Nanny is pregnant - how do I go about maternity cover?

[powderblue]

Live-in nanny is pregnant, due Jan 09. She is intending to take at least 9 months off, starting in November. To be honest, don't think she'll return. Hours are very long, and she obviously wouldn't return to living-in with her own child.

I need a temp. Apparently I still have to pay my original nanny holiday pay while she is off. What would I do about the temp's holiday pay? Will I even find somebody to take the job as a temp? Can I encourage my original nanny to hand in her notice before she finishes so I can employ someone else permanently?

Oh, I pity you! Thank God this has never happened to me. She has the same rights you had at your work when you were pregnant.

I would probably consider hiring another live-in nanny on a permanent (fixed term contract) basis to replace her and take the gamble that she is not returning. You are right. She is not going to move in without her baby. And you don't have to accept the baby so it's a pretty safe bet that she is not returning.

Bump - sorry, I'm a bit desperate for advice here!

do you have to have a live in nanny?

ie if days are 12hrs, she could do job live out?

would you be happy for nanny to bring her child - if she wanted to all the time/a few days a week?

Have you asked the nanny if she is coming back? Maybe she doesnt want to work long days, this way, you can BOTH agree on a leaving date, ie 2/4weeks before she is due, and then you can employ a new pern nanny

you will have to pay her SMP BUT you can also claim this back from goverment, so you wont be out of pocket

NO you cant encourage your nanny to hand her notice in, esp as she is pregnant, or you might find yourself in court for unfair dissmisal/bullying ( i have known it to happen before)

Talk to her and ask her. She may worry that if she says she's not coming back then she won't get her full maternity pay. If you reassure her she will then it may make things easier re. employing a new nanny. I am on maternity leave but told my employer when I found out I was pregnant that I wouldn't be going back. ( I worked weekend, over nights, proxy parenting, 5 weeks of the year holidaying with the family - no way could I realistically continue in the job.) My boss was great and very supportive. She paid my holiday despite knowing I wasn't going back as she appreciated my honesty. I helped interview my replacement and did a handover which made things go smoothly for DC. I will also do any ad lib days new nanny can't do etc.

Don't recruit someone permanent unless and until your nanny formally hands her notice in.

Don't encourage her to do so.

SHe is entitled to holiday accrued at the same rate as when she is working. Encourage her to take as much of this as possible before her maternity leave starts if you can. Anything she accrues during her maternity leave that she doesn't take beforehand you can pay her at the end if she leaves employment.

In terms of recruitment, I'd advertise (or whatever you are going to do) a temp-perm post. This is fine to do. Advertise it as maternity cover for 9 - 12 mo with the possibility of going permanent should the postholder decide not to return. Most potential candidates will understand that means the likelihood of it being permanent is high, particularly as it is live-in.

Yes temp nanny must have paid holidays.

I agree talk to your current nanny is a good idea, but it sounds as though you have and she has currently indicated she will be taking at least 9 months. This is as close an indication of her intentions as you will get, quite rightly.

She doesn't jeopardise her SMP by leaving employment as long as she has met the qualifying requirements, but if she gives in her notice she will not be entitled to other benefits including holiday, so you can't expect her to resign before she has to.

As an employer you should assume she will be back a year after starting maternity leave unless and until she advises you in writing otherwise, either that she is returning earlier or that she is not returning at all.