Should We Pay Our Nanny While She Is on Vacation?

Hi CM:
I would think,it depended on her worth. If she has been a dedicated employee for any length of time,I'd say yes. It's always good business sense,to treat those irreplaceable workers well. The plus here,is not only is she great with your son,dependable and reliable,but she made sure she found someone to replace her for the time shes away.Yes, it's an added expense,however, you must ask yourself,how easily someone like her could be replaced.You must also consider,all that she does over and beyond normal duties.It's not easy finding someone you feel so comfortable with these days.I'd hang onto her.Treat her good. I wish you the best,and congrats on the new addition to the family. : ) J. M

i wouldnt think so. i can understand paying her for the time right after the baby is born since she wont be needed. but it seems silly to pay her while she takes a vacation. yes it was a surprise for her but its her choice to go. hope this is helps. (just do what you feel is right... talk it over with hubby)

It depends on your original agreement with her. Did you promise any paid time off? If you promised one week, pay her one week and the rest is unpaid. No employer out there will pay anyone once the paid vacation time is exhausted. It's her choice. Also, it's not you going on vacation, so I don't see how the day care scenario suggested below applies.

I assume this would count as her "annual paid" vacation?
Even though it was spur of the moment?
Regardless, you need to clarify that with her... what is going on in her mind about it? You have to ask her.
Does she expect to be paid? Because it was last minute.
If it were me... I would assume this is part of her annual vacation, paid. But that has to be agreed on.

BUT the bottom line is... what is stipulated in your "contract" or "agreement" of services with her? Then you go according to that.
Being she is such a GOOD RELIABLE Nanny... then I would work something out with her. Fairly. Even if it just half-pay.
BUT, she did get you a "replacement." So perhaps in lieu of that, you don't "have to" pay for her spontaneous 'vacation.' BUT, you BOTH have to talk about it and agree on it. Perhaps she does not even "expect" to be paid, anyway?

In a similar situation, I used to babysit... and when "I" took my annual vacation, the parents STILL paid for the month. As usual. But I had a contract that stipulated that, and which the Parents signed off on. But I gave them a big lead-time and head's up as to when I was taking my "vacation" time. AND, when the Parents suddenly decided to take a "vacation", they STILL paid for the month, as usual, in full. BECAUSE, I had to essentially "reserve" and guarantee their child's spot in my home-care babysitting. This is typical of babysitters.

As far as if you go into labor "early"...well, your Hubby I'm assuming will take off from work from that point, right? Most Husbands do.
Then, he will have to mind and care for your 2.5 year old son. For me, BEFORE my due date... I made out a "list" for my Hubby...so that he KNEW what the "routines" of my daughter was, and what to do, even bedtimes, what she likes to eat, and her pre-bed/nap routines etc. I CLEARLY delineated all of that, so that my daughter would not be stressed, having me not around and being in the hospital having my baby (my son). THIS helped, my Husband. PLAN PLAN PLAN, ahead... for any scenario. AND it helped my daughter. I even explained to my daughter that Mommy would be in the hospital and Daddy would be with her at home... and he will know what to do.
THEN, when your other family arrives in town... your Hubby will have "help." THEY should be helping... not being a "guest" and with you taking care of everyone. AND, you "can" still have your Nanny come in, maybe half-time... since your son is used to her, and she can help, if need be. BUT, only if this is agreed to. Just another way in which to look at this.
For me, when my "family" was in my home, after me & baby was home... it was harder for me actually, because all my family did was play with baby and see baby. Me, I was STILL doing it all! My Hubby took time off from work, so he was still the MAIN support/help with my daughter, while I recovered from my c-section.

Anywho, well sorry for rambling and going off subject. Just some thoughts I had.
Make sure you plan ahead for any scenario. Sometimes, having lots of family in the home, can be "more" distracting than "help."

All the best,
Susan

If you already have an agreement with your nanny about a paid vacation, of course you should follow the agreement. If you don't have an agreement, this might be a perfect time to make one. If you don't have an agreement I would not pay her (tell her you are already paying her friend), but you guys can then agree, in the future, if she gives you certain advance notice (say, 1 month notice for 1 week vacation) she can get full pay or 70% of her pay... your call. but if you like her this much, I would really take this opportunity to have an agreement with her for the future.

I wouldn't but it depends on original agreement but if your paying her friend i DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PAY HER AS WELL ESPECIALLY SINCE it was such short notice.

Hi,

My name is M. Perrone and I have authored a book called "Help!, How to FInd Hire Train and Maintain Household Help! You can read more about it at www.domesticpublications.com and more about me at www.martaperrone.com

In response to your inquiry - one of the issues with hiring household help is that employers fail to have employee/employer agreements in place to avoid problems and issues in the future. Vacation time is designated from the beginning (1-2 weeks per year). If a person springs a vacation (time off) on you, this should NOT be paid for UNLESS you choose to call it her vacation for the year.

WIth respect to her son springing this surprise on her. Frankly, she should be more professional than that and her son should also know better. You are about to have a child and she is basically leaving you in a lurch.

If you would like to speak to me personally, I can be reached at ###-###-####. You can also check out my blog www.dearmarta.com

Best wishes on the arrival of your baby.

M.

Hi C M yes you should still pay your Nanny, every place of employment should offer paid vacations. I run a home daycare and if my clients take their kids out for vacation they still have to pay me. If you are concerned about paying both, then if your baby comes before she gets back, your husband should be able to take care of your 2 year old, when i had my third, my husband took care of our 5 year old and our 2 year old, it's always good to have more that one plan and more than one option. J. L.

If you can afford to, it would be a lovely gesture. If not, maybe tell her that you wish you could, but offer a smaller chunk of change and call it a bonus.

um, no... her choice, so she needs to take the consiquences.
good luck with your new baby
R.

I used to be a nanny and my parents also surprised me with a trip (for Christmas), so I asked the family for time off and I did not expect to get paid while I was gone, and I was perfectly ok with it! I'm sure your nanny will be understanding of it also, but I would talk to her about it so there are no misunderstandings!! ;)

You should have an agreement (our is only verbal) with your nanny regarding paid time off. We have a similar situation with a nanny that we absolutely LOVE. She gets one week vacation and starting this last year (on her 3 year anniversary) we added 2 sick days. We try to plan on our vacations together so her paid week off is also our vacation week. If you do not have a paid vacation agreement with her then her leave should be unpaid.

I would agree that unless she was told when hired that she would get one week paid vacation she shouldn't be paid you will be having to pay someone else to take care of your child. I could see if it was your family that was up and leaving it would be the right thing to pay her since she is planning on the money but it is her choice to go and you are being left to pay someone else. I would say you don't need to pay her for the week.