Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

WWYD regarding having a nanny and being on maternity leave yourself?

12 replies

2anddone · 30/08/2014 18:50

Hi I am looking for some advice please. I am currently working as a nanny and the mum is due to go on maternity leave for 3 months. She says she will not need me in that time but would like me to return once she goes back to work. My questions to you (from both of us as we are unsure what to do) are....
1, would the nanny usually get full pay on the understanding that if she is required the mum can ring me and ask me to work?
2, would the nanny get paid a retainer similar to a childminder on the understanding that the nanny would not seek alternative employment and can be called into work if required during the maternity leave? In which case what percentage of the monthly wage would be a 'fair' retainer?
3, final option would the nanny be told she was no longer required and therefore not paid during the maternity leave and have the mum reoffer the job before she returns to work?
Any advice would be greatly received as the last house I nannied at where the mum had maternity leave I stayed working normal hours as a sort of mothers help but the mother only had 3 weeks off work due to owning her own business.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

cathpip · 30/08/2014 18:57

If i was the nanny I would hope for no1, as could not live off a retainer wage. Could you not become a mothers help/housekeeper for those 12 weeks?

Original poster

2anddone · 30/08/2014 19:02

I am hoping for number 1 I don't think I could live off a retainer either. Also I would have to find alternative employment if I am not getting paid at all, which would then mean I would not necessarily be available at the end of the 12 weeks. It's hard to know what to do for the best.

OP posts:

cansu · 30/08/2014 19:04

I think it depends how much you want to continue in this job and whether you can manage on a retainer. I suppose you could tell her that you will look for temporary work and if this is found then you would accept a retainer. If you don't find temporary work would she like to pay you as a housekeeper and nanny for the three months. I suppose what I am saying is that she needs to understand that you are under no obligation to just accept no pay and no job for three months. You need to sit down and make this clear now. I am guessing that she will be being paid during her three months off. Also what happens if she changes her mind and decides to return part time or even not at all.

Cindy34 · 30/08/2014 20:00

In jobs I have been in where mum has had maternity leave, I just kept on working. Other children in the family still need care, mum may need a lot of rest pre and post birth. There may be more domestic tasks to get done.

Unreasonable of mum to expect you not to work but to still come back in 3 months time. You like everyone has bills to pay, so option 1 if mum does not want you to turn up to work, still be paid.

Karoleann · 30/08/2014 21:29

Yes, if she wants to keep you on she need to be paying you your full wage for the three months (and you can work as before.)

Otherwise, you need to be given a notice as per your notice period and you find a new job. If you've been working more than 2 years, you'll be entitled to redundancy pay.

Crowen85 · 31/08/2014 08:34

You could do some temp work, to fill the gaps.

PhoebeMcPeePee · 31/08/2014 12:04

I think making you redundant then rehiring you would be more costly than just keeping you on & she surely isn't expecting you to take a drop in wage, hang around for 3 months (& hope she doesn't change her mind about returning to work) then come back running to the same role. I think it's bloody cheeky to even ask tbh

Hanl30 · 31/08/2014 14:45

Been here twice with the same employer. First time I found temp work during the 6 months she was off which was less then enjoyable. This time she took 10 months off so I took redundancy as I felt it really wasn't a option to make do again. This has been completely amicable on both parts. I think you need a proper chat & a look at what is about in our area before making any decisions.

drinkyourmilk · 31/08/2014 19:33

I agreed to reduced days and ergo wages in my current position. In the past I've always continued on as normal.
I can't see you getting a full wage and not working. Can you either temp for that time? Easier said than done in many places I know.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 01/09/2014 17:24

I took three months maternity leave and kept my nanny on full-time. If it's affordable it's a no-brainer.

DD2 and I were hospitalised a week after we left hospital due to her jaundice. No childcare issues for DD1

I spent an inordinate amount of time in the first few weeks bfing/dozing on the sofa and it would have been really stressful to have had to try to entertain my toddler and get her out to the park etc when I could barely sit down.

My nanny was v experienced but hadn't done a lot of work with very small babies. It was really good to get her back in the swing of things and spend some time with my toddler when I was up and about more and feeding was established.

I could nip to the shops for milk or have a shower with someone in the house to keep an eye on things. It was never a juggling act to get two small children dressed and in coats to just do a quick run for a missing ingredient

In the last two weeks before I went back to work, my FT nanny was on hand so I could do some KIT hours, get my haircut, find some clothes that fit, etc etc.

DD2 was early so the freezer was not filled full of all those lovely pre-made batch cooked food that MN is always on about. I did do a fair amount of casseroles etc over my 12 weeks mat leave and it was really handy to have it there when I went back to work.

Our nanny took additional unpaid weeks of holiday off at Christmas to visit family and friends. We couldn't have been that flexible if I hadn't been on mat leave. She was v pleased.

I was on Maternity Allowance rather than full pay, so 3 months was my limit so I returned to work so I could continue to pay for a nanny. It was much more important to me that I retained my excellent nanny than take additional time off and risk a childcare nightmare with a small baby and a toddler at 6 months.

IMO it's totally unreasonable to expect you to be waiting around in 3 months time.

stealthsquiggle · 01/09/2014 17:29

Friend with nanny kept her on - as others have said, far less costly and infinitely less stressful for all concerned than making the nanny redundant and rehiring.

Unless you have something else to go to / temp work you are happy to do, then this is presumably the only workable option for you anyway? You need to talk about it ASAP, as presumably if she doesn't plan to pay you then you need to be thinking about notice periods and applying for new jobs?

NannyAnna · 01/09/2014 19:27

When the mum I work for was on Mat leave, both times she would pay me full wage but I would sometimes just work a few hours. My normal hours were 8-6 so she would say come for 11-4 to help a bit with siblings and give her time to herself or to have a nap. Or for me to spend some time with the baby or the sibling etc. It worked really well, I went to the gym every Mornjng and lost a lot of weight! More recently the dad lost his job and they couldn't afford me but they said when the dad had found another job they would want me back. I temped with another family for 3 months until her found work then went back. Really the family should pay you a retainer if they don't want you at all and then you can find something temporary in the time that she's off of work. Then they have a gaurentee that you will be back after her mat leave ends. So is security for them too.

Flip