This is too much sickness right ?

[eachbeach]

Have had nannies before and the odd days sickness. We've had our new nanny for 5 1/2 months. In that time she's had 7 days sickness, plus a week unpaid for a family issue, plus three and a half weeks holiday.
Two of her days off have been due to bugs picked up from one of the kids (but on both occasions the whole family hasn't picked them up - so they're not so virulent that everyone was laid out). I don't doubt that she is genuinely sick and she's generally great otherwise, but I just can't cope anymore - we don't have family nearby - and even if they come up we have to be home so can just snatch a few hours hear and there.

So why to do ? Do we just give notice ? I can have a conversation with her but as I don't doubt the reasons I don't think any form of warning would be fair.

Just looking at another horrendous week with both of us trying to get 7 hours work in plus the childcare

How much holiday does she get? She must have had her annual amount by now?

Yes, I think you probably need to give her notice. Has she rung in sick again today?

Maybe you could talk to her about her absences. 5.5 weeks in 5.5 months means she has been off , for whatever reason for about 25% of the time she has worked for you! I would let her know that this can't continue and see what she says. Does she have any holiday left for the year.

Also for future reference, some employers only allow paid holiday to be taken after you have worked enough hours to cover it. For example, you cant work there for 1 week and then take a week of paid annual leave - you have to have been there a few months to accrue the leave.

I wouldn't be giving her paid sick leave. Statutory only.
I'd probably give her notice as well

That is such a tricky situation because like you say, you don't doubt her reasoning. She has obviously just had seriously bad luck. Also, the fact you didn't catch the illness from your kids means nothing, because if she looked after your children when ill then there is every chance she caught it. If it is getting too difficult then maybe nursery will suit you better?

Time for a Come to Jesus convo. Sit her down and say you can't manage any more with the absences and what can she suggest to improve things. Make sure she is only on statutory sick pay (we had a nanny whose health miraculously improved once we did this).
How much notice do you have to give her? Perhaps it's time to start working on Plan B ie interviewing potential new nannies. Good luck, it's a nightmare

Do you like her in other respects? Do the kids like her? I know it's a total nightmare, been there, but depending on age of kids you also face disruption and therefore had behaviour from them if you make a change. If you think she's right for you I would talk to her about your job , what her absence means to your job security and therefore to her continued job security. I don't think they see our world, iykwim. They don't get what it means in a corporate environment to be seen as unreliable, particularly for women.

Thanks all. @fsk53 you've hit the nail
On the head. The kids like her. She's organised and fun and structured and thoughtful in her approach. But the absence is a real problem. I am a month in to a new job so DH has covered the two most recent absences, but I've got to cover tomorrow. Well also be playing catch up all week to try and cover the gap which I'm dreading. I know no nanny is perfect but I just don't think we can go on. I'm just not sure I see the value of discussing it as I think her absences are genuine.

For those that asked, holiday was ours as we had a 3 week holiday booked before she started, so we gave her an extra weeks paid leave (otherwise it would eat up most of her holiday). She has some holiday left but it's more about us - we want to take holiday with the kids.

I think it's down to whether she's taking sick days for minor things she could have come into work with, or just been unlucky.
As a nanny I realise that I don't have the luxury of taking a duvet day if I have a bad cold, like I would if I worked in a busy office with plenty of cover, I just work through it.
Consequently I very rarely take sick days - I haven't been off sick in four years, but four years ago I had a run of unrelated illnesses, including a week off and hospital stay for a tonsil abcess which meant I had about three weeks off in six months - just pure bad luck and nothing I could do about it. Luckily my employers were very understanding and were able to cover childcare with family, plus they could see from my previous records that I don't take sick days unnecessarily.

Would you consider private nursery instead?

If the holiday was your choice I don't think it's really relevant to the amount of time off sick.

Just to clarify I referred to the holiday as with that she has had nearly a month off, so that makes the sickness absence even worse ie it's 7 days (plus a weeks unpaid leave) over 4 months. Similarly, whilst two days absence have been due too bugs she's picked up from the kids, my previous nannies have always seemed the most resilient to illness (probably because they've come across so much from working with kids).

Sadly, we can't really make nursery work as my working hours mean I can't consistently make drop off/ pick up and DH commutes.

I know no nanny is perfect, so I'm reluctant to let her go if she works well for the kids but this is killing me and DH. We've paid sickness absence to date. We won't be paying any more.

It's hard to compare, as everyone is different, but I only have max 2 days sick a year. I haven't had one for this year yet, but I usually get really rundown and unwell just before Christmas.

Sorry Nannyr didn't mean to imply that all nannies don't relate to office jobs, but I've now had a few short term nannies who seemed to think my job was just a bit of a hobby that I could skip if she fancied a duvet day. In that case I didn't believe her anyway, OP's situation is rather trickier. I actually think you're in some legal hot water in giving her notice with no formal warnings etc.

Sack her - you can terminates her employment for any reason with less than 2 years service.
She’s been working for you for less than 6 months and has been off sick for over a month of that effectively.
She may be great but surely she has to be in work to be great at her job and that’s not been happening has it?

You can speak to her about it even if you think the illnesses are genuine - explain it’s not sustainable, you’re concerned, what could you all do to reduce her sick leave?

So for eg - if she’s getting bugs from the kids are they old enough to start learning better hygiene?

Are there times when she’s well enough to come in even if she’s not well enough to do all the normal activities - if so they could have a quiet day but at least you’d be able to work.

Maybe also ask how much sickness leave she’s had in previous jobs so you can gauge if she’s been unlucky or is just a relatively sickness-prone person.....

Holiday was your choice so can’t include that

Week off unpaid for family issue - assume illness or death

7 days off - 2 being catching a bug off your kids

Leaving 5 days so assume a week

Were these 5 days separate or 2 together - what was wrong with her

You said you are going to stop paying her so assume she’s had full pay for those 5 days sick

Start with ssp Which kicks in after 3 days off and bet she is less ill