Really need help: giving nanny notice

[chandellina]

Our nanny has been working for us for several months and it's not working out. We no longer want her in our home after multiple breaches of trust but we also don't want to get in an ugly situation around accusations of gross misconduct, etc., and nothing has been previously documented.

We'd like to give her notice and pay her for the notice period rather than her working it out. We won't be hiring another nanny as our circumstances are changing anyway and we are recruiting an au pair.

What's the best way to handle this - give notice verbally and in writing at the same time and ask for our keys back?

Our contract only addresses the notice period, nothing about pay in lieu or anything else.

We don't want to antagonise her in any way as the trust level is so poor we intend to change the locks immediately.

thanks so much for any quick advice!

Have you looked into the legalities of the duties and hours an Au Pair can work?

What's the best way to handle this - give notice verbally and in writing at the same time and ask for our keys back?

I can't see an alternative to that. You need to line it all up and do everything including the lock change on the one day.

Yes, of course I have. The children are older, one is at secondary and we only need cover a few hours a day.

Thanks Justajot.

I have been in exactly the same situation as you.

We'd like to give her notice and pay her for the notice period rather than her working it out

^ this is exactly what I did, if it is not working out and you no longer want her in your family and especially if you don’t trust her, you can’t feel any kind of sympathy for her.

Thanks TenAndFive. What did you tell the nanny exactly?

I just told her that it wasn’t working out, and that I needed to find someone more suitable. Bearing in mind she was very lazy and didn’t really interact with the children, and also untrustworthy.

thanks a lot.

Verbal followed by written notice. You can pay in lieu of notice.

When it is not working out it is better for all involved to end things quickly. Some constructive feedback may be useful but avoid a slanging match.

Consider what you will be writing in a reference. You should only put things in a written reference that have been previously discussed and given time for improvement.

"Our childcare needs have changed." Is as good a reason as any. Follow procedure for giving notice, your payroll provider can assist if necessary. Pay all money owed, lieu of notice, accrued holiday.
Have them give back the keys before they leave.

That's not very good situation.
But she works for you and if you don't like just say the truth to her.
That's the only way.

I assume she is a live out nanny?

What @nannynick said.

Be calm, fair and clear. She will probably leave without a fuss.

I would definitely consider what you are planning to write in a reference, it can be basic ie when she worked for you, what she did (minimal) and why she left. This is definitely an indicator to new employers, as normally a good reference will be clearly that!

Good luck

How long has she worked for you?
If it’s more than 2 years there is a process to go through and you may have to make her redundant, which you can justify if your needs are changing anyway.
If it’s less than 2 years you can just call into a meeting at the beginning / end of her next shift.
Prepare the written notice in advance and a reference as well which you can hand her also make a check list of things you need to address like we will pay your contractual notice period without requiring her to attend work (if that’s what you want), you will pay any unused holidays with the final salary etc, she will hand over all copies of our house keys before final wages will be paid ( hopefully you can just take them from her at that point)

Thanks all. This is really helpful. I can't in good faith give her a reference beyond confirming the dates she worked and that she's leaving because our circumstances changed. She called in sick 8 days in six months, hassled us continually for pay advances, regularly comes in an hour or two late, does the bare minimum and now we are missing cash and jewellery. Only kept her on because we couldn't find anyone else. Should have ended it long ago obviously.

hassled us continually for pay advances, regularly comes in an hour or two late, does the bare minimum and now we are missing cash and jewellery

I’m so sorry to hear that, you need to dismiss her ASAP.

You can’t prove the money or Jewellery is The nanny

But all the other reasons are valid to get rid of her