Sick Nanny

sadie+w

Our nanny works for us 3 days per week, and has been with us for 8 weeks now.  She is wonderful with LO.  Problem is, she has called in sick 6 times in those 8 weeks!  So she has missed work 25% of the time.  I am struggling with how to address it.  I obviously don't want her coming in and getting LO sick, but who gets sick 6 times in 8 weeks in the SUMMER!?!  I am starting to question if she is actually sick.  How would you approach this?

st.augbride

That's hard... I guess I'd start off by explaining that while you understand she can't help it that she's sick and that you appreciate her letting you know so you can avoid exposing LO, that it is difficult for you and if she has any back-ups she can recommend. That might at least help her to realize that this is an issue for you and that you might be considering replacements. I would then give it another month and see what happens. Ds and I got hit SO freaking hard this summer with virus after virus. He had 4 fevers in a 4 week period and I was sick 3 of those times enough to stay home from work. So it is entirely possible, but I'd still throw it out there to let her know you are concerned.

jnnfrrose6

Is there a pattern to the days she's calling in "sick?"  Hungover Monday, or Summer Friday?  I agree with PP otherwise.

*sparky*

I agree with the previous advice. That would not work out long term and so you have to say something. Also, if she calls in sick one day and comes in the next day does she seem still a little sick or perfectly fine?

sadie+w

There hasn't been a pattern to her sick days.

Four of the days were in a two week period.  She was sick, then made it, then texted and said she was sick again, and was that going to be ok?  When I replied that it was really putting us in a bind, she made it in and seemed TOTALLY fine.

vlong4

Have you and the nanny agreed upon a set amount of sick days? Our nanny gets ten paid sick days. Anything beyond that, she will not be paid. I do agree to be understandable if she sick but do ask for backups because it is putting you in a bind.

RibbitGrl930

bearsbearsbears said:

I would give her a warning about her excessive use of sick days.  Hopefully the warning will give her the wake up call she needs, but I'd probably start up the search again.

Agreed. Make it clear that her calling in sick really puts you in a bind and that she's become unreliable. I'd give her a probationary period to turn it around if you can afford it, but, in the meantime, do a search for another nanny in case she doesn't come through.

married2matt

Gently let her know...if you don't work, you don't get paid (exaggerate if this isn't true) and the same will be true for her. 

We had this issue when our Nanny share started. She caught on pretty quickly when she started blowing through her PTO days and we started asking if she was taking the time off unpaid. 

She was younger and I think she just had to learn those simple employment rules - don't work, don't get paid.

ASmallWonder

Ditto what the others said but you could also approach it as if you assume she's trying to spare your child from getting sick.  I'd tell her that, much like a sick policy if your son was in daycare, there are things you'd want her to stay home for and things that you would not.  I don't think this is her reasoning but it sort of allows you to address what's acceptable and what's not in a way that doesn't actually have you telling her what she's allowed to call out for, kwim?  

cecilyandgautam

Did you agree on the number of paid sick days she could take when you hired her? Has she already burned through those? Maybe just remind her that any future sick days are unpaid. My work provides a benefit of 5 days of back up care and my DH's does the same. I would tell her we can't accommodate more sick days than 10 per year. She's already used 6, that leaves 4. 

bethann3181

We give our nanny 10 paid days off per year (in addition to holidays that I have off), and she can use them for sick or vacation.  I would enforce this.  Any days beyond that, she is unpaid, or you can obviously start looking for someone else if this continues to be an issue.