New nanny - contract and holiday pay advice please?

[SlimX]

Delighted to say we have our first live-in Nanny lined up. Now I am wondering whether anyone has a user-friendly contract template they wouldn't mind sharing, please?
Also, what do people do about holidays? She will be paid on a weekly basis. What if she is away? What if we are going away?
Any help much appreciated...

I officially get 4 weeks paid (i choose 2 weeks and they choose 2 weeks) - in reality it works out more than this - over xmas etc, if I am available to work and they are going away (other than the 2 weeks they choose) then I am still paid, although make sure I am available to do anything needed (as technically working...) - watering plants, any cooking for chn to go in freezer etc - not usually asked though! - I 'think' this is pretty standard, but I am quite new to it all, so sure someone will come along soon with some advice!

So, you're paid all the time then...
Sounds like a good deal. It's ideal to be able to take a break without having to go short. We all need to get away sometimes - good for motivation. Will be interesting to hear if this is the norm though. Bet it varies quite a bit...

I get 5 weeks paid holidays (2 weeks my choice and 3 weeks theirs) and bank holidays too. Amongst my nanny friends it seems to be about the norm - some have a little less and some more.

The legal minimum is 24 days if you work a 5 day week (which can include bank holidays) this is increasing to 28 days (again can include bank holidays) as of April 09.

If you (as an employer) were to take more holidays than you have stated in your nannies contract then you should still pay your nanny. If she were to ask for extra holiday and you were able to accommodate this it could be unpaid leave.

Of course, if you were in a job with long holidays (ie. teacher) then you could negotiate unpaid holidays or a retainer for some holiday weeks to be put into the contract.

Employment law sets out minimum paid holiday you have to give your employee. Im in mobile mode so can't do a link to the online calculator, will add a link later.
As employer you can dictate when your employee takes their holiday. You could put a clause in the contract which states how much advance notice needs to be given for holiday requests.

BusinessLink Tool for Calculating Holiday Entitlement

BERR.gov.uk : Holiday Entitlement FAQ

i get 5 weeks holiday 2 week my/their choice and the week at christmas

though i also have in my contract that if the employers goes away for more than their 2 weeks i still get paid in full

tbh i gen get 8 weeks paid holiday a year as my family go away at half terms/easter etc

Contract wise, you could use the Specimen Contract at NannyJob as a starting point, modifying it to suit your needs. Any specimen contracts you find on the web may not be that up-to-date, so you should also cross reference with latest employment legislation.

ACAS Guide to producing a Written Statement - this is handy to read.

Also search this section of Mumsnet using keyword 'contract' for message threads about this subject in the past.