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Paid childcare

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

Original poster

Coronavirus- can nanny still work?

390 replies

ChloeR81 · 18/03/2020 17:43

Hi, hope I’m not duplicating a thread but I couldn’t find one.

I have a lovely nanny who comes 2 days a week. Where do we stand regarding isolation etc? Can she refuse to come to work when we’re all well? At what point would she be able to not come to work, e.g. what level of official lockdown etc.

Want to be totally fair to her and follow the rules, but equally if I don’t have childcare I can’t work and earn money to pay her. Thanks, it’s so difficult to navigate

OP posts:
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LottieBees19 · 21/03/2020 18:40

@ChloeR81
Why would your nanny not want to come to work?
If she refuses to come to work of course you don’t pay her.
However if you no longer require her then the job is redundant.
If she has worked for you for more than two years you pay redundancy pay. She then finds another job.

runningpink · 21/03/2020 20:18

I work for two different families 2 days/3 days split.

I have said that as long as they aren’t mixing with others (one parent originally said they were happy for kids to mix on street!) then I’m happy to continue to go to both jobs.
But if they ignore the social distancing then I feel they will put me in a difficult situation where I feel I can’t go to that job.

I want to continue working so I really hope they listen and we work together on this.

I do however feel if we end up in a lockdown situation then that changes the dynamics a bit and il be reluctant to continue traveling between two jobs. But will cross that dilemma if it comes to it

MissyEllyPants · 21/03/2020 22:50

I have asked not to go in to work next week. Reason being that one of the children has a new, continuous cough (In my opinion).
I was told last week that family were staying at home, to be careful. I was told a day later that all well, at school. I reluctantly agreed to come in, although I was not convinced all would be OK. I come in the following day to the child coughing.
I have vulnerable people at home, but I am now really worried about losing my job over this. Family are apparently keyworkers, although one was working at home while I was there.

Original poster
ChloeR81 · 22/03/2020 08:47

Hi lottiebees I’m really really hoping she does still come to work, I need her now more than ever, but I’m just worried that she won’t...hopefully fretting over nothing. I’d be devastated to have to make her redundant, but if I’m not working then I won’t need or be able to afford a nanny. Hopefully won’t come to that.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChloeR81 · 22/03/2020 14:08

Our nanny has text this afternoon to say she’s now self-isolating. I’m a key worker and need to be going out to work (not working from home). Unfortunately this is just going to be unworkable over the next possibly 18 months and so it looks like I have some very difficult decisions to make.

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MissyEllyPants · 22/03/2020 14:45

Chloe - What is the reason for her self isolating? Does she have symptoms? At the moment, until we have a complete lockdown, I would still be going. I am only not doing so, because one of my charges has symptoms

LottieBees19 · 22/03/2020 15:32

@chloeR81
Why is she self isolating? If she is ill, or one of her household,then you need to pay statutory sick pay. I believe this is now payable from day 1 and you can claim upto two weeks back from the government.
After 2 weeks if she is still ill , you would continue with sick pay but not be able to reclaim that. But she would have to be genuinely ill and I would think you could ask for medical evidence.
Making her redundant during a period of sickness, I would get legal advice regarding that.
Hopefully she will be back after 2 weeks. Hopefully we can all only get coronavirus once.
My family have been ill this week. I'm going back after the 14 days and hope I wont catch anything from them.
However if they couldnt afford to pay me I would totally understand.
I'm sorry you are anxious, as a key worker you need childcare you can rely on. You need an honest conversation with your nanny. If she is ill I wouldnt do that just now. If she is self isolating because family are ill then maybe you could telephone and discuss this today?

Hugglespuffed · 22/03/2020 15:55

@ChloeR81 whilst difficult, please seek legal advice.
If she is ill then you will need to pay SSP which I believe you can claim for a certain number of weeks. Then you can pay for an emergency nanny.
If you make her redundant then the job needs to be redundant so you can't then find another nanny.
I understand it is difficult but at the end of the day, she is well within her rights to not come in. If she is ill then she has to follow the government advice. If she isn't ill then she is still entitled to time off I think as she could be following social distancing. It is a situation none of us have been in before and a very tricky one.

Hugglespuffed · 22/03/2020 15:56

@ChloeR81 what is your job? Are you a single parent? Apologies if you've already said.

Original poster
ChloeR81 · 22/03/2020 19:33

Oh gosh, reading back my post sounded dramatic. Of course, I’ll be paying SSP etc and I’m not going to do anything hasty, just anticipating if this is going to be ongoing for 18 months I’ll really need to rethink how manageable this is going to be.

Yes, a lone parent which makes everything even more tricky.

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Leanne086 · 23/03/2020 09:25

What happens if the nanny is a parent herself? And her children are high risk?

Hugglespuffed · 23/03/2020 13:11

@Leanne086b I guess the nanny would choose to stay off or leave at home with the other parent (if not a lone parent)

planestrains · 23/03/2020 21:48

What is everyone's thoughts on if a Nanny can still work, based on the Boris's latest announcement?

Toadacre10 · 23/03/2020 22:03

Yes I would like to know this as well

LottieBees19 · 23/03/2020 22:09

BAPN'S
Are saying nannies should only work if both parents are key workers. Otherwise not essential.

Flowerpot30 · 23/03/2020 22:29

LottieBees19
Can you post the link to this as I can’t find it on the BAPN’s website

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:31

You are able to travel to work if you are unable to work from home and it is a necessity. Boris Johnson was pretty clear on this

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:31

He didn’t say anything about key workers in his speech

pumpingRSI · 23/03/2020 22:33

Urgh urgh feckity feck. Can agree not to do any exercise outside or go to the shops if my nanny can still come, pleeeease?!!

HandyGirl76 · 23/03/2020 22:37

Following!

Bringonspring · 23/03/2020 22:40

My nanny is working, but we will collect her and take her home.

Original poster
ChloeR81 · 23/03/2020 22:42

Yes, nothing said about key workers, the rule is ‘you can continue to travel to work if you can not work from home’

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874714/Full_guidance_on_staying_at_home_and_away_from_others.pdf

OP posts:
LottieBees19 · 23/03/2020 23:08

The message is on the members area of BAPN
I expect you will see more clarification in next few days.
Childminders were closed this week, their association and Ofsted said they could only open for key workers.
Nannies will be the same.
The message is stay at home.
Unless essential
Unless you are a key worker your work is not essential.
The nanny will be mixing with her nanny family. So potential to share virus between the families.

Hugglespuffed · 23/03/2020 23:43

He did not say to go to work if you can't work from home, he said to only travel to work if essential.
I'm a nanny. My families have all said don't come in. Why would they? If one or both parents are working at home then it is not essential for a nanny to be travelling from one home to another. The advice is pretty obvious.

Hugglespuffed · 23/03/2020 23:45

Yes it sucks. Yes it goes against everything I believe in as a hard worker who never takes time off work. But these are unprecedented times. Millions of parents are having to juggle childcare and working from home at the moment and the advice is really simple. Stay at home. So nannies should not be travelling between homes unless both parents are key workers and arent able to juggle their shifts.