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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Nanny didn't show up for 2nd interview

42 replies

Haggismcbaggis · 15/02/2015 12:00

...and sent this message:

Hi Haggis I am so terribly sorry. I have only woken up. I am terribly run down and I now have a few cold sores on my mouth. I slept right on through this mornings alarm. I am so sorry, not like me, I just feel awful, I have tried to do too much this week! Not sure what to suggest, I could get myself together and still come round, or we could postpone until next week? Sorry."

I should run a mile shouldn't I? Kids were excited to meet her and I got this text about 40 mins after she was supposed to show up (on a Sunday at 11 - her suggestion).

Trouble is it's an after-school nanny role with a Saturday am - so we don't have a vast pool of candidates.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Mintyy · 15/02/2015 12:01

Yes, you should run a mile. I'm sorry .

Coconutty · 15/02/2015 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Haggismcbaggis · 15/02/2015 12:04

She's coming round now.

But you're right. I will only have myself to blame. Arse.

OP posts:

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 15/02/2015 12:04

She didn't even ring?!

Yeah, I agree. Fuck that.

OVienna · 15/02/2015 14:45

She should have definitely rung.

LIZS · 15/02/2015 14:49

Did she ever arrive?

Original poster

Haggismcbaggis · 15/02/2015 15:31

She did . Kids really liked her. I will definitely interview more people.

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/02/2015 16:43

think you are being a little harsh, she let you know she was poorly, she didnt not turn up and not let you know

and wonder why a few mins later she then decided to come along

but glad it went well

Quitelikely · 15/02/2015 16:45

Did she have sores on her mouth? Was she visibly poorly?

If yes please give her the benefit of the doubt! Fgs people do and can fall ill

Purplepumpkins · 15/02/2015 16:51

I'm torn between she's genuinly Poorly or probably hungover. I think your being slightly harsh, I would check up with references about reliability. Even us nannies have off days or are sick.

nannynick · 15/02/2015 16:57

What do references say about timekeeping? Is it out of character or could it be an issue given you need a Sat morning?

Vijac · 15/02/2015 17:14

If you like her you could take her on a one month trial or something. If she is young it may be a one off.

OllyBJolly · 15/02/2015 17:25

As an employer, I'd say no, leave it.

If she can't get out of bed for an 11am interview, I'd worry about reliability in future. She's already met you, should have been excited and pleased to be invited back, but she's blown it.

If her reason had been a real genuine emergency - flat tire, bike stolen, transport cancelled - then I might have been a bit more lenient. Admitting to sleeping in and poor health and being "too busy" don't suggest a good dependable employee.

BackforGood · 15/02/2015 17:25

I would go with 6 weeks trial or something. To be fair, it can happen to anyone, alarm not going off, or whatever. She was honest, and apologised, and contacted you as soon as she could.
I guess it will depend if you have so many people queuing up to take the job, you will still have many candidates once you've taken her off your list though.

Original poster

Haggismcbaggis · 15/02/2015 19:24

I don't think I'm being harsh. I did let her come round later. A lot of people would have told her to leave it at that point.

She was then 6 minutes late for our newly arranged time. Had that been me - I would have been bang on time.

I get what people are saying about sleeping through alarms. But for an 11am interview???? She only lives 5 mins away from us which is a plus.

Nick - she's doesn't have any written references. Her main nannying has been for two of her sisters. I can call her brother in law, but you know that's never going to be an arms length reference. Her current job she is leaving because they aren't able to offer her enough hours. I can only really get a reference from them if I offer her the job.

If I did offer her the job it would have to be on a 6 week trial and I think I would have to have quite a strict talk on the need to be on time & reliable.

There was a lot I liked about her - but this really threw me.

OP posts:

LIZS · 15/02/2015 19:31

She lives 5 mins away and still managed to be 6mins late not a good start. If she thinks you won't pull up a casual attitude to punctuality now it will only get more relaxed and be less conscientious. Time so far but then what?

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/02/2015 19:45

agree should have been on time when she did show up

but meant harsh in title of thread and harsh in the fact us nannies are only human and do get ill sometimes

she could have lied and said puncture but was honest

Clobbered · 15/02/2015 19:51

Run for the hills.

Yerazig · 15/02/2015 21:29

You'r first part I did think you and some posters were quite harsh. Yes it was bad she slept through the alarm, but just like everyone else even though a lot of parents don't like it we are human and do get ill. But yes for her then to be 6mins late and lives that close I would suggest not to go further. You already have a and impression of her not great to start of like that.

nannynick · 15/02/2015 21:39

Being late for the new time I feel is a problem, why would they be late? Going for an interview you turn up early and hang around locally so you can arrive on time. I would worry about the time keeping.

Reference from her current employer may mention timekeeping or it may not, so may not be that useful. You have not really got anyone to talk to, have they never babysat for a non-family member?

I would see who else is out there. If you get no other applicants then your choice is limited. A probation period would be vital so if it does not work for either of you, either of you could end the agreement quickly.

Original poster

Haggismcbaggis · 15/02/2015 21:54

I've had a number of nannies and are quite aware they are human and get ill . Never quite get the inference that somehow parents expect things from nannies that are beyond what is normally expected in the world of employers and employees!

I certainly can't imagine in a million years expecting to get a job where I missed the first time slot for whatever reason and then was 6 minutes late for the next agreed time. And you know what, I'm human ...

OP posts:

OutragedFromLeeds · 15/02/2015 21:59

I think this is one where only you can judge OP.

People do get ill, they do sleep through alarms, they do mess up interviews.

You've met her twice and spoken with her, none of us have. Only you can judge whether she looked ill/had a sore mouth, was sufficiently apologetic/embarrassed, seemed honest/genuine with her apologies etc.

The no references thing would alarm me FAR more than the being late for the interview thing tbh.

alicemalice · 15/02/2015 22:02

I would say no to her. But I know how difficult it is to get people willing to do afterschool nanny jobs.

I had someone who said she was too busy to talk to me when I was trying to offer her the job. I went with an au pair instead, rather than take the risk.

OutragedFromLeeds · 15/02/2015 22:07

'Never quite get the inference that somehow parents expect things from nannies that are beyond what is normally expected in the world of employers and employees!'

Sometimes they do.

Some of the 'my nanny is pregnant' threads are outrageous, for example. Then there is the 'should I employ a nanny with children/of child bearing age?'. Then the 'do I need to pay tax?'. 'Is my nanny entitled to holiday?'.

Just because you're decent and reasonable, it doesn't mean everyone is.

BackforGood · 15/02/2015 23:31

I think the information you've added later, puts a different light on it.
If you've missed the first interview time, and then don't put in a real effort to be loitering at the end of your drive / street 15mins before the next arranged time, then that suggests a relaxed attitude to time keeping, and would ring bells the I was prepared to not be worried about as a one off in the first post.
The fact she can't provide any references apart from family ones would also have me concerned.

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