sick to go to work, then don't go.

I'm assuming that this child is 5+? If so, maybe you could compromise by doing your uni work at work? If the child is sick will she be happy to sleep/watch some TV/have some screen time?

Cross post with Karo. There's the mixed views I was talking about .

I think if you've been told with certainty that you have time off it should be respected, though if it was a loose plan it may be a greyer area.

That said, the cold and the holiday are really two separate issues, and I get the feeling that you're actually a bit upset that she let you work while sick and didn't ask how you were feeling. You said you were okay to work, if you weren't you should have said that instead. Your stress over uni is again something that an ideal boss would worry about, but is not a requirement for her to think about. Hope you can work this out for now, in future it sounds like you need to improve the communication flow, do you have a simple diary where you can log any issues, days off etc?

If you felt that ill that you want mb to ask how you are then You should have taken the time off

Tho she knew you were ill you said you said you were ok to come to work

Obv as nannies we don't like letting our employers down but we are only human and sometimes get ill

If the week given off was as child at camping but an extra week and mb knew you were doing uni work ie not booked flights to go abroad

If child is ill then go to work but take some uni work with you and do it when girl is having quiet time or tv Etc

@ Blondeshavemorefun. Thank you for the comment. I did not take a sick day this past week because I knew they both had a busy week at work and I that it would be difficult to for them to find last minute childcare. Instead I planned for her to have long playdates so that it would give me a chance to rest. I also knew that I would be having this next week off from work so figured that I would push on and use this weekend/next week to rest and do my uni work.

If the child is still sick next week then I had been planning on asking the parents if I could do some of my work whilst she watched tv (currently she is not allowed to watch any tv and she must have interactive play at all times with me).

I guess my main question is, what should I do if I am still ill and the child is also ill. Is it the norm that the nanny would still come to work (depending on illness) or would it be the responsibility of the parents to stay home with their child?

thanks

@CustardFromATin. Thank you for the comment.

Yes, I am a little upset that the parents do not seem to care that I am ill. Normally it wouldn't bother me but there has been a history of disrespect on behalf of the parents so this just adds to it. I am keeping in mind that what happens in my personal life is not for them to worry about, however, I took this job with the agreement from them that I would be completing uni and would need time this summer to finish my final essay. Originally when we were negotiating the contract I wanted to be paid £30 more per week then they had wanted to pay. It was agreed that if they paid me the extra money that I would be required to work full time during the summer months without a pay increase for the extra hours BUT that they would make arrangements for her to go visit relatives and go to camp so that I would have enough time off over the summer to get my uni work done.

However, this hasn't happened. Both of the parents only work a 4 day week, I asked to have reduced hours on the days that they are home from work so that I could have either the mornings or late afternoons to do uni work and was told no, I also asked to be allowed to bring some uni work with me to work on when the child is reading or having a playdate over and was again told no but reassured that I would have this coming week off to get my work done. So I am currently feeling a little panicked now because the mum mentioned today that if she is still ill next week I will have to be with her all day.

The mum has told me on many occasions that she is 'getting her moneys worth' by having me work 12.5 hours per day during the summer hours even when both of the parents are home (sitting in their room watching tv). I have been willing to excuse some of these things so far because I know that I will only be working this job for the next couple of months (as my degree is over and I will hopefully have a new job by then and because I I do want to make sure I am doing the job that I am paid to do. However, at this point I feel like I have more then made up for the extra £30 and am basically being taken advantage of.

Sorry for the long rant. Just figured I should explain in more detail.

If you're too sick to go to work, you're too sick to go to work. That's it, all the rest is irrelevant.

Ditto Leeds

And If you are too ill to go in then have a day off and do uni work

Oh MY! And I would seriously consider handing in your notice...difficult I know as leaving soon any way and probably need the money....I would have no problem in going sick in this situation...(if you are still unwell).

Originally I had thought go I to work ,take uni work and pop a DVD on for poorly child,BUT after your last post I would totally agree with the last three posters 12and a half hour days with the parents there and you ill!!Go to the Doctors on Monday ring her and tell her you are Ill.
In your post you said that you didn't expect your employer to worry about your private lives ,I would say that our employers like to know that we are healthy and are generally considerate when we are Ill most nannies I know are hardly ever Ill,I had a fluey bug recently but went into work because of their work commitments but was told just to lay down during the day,( I am a full time nanny with the children at school) and then we put TV on after school.Considerate employers get a much more considerate nanny,more willing to go to extra lengths usually this means going in to work when we don't feel brilliant.I am sure most of the other nannies on here have gone in to work to help parents out when the nanny didn't feel great.(Even their Granny rang to check how I was!) the sooner you are out of there the better.