When to initiate conversation about change of need/possible redundancy with nanny?

[ZoeTheThornyDevil]

We have had the same nanny for young DC for several years now and she is a much-loved member of the family. However, the day when all DC will be in school full time is approaching and I think we all know that we will have to sit down and talk about what that means.

We will still want an after-school nanny 4 days a week and probably holiday cover too, and we will most certainly offer the role to our existing nanny first, but we are pretty sure she will need to find FT hours elsewhere, in which case we will pay her redundancy very sadly. I know it's months away, but these things come up fast and of course we will probably need a timeframe to hire a new nanny; when would you have a more formal conversation?

Has she got a notice period? I'd leave it until then so you can't be left in the lurch if she finds a new job before you no longer need her. She must know it's coming anyway.

Yes, she has a standard notice period in her contract. She won't find another job until this one ends, though; she won't want to miss any time with the DC and she'll get another job pretty much instantly when she's ready, so that doesn't worry me; she's very popular around the area. I want to be fair to us all and not put it off unreasonably long because none of us want to have the conversation.

She's not silly - she'll know it's coming. I'd say in person "Could we have a chat on day/time about what will happen when X starts school in September?" That gives her time to prepare and think about what she wants to do, but by saying it in person you can see her reaction and get an idea how she's feeling.

I'd talk to her now.

@itwasntaparty she won't leave early as she will need to stay til the role ends in order to get her redundancy pay.

@ZoeTheThornyDevil I would bear in mind that is it not easy to find someone who will do just after school and then full time in holidays. Plus all the sick days and inset days.

Soon as possible. Sadly these things do come to an end.

However, you need to weigh up how much you'll actually be saving paying for wrap around care, holidays, inset/sick days & any isolating/homeschooling days.

I know you said you'll offer the job to her first (or rather the reduced pay) but stop & have a really good think before you do it, because having someone you trust that the kids live & the nanny lives your family is often worth more than what you'd save.

Yeah, I know the after school plus holidays slot is not easy but I've researched and there are sites/agencies that specialise in this and who have candidates near us. And as much as we absolutely hate to think of letting her go, it really is a lot less money, and as much as we adore her, she's not really a nanny/housekeeper who we could offer extra hours to in a housekeeper capacity.

I've always been really lucky with my families and we normally start having a conversation a year before they start school, I've always respected their honesty and I've never needed to leave a family early, yet. I am very open with communication though. I love my nanny kids but the sad reality is that they grow up and no longer need you! My goal would be one day to start with a family and be in a financially good enough position to stay on at reduced hours when they start school!
If you truly love and respect her, then I'd have the conversation ASAP. In my experience, nannies tend to know long before the notice period as it can be hard to find job.

If you value her then have the conversation asap.

And don't assume that she knows it's coming either, lots of families do keep the nanny for at least the reception year, so she might think she has a year longer than she does. Let her know asap.

I think you should have a conversation sooner rather than later at least it will give her chance to start advertising from when you no longer needed her. But I also would also not assume she will stay with you until you no longer need her, if she finds another job before then as she would go with what suits her not you and not leave herself possibly unemployed.

I’d talk to her about it now. She knows it’s coming up so why delay?

Thanks for the advice. For my own sake I'd probably like to have the conversation sooner anyway. I think we will see how much we might be able to afford to offer her for after-school because I wish deeply that we could find a way to make it work so that she could stay. We've dug deep to afford the preschool years though and I really don't think we can keep paying for more than 40 hours a week when we only need 12.

We went for a nanny share - two families paying half a full time wage each for after school plus holidays. She has very full on time when she has them but has a chunk of each day free. You could see if your nanny would be interested if you think another family might want a similar arrangement.

You could explore a nanny share, someone with one baby/toddler that got one to one school days and could come to yours when sharing care.

Hmmm, yes, a share might work that way. I had originally discounted that because in an ideal world I wanted someone who could take ours to activities and have time to help with homework. But a single younger child could work out well. Ooh.

If you want the after school nanny to take your children to activities, having a younger child tag along will be a pain for everyone, and it may be difficult to find a family who are willing to accept that for their toddler, who will most likely be exhausted by that point in the day.

We struggle with having to take siblings along and actually use the after school nanny to look after one or two at home while either DH or I take the other to clubs.

Our nanny manages clubs. Initially, we compromised on the same clubs so e.g. our child joined the drama club the other family went to, and they joined the swimming lessons our child was going to. It took a bit of juggling to get the kids into the same sessions but it worked. They are now a bit older (Y3) and their interests are diverging, plus they have homework, so they have fewer clubs after school but they tend to be different. There is one evening that is a mad rush but just about manageable and the others are fine. If both families and the nanny is willing to have a bit of give and take it can work.

Yes, I can see that it would work if the children are similar ages and have similar interests. If everyone is partaking then no one is bored/ miserable. But if you have another younger child who can’t join in (or an older one who doesn’t want to) it’s not much fun for them.

It may be possible that a family would be happy with childcare for a baby/toddler until 4pm in this new WFH culture.

It's always worth looking around and asking.

You know she’ll likely be entitled to a redundancy payment? One week (more if she’s over 40) for every year. Tax free.

We ended up keeping ours on and she does term time and none term time hours. For sure we are over paying. We also added a night during term time hours where she stays late and we go out. My children have 20 weeks off from school etc

@FudgeSundae

You know she’ll likely be entitled to a redundancy payment? One week (more if she’s over 40) for every year. Tax free.

Fully aware, yes, and will pay it if changed-role negotiations don't work out.

Sure she will reliese if youngest is going to school in sept

But yes nice to have a chat

What will you do in holidays

Could be worth discretely exploring if there are any families who have a need for a school hours nanny. It’s less common but my friend had this because she had got a job that she had requested school hours for (when her eldest started school) and didn’t want to lose that so kept on that contract after her baby was born. She then sort of paired up with a family whose children were starting school and wanted to keep their nanny on for after school. It worked well for a few years.

If you speak to her sooner, it gives her/you more of a chance to find another family who would be happy with a nanny share that would fit around your family.