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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

snow days for nannies?

53 replies

smeraldina · 06/01/2010 08:55

Hello there

We have a fantastic new nanny who started last month. Due to a large snowfall in our area she can't get here today - it's a half an hour drive away.
We didn't put a clause in our contract about enforced absence due to weather, and I'm not sure what to suggest.
She mentioned that in the nursery where she worked, they had 'snow days'.
If I had a job where I too could take snow days this would be ok, but a) I work from home most of the time and b) if I miss a days work for any reason, I have to make it up on another day.

Do any employers or nannies have any solutions? Would it be unreasonable to put in the contract that if weather prevents work she would make up the hours on another day? And if so, would that be all the hours, or a proportion of them?

many thanks

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TwoCupcakes · 07/01/2010 22:29

oh dear, reading some of these posts is making me think that maybe I've been too relaxed with my nanny. yesterday the snow seem quite heavy (although roads were gritted well in our area and her short route to ours is such that she could have come in). however, i was thinking more of her safety so i told her that she needn't come in. plus when we spoke, she did sound hopeful that she neednt make the journey. day turned out to be a disaster work-wise as both DH and i had massive amounts of work and we got stressed out taking turns to work furiously on laptops while sorting out our cranky kids as school was closed.

so just one day off (yesterday) and it never occurred to me to even ask her to replace that another day instead or take it as an annual leave and i would feel bad asking that now. To me, it's one of those rare occasions anyway that wasn't her fault despite meaning that i had to to work til midnight to make up for work unfinished while attending to my noisy brats lovely kids in the daytime.

i guess my conclusion is that my nanny and i have got quite a good give-and-take r'ship so i'm willing to overlook the odd snow day off on full pay in the hope that when i need some flexibility during emergencies, she pulls through for me. however, if we did have too frequent snow days, then i may consider her if she would mind working another day or taking it as leave instead.

livefortoday · 07/01/2010 22:29

is there anyway you could have your nanny live-in for the next few days/ week whilst this snowy/ice weather continues?
I know this isnt an option for all but some may be able to do this for a few days.

nbee84 · 07/01/2010 22:32

loveand peace - 'How often does this weather occur?? Once in a lifetime'

We had snow last year that made driving conditions very bad - I had 2 days where my mb advised me not to travel in to work.

notanidea · 07/01/2010 22:50

Twocupcakes- this is the third day in this month.I cant compensate the work.I worked till midnight as well yesterday but if I dont go it affects others.
I have paid her full so far and dont mind paying her as. In fact I keep fuming I will do this or that but never do anything as kids really love her and she is good with the children. My Dc is only 18 months and I dont have family near by to help me I can leave DC1 as she is 8 year with friends but cant ask anyone to look after the youngest,

loveandpeace · 07/01/2010 22:55

I am in my thirties and have never seen snow like this before and I have never not been able to travel to work before. I suppose it depends on where you live.

Twocupcakes- I think you have it right. I would like to think I have a good give and take situation with my boss and so this creates a much better relationship with them and the children. Lets face it the most important thing with a nanny is for her/him to feel part of the family with total respect.

Livefortoday- If you paid me a considerable amount of extra money I may consider it but I don't think this is really an option.

xoxcherylxox · 07/01/2010 23:11

would most nannies not want to get home to there own comforts after a long day at wrk im sure the parents wouldnt stay over nite at there wrk so that they are there the nxt day and not stuck in snow

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/01/2010 09:03

all depends what her roads re like 30mins away

i have tons of snow,friends 30mins away dont have much

does your nanny have much snow?

like nick i gotup an hour earlier on wednesday to get to work on time

she should make an effort to try and get in

my mb is picking me up today as my car is snowed in at their house, my own road is impassibble as 2 roads off a main road,but most main roads have been gritted now

not sure if i can get works car(auto) back up their hill, mb will slide down it - but if not then will leave at bottom and walk up with kids

lobsters · 08/01/2010 11:52

It's been really useful reading this, my nanny went away for New Year was due back on Wednesday, but hasn't been able to get home yet due to problems at Gatwick. She was due back at work on Thursday, it's not been too much of a issue as I'm on leave anyway, but there were a lot of things I wanted to get done that will take longer with DD in tow (but I admit will be more fun). At least I know I'm not being too unreasonable in asking her to take these days as extra annual leave or to make up the time.

I just hope she can make it on Monday as I really need to try and get into work.

notanidea · 08/01/2010 14:15

Well the side roads are not great but once you are on the motorway or relatively larger,well used road - it is fine. She wanted to go early and I have let her go but asked what is going to happen on monday and the answer was that she will try and quoted example that the schools are closed it is unsafe so it is unsafe for but she is driving 2 hours later on today.I have told her to use public transport so have to wait and see what is going to happen?

providentielle · 09/01/2010 01:35

Notanidea, I think a big part of schools closing is to keep traffic off the roads.

Perhaps offer to pay for a taxi for her to get to work then she will have no excuse. I'm afraid it sounds to me as though she is taking the a bit.

I live in Scotland and roads have been awful, I've skidded twice, got stuck on hills 3 times, got stranded in town with kids after Christmas show when they cancelled all trains and shut station and spent evening with my brother scraping snow away from my car so I would be able to get out in morning and been getting up early to go long way avoiding hills and so I can drive slowly and carefully but I have made it to work every day. I would be mortified to call work without at least trying my very best to get into work.

notanidea · 09/01/2010 08:38

she was very rude when i suggested that she takes a bus. She does not live in the middle of nowhere and could take a bus.I know it will take her her a long time to come but nevertheless I cant afford to loose any more days work off.

MummyDragon · 09/01/2010 16:30

notanidea - I've had the same issue with our nanny this week. However, because my DH was still being paid, we decided to pay the nanny in full (she was prepared to try to get to work, but I was worried about her driving on the extremely dangerous roads - and, after all, the snow is not her fault!).

I've told her that if the bad weather continues next week, we will pay her if she can't get here (as long as DH is still being paid and as long as ).

However, it sounds as though your nanny might not have made much of an effort, and perhaps this is the heart of the issue .... being rude when told to take the bus is not my idea of a committed employee! What have you decided to do if the bad weather continues - which it will, apparently ..?

nowwearefour · 09/01/2010 16:42

my nanny has thus far failed to make it in twice. she is heavily pregnant and i do understand but she did seem to be a bit lacking in flexibility. my dh and i couldnt agree on whether to ask her to take the second day as an annual leave day (she has one left) so i havent mentioned it. i want to treat her as i am treated but my dh had to stay home so we could both do half a day's work and it is not looking too good to his employer. the forecast isnt looking grfeat for this week and we are really at a loss as to what to do. i might lose my job if i dont show up this week but so might my dh and i cant get the dds to family or any other type of child care. ahhhh!

notanidea · 09/01/2010 17:59

I dont want even want to take her pay off or ask her to take these days as annual leave. I just want to get on with my work as I am in a position of not having a job in August an d have deadline for my work if I have to have any chance of work from August .When this happened last feb, I rang her up and told her not to come but I was not under any pressure regarding the work.But I really cant compensate this time

drinkyourmilk · 09/01/2010 18:12

notanidea -
Have you explained all that to your nanny?
Guilt works wonders

notanidea · 09/01/2010 18:29

yes I have and she knows -keeps repeating the same thing that she asked to go early so she is going to as she has made plans.

drinkyourmilk · 09/01/2010 18:49

She doesn't sound like a very nice person if i'm honest - no consideration for you and your circumstances.

Can she stay over this week? That's what I will do if the weather gets much worse here.

Is it worth shipping the kids off to a granny for the week tomorrow and telling her she has a weeks leave as she can't guarantee she'll be in, and you have no choice but to go to work?

notanidea · 09/01/2010 19:12

No one nearby.I was not brought up in this country.If I dont have a job in August we might have to sell the house and move to a different part of the country- my DDs school and our friends will be missed.I think that our friends are our family and will be very upset and it has taken us a long time to build such friendship with so many of them.So, I am going to sit her down and have a proper conversation as to why she is doing it and reinforce my situation. I have said in my earlier threads that she is very nice and very good with the children.So maybe she has some grievance with me or I want to know why she is behaving like this.If it is something we can resolve by talking I would but if the situation is not changed after that I would seriously consider my childcare options.

notanidea · 12/01/2010 10:07

Just to update- I have spoken to her explaining our situation. She did listen to it patiently and only asked -so you expect me to come no matter what? But I did explain that when it snowed last year I renag her up and said not to come for 2days as there was nothing pressing atmy work and we could compensate.But this time, the situation is different and I am working under a lot of pressure and there is so much at stake.

greybird · 12/01/2010 10:10

so you expect me to come no matter what?

That sounds like a sulky fed up teenager to me. It doesn't sound like she really understood or is sympathetic or cooperative about your situation.

notanidea · 12/01/2010 13:16

My position is I have explained my situation to her and if this does not improve I am going to look at different type of childcare. Atleast I know I have been fair, tried to explain things and let see what happens.But I have made up my mind.

greybird · 12/01/2010 13:43

I agree you've been fair. I just think you need to be prepared for her to resign. In my experience, people with immature attitudes to work tend to think they'd do better elsewhere. Good luck.

nannynick · 12/01/2010 17:44

She says: so you expect me to come no matter what?
You wish you had said : yes, though if you are dead then I will accept that as a reasonable excuse.

Honestly, some people just don't seem to realise that if they don't turn up to work, then they run the risk of not having a job!

nannynick · 12/01/2010 17:55

It's not as if she's a teenager, she's been in the world of work long enough by now to understand how things work... she's in her 40's I think, is that right notanidea?
I am wondering if perhaps she has changed job role at some point recently... has she been a nanny for a long time, or is she more used to working in say large companies?

I do agree with greybird, she doesn't sound very understanding or sympathetic to your situation. Does she realise that if you don't have a job, then she doesn't have a job. If you don't work, then ultimately you lose your job, which results in her losing her job. Surely she understands that!

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/01/2010 18:00

think you need to find a new nanny

one that makes an effort and is reliable and professional

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