Need to rant

[HappierThanEverBefore]

Got to be careful not to out myself but really need to rant as its starting to get to me now

I'm a nanny and MB is pregnant. When I was told she was expecting, she made it clear that my contracted hours etc would remain the same.

Fast forward to now, I get an email stating that my hours are being cut to less than half what I work now and how she is going to use them. Also included in how she wants me to return to full hours once she goes back to work!

Feel totally screwed over!!

Sorry just needed to rant

Start applying for other jobs. Just tell her that doesn't work for you as your bills haven't changed.

Can't believe she expects you to hang about on half pay until she's ready to employ you full time again.

She probably hadn't worked out finances then realised she couldn't keep you on at full hours.

It's unlikely she did it just to spite you or to be cheeky and grabby, though I understand that it's a shame... But employers don't often have bottomless pockets. And offering you full hours again afterwards is more a sign of how much they value you and want to show you theyd like to keep you if possible surely?

Is it that you're upset about the way she delivered the news? Email not face to face? That would upset me.

Upset by email instead of face to face. Feels like her way of getting out of it

I understand finances change etc but clearly you would realise that and not promise the hours etc before looking in to it.

What's thrown me is how they expect me to wait around ... And count the pennies for upto a year!!

I worked half hours while my employer was on mat leave. I was stony broke, but it was actually lovely to have some time to myself. I've worked 5 days, 10-12 hours each day for nearly 17 years. I was glad to go back financially but it was lovely having a better work/life balance.

However- if it doesn't work for you then just say so. You could either look for something else permanent, or maybe find a temp position while mb is off?

Could you look for work covering another nanny's maternity leave?

Working the suggested hours isn't not feasible at all.

I've looked for temp positions etc but couldn't find any but one may come up.

I've spoken to my other job & she's happy for me to extend my days there for the time being. Where do I stand when MB wants me back to my usual hours yet I've filled them else where?

Glad you've got an alternative!

What is your notice period and has MB indicated the length of her ML?

This MB is not being reasonable at all. Your costs are obviously not going to go down for a year.

Will extending your days at the other job enable you to make ends meet? And will the other employer be happy for your hours there to return to the previous level?

I would suggest that you put, in writing (on paper not email) that you understand they wish to reduce your hours, and that you will be making arrangements to take on other work to enable you to maintain your income level. When they wish for you to increase your hours again they need to give at least 12 weeks notice, in writing, of the date from when the increased hours are required. This will to enable you to negotiate with your other employer(s) to arrange the remainder of your working week. The long notice is so that if you can't negotiate a reduction in your other hours you have enough time to decide which job(s) to hand in notice to.

As for "where you stand" you will still have employment rights with the reduced hours so if after ML you decline to re-increase your hours they can't insist on it (but they can make you redundant - and give you redundancy pay).

More likely than not it will all work out. this isn't the worst-case scenario - lots of nannies get made redundant from a job they love because the family decide that the position is no longer required or affordable at all during ML.

She needs to either negotiate with you or make you redundant - disgraceful way to behave (and I'm an employer not a nanny!)

Sad fact that some families can't afford to pay a nanny while they are on ml. Fair enough. It's a huge financial commitment tho obv you can't afford to drop to half wages. No one can tbh

Would hav been nice to discuss face to face

You have choices

Stay and try and find anther job to fit in for the ml

Leave and find new job

Leave and temp/find another job and return in a year

Obv mb likes you and wants you back but will need to understand that you can't wait for her

In no other job would you be asked to leave for a year and then return

There's another post on here from a mb saying she needs to let her nanny go while on ml as loves her but can't afford her

The point of finding temp work to fill the hours would surely be to keep the job open and the working relationship in tact, with the aim of going back to the full hours at the end of her mat leave.

If you don't want to go back I'd resign now and get a better job, I don't understand why you'd think about taking the salary drop and then resigning at the end of it?

You can't force them to keep employing you at the lower hrs as they will want a nanny to meet their whole needs.

If you're that pissed off with them I'm confused as to why you'd want to continue working with them?

Do bear in mind that you have no guarantee that she'll honour her intention to return to work full time. She's already let you down once.

I appreciate that parents often can't afford to continue paying full rates during their ML, but they really need to be fair as well and understand that their childcarer has bills to pay, too.
I've kept places and reduced hours, only to have parents tell me at the last minute they are planning a career break, or drastically cutting their hours.

Your boss needs to realise that she's not the only one affected by her ML and that you have no obligation to sub her through it by agreeing to a cut in your own income if it doesn't work for you.

As someone else said you never know when the end of the ml if she going to keep you on same hours etc but she may well do. I personally would start looking for a new job. I started a job with a baby mum was pregnant when I started never told me at start. When I was finally told said my job would be safe etc. 6months later literally on her first day of ml was told actually they couldn't afford me. Which they obviously knew when they employed me and the months inbetween but hey ho it just made me realised more about the nanny and nanny employer relationship.

I have no idea what to do.. I can't afford to drop my salary partly or totally!

I've managed to secure another day to fill the day she doesn't want me. MB is suggesting X day but that doesn't work for my other MB - am I being unreasonable to state I can do Y day but that's it

YANBU.

When does her ML start?

Not entirely sure when but due around xmas

Ok, so she needs to let you know exactly when she proposes your new hours will start - maybe 1st Dec or whatever - then you know when you are free to start more hours elsewhere.

Explain now that you will be looking for work to make up your hours and you have been offered work on X day so it's unlikely you can do that day though at present you could do Y.

By the way, you might want to post on Employment Issues for advice.