Pro rata nanny’s hours?

[maxandru]

Hi all

Our nanny has mentioned that she’d like to take some unpaid leave over the summer (I’m a teacher so will be off). She would like us to pro rata (pro rate?..) her pay across the year so that she doesn’t have a big chunk of no pay. She currently works 40 hours per week over 4 days, so if she took, let’s say, 4 weeks unpaid, we would presumably pay her 36 hours a week across the whole year?

In theory I don’t have an issue with this. However, she does have a history of taking time off sick. If this happens, we would need to deduct that time off from her payslip - but if she took, let’s say, 4 days (40 hours) off sick, would we therefore only be able to deduct 36 hours from the payslip?

Not sure if I’m explaining myself well, but hoping someone who works in payroll /HR can explain to me the possibilities as I’d be happy to give her the time off, just don’t want to end up in a mess!

thank you! 🙏

Maybe just say happy for her to take the time but as a non payroll specialist you are not comfortable paying a different pattern to what is worked and she needs to save a bit each month. What happens if she resigns just before the summer in a future year?

yeah, that’s what my husband has said to her so far, but given there’s only a month til summer I don’t think we can expect her to have saved already to make it work this year.

We will be finishing up with her at the beginning of next summer anyway (she knows this), as the twins (1yo) will be going to nursery the sept after they turn 2

She might want to do similar in xmas /Easter/half terms though

(Not quite on point but she should be entitled to statutory sick pay if there’s no paid sick leave in your contract). Pension contributions are also tricky if you’re pro rating it. I think it sounds a bit risky she could leave before she’s earned the money she’d essentially be being paid in advance over summer

I would just offer her a partial advance for the month she is taking unpaid leave this time to be repaid over 2 months or similar.

Be careful that it doesn't look as though you are paying her below minimum wage.

Yes she is entitled to SSP, but we deduct the hours then add that odd.

agree re pension - it’s just so complicated

Not an issue as she as nowhere need that threshold, even if we pro rate her pay.