Nanny has lied...what should I do?

[CharlyWooplus2]

Would be brilliant if anyone could give me a bit of feedback! Sorry if a bit long! We (Me, DH, DS1 &2) went away on holiday for the half term week, and left nanny/housekeeper to look after the house. She normally does 32.5 hours per week and we asked her to spread them over the week, coming every day and using them to cook and freeze meals, feed the cat, do the housework and all of those bits and bobs that are impossible with the kids around...seemed a good way to do it - save her/our holiday and know the house was occupied.

All seemed fine, exchanged a few texts and she reassured me all was well. Except, on final day we were away the burglar alarm went off. Seemed there was a fault. Alarm company advised me to check the log to see where/how it was activated, which I did when I got home. I discovered that there are whole chunks of days she hasn't been in and the some days for only 10 minutes.

I asked her about it without telling her about the log but to give her a chance to tell the truth, but she insisted she'd been in every day. I could kind of tell too, hardly any housework done, diet coke cans and plates stuffed under the sofa, no meals cooked and a thinner looking cat (!)

Otherwise, she's been with us 2 months...shy, good with kids, quite a few sick absences...not brilliant at housekeeping though not terrible, and nothing to indicate dishonesty.

There's no chance the log is wrong - it's accurate to the second. Gutted. What do I do? I hate confrontation. Should I care? Should I let it go? Argh, in a bit of a spin! Help gratefully received! :-)

What was the outcome OP?

She sounds to me as if she saw the chance to have a paid week off and went with it!!

Not feeding the cat is enough to sack given he/she could have died of starvation.

Just read this thread. Intrigued on out come. I think I would've left the alarm log book out for her to see so she knows you know if that makes sense. And then discuss with her later that day. I would then just say things aren't working out and get rid. I suspect she already knows that you know she took the p**s that week and hence why is taking sick leave now as can't handle the confrontation/awkwardness.

The treatment of the poor cat would be enough for me to fire her

Yy, poor cat

Actually the more I think about it, the more and I get about your cat...if it's noticeably thinner (assuming it didn't need to be ie is now underweight) in a week, she's underfed it significantly. I wouldn't want someone who can do that in charge of animals or dc ever again until they learned to be responsible, so would seriously consider reporting her to police for this animal cruelty.

My poor rescue cat came in crying a while ago, scared of the weather. It makes me so angry when people are cruel to animals. Maybe don't feed her for as long as she didn't feed the cat days.

Who was there long enough to make plates of food to put the empty plates, cans as well I think you said, under the furniture?

I'd have to let her go. She is lazy and dishonest. Not a great start.

I would have texted her back with 'I am a bit confused. If these hours were right why did you cook at home, what were you doing when you were supposed to be here cooking and your hours are different to the ones indicated by the alarm code, which we had to check as the alarm went off on Friday and it shows the alarm wasn't set at the times you have stated you were in and out. Any ideas?'

I don't think you could trust someone like that again even if it was just a one off... I think the only decision now is how to terminate her employment.

I would suggest doing it the way that best aids you, so either instantly to get her gone, as it were, or hang on and say nothing until you've got a replacement.

What was the outcome Charly?

If I couldn't trust when it came to my child, he/she wouldn't have responsibility for my child. What I don4 understand is, 'why holiday without'?

I know it's daunting and really hard to fund a new nanny but having one you can't trust to be telling you the truth. When they're responsible or your using children and home isn't an option.

Using? Typo. Meant to type 'young'

Hello
I was a nanny for 15 years an have always been asked to the same things that you asked your nanny an I can honest say that no time limit was put on it so I could come an go as I pleased but I always went even for just 10 minutes, but I would of made sure all my duties were done an would not of left any mess,
That completely out of order I think you need to give her some sort of warning an as she hasn't been with you long you need to set the bondaries now for a positive relationship, Good luck