What Would You Tell Your Nanny When You Don't Need Her Anymore?!

I'm guessing you didn't have a contract. Standard nanny-parent contracts state that either party give the other 4 wks notice or the equilvalent in pay.

Also, as L. as they were withholding taxes, you are eligible to collect unemployment.

I think one month notice is extremely fair. Are you wanting him to tell you over and over how wonderful and fantastic you are? You are not needed anymore, end of story. When most people aren't needed anymore (fired), they don't get any notice at all!

I think a month in advance is notice enough. They don't owe you anything you haven't worked. Your employment sounds like it is 'at will' which means they could let you go without any advance warning.

It bothers me that you think you are owed money for not working. Why should they pay you for the two weeks of their vacation or as they let you go? Their only 'sin' is not letting you know enough in advance of their vacation (if I remember right from the previous post) so that you could plan accordingly.

I would definitely let this job be a learning opportunity. If you expect certain perks from the parents of those you nanny you need to spell them out before you are hired. Everything needs to be in writing from whether you will receive a vacation, paid or not, what happens when the family goes on vacation, how far in advance they need to notify you of anything, etc...

It doesn't seem like you have a good relationship with the parents. As an educator I know my job is not only to have a good repoire with my class but with the parents as well. As a parent now, I only give gifts to those teachers I feel 'earned' them. By having a poor relationship with the parents, you have set yourself up for not receiving more.

Good luck in the future.

Any job is under no particular rules to notify you of termination of services. You are very fortunate to have received the notice you got from them. I would perhaps consider asking for letters of recommendation from them but wouldn't count on it.

He may just be a rude person which is why he phrased it the way he did. Doesn't matter. You must begin the process of finding new employment while trying to maintain professionalism on your part with your current employer.

It is customary for employees to give their employers two weeks notice.

Jilly613 is right about having a contract in place. You should definitely draft something up for future work experiences. I'm certain there has to be viable samples online. Have it reveiwed by an attorney. It should be a simple matter.

I wish you the best with finding new employment and I'm sorry your feelings have been hurt.

Dear K., Some thoughts I hope will be of help:

1. What does the law say in terms of what is owed to you upon termination of employment. Do you get money for unused vacation days, sick days? What about compensation for termination? Did they pay into a pension fund or social security for you???

2. In terms of the timing, one month's notice is not terrible. Usually we give 30 days notice at least for anyone in our employ. It sounds like they just did not say it nicely, and for that I regret any pain caused to you.

As an aside, it sounds as well as if you did not have a contract. In the future, I would have a contract with my employers -- it protects you and them. All compensation, benefits and rights are spelled out from the beginning, which helps prevents misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

In terms of any termination bonus, that is up to them. It would be nice of them since you took care of their most precious thing...but it is not necessary. I hope they do.

Good Luck to you.

Jilly

Virginia is a 'right-to-work' state. That means that they can let you go for any reason, and they don't HAVE to give you any severance.

As for now, I would approach the wife and let her know that since you will be updating your resume, you would appreciate a letter of recommendation. Only ask for one if you think that they will give you a fair recommendation. Also ask for an official letter of seperation that outlines why you are being let go. This way future employers will know that it wasn't anything that you had done.

In the future, you should have any guidelines about vacation written into a contract.
- if you do/don't get paid when they go on family only vacations
- if you do/ don't get paid when you travel with the family on vacations
- if you travel with them, who pays for your costs.

Good luck,
M.

A one-month notice isn't terribly bad (as mentioned earlier - most jobs require a 2-weeks notice). Did you have any idea that a daycare was in the future? Having it presented to you rudely - is that the way the dad is, or was he covering up for feeling bad for letting you go. I know when I have to do something I don't want to do, I unfortunately get defensive.
Before feeling too put-off, make sure that this last month is a good on (ie - make sure you get a letter of reference!).

You are refering to yourself as a nanny (which it sounded like they wanted you to be available as one) but it sounds like you were really a babysitter only to be available when they decided they needed you (and they only wanted to treat you as such). I am not trying to argue semantics with you just pointing out that babysitters are typically on demand...their demand is over. A month notice is more than is usually required for families to even give licensed daycare providers and definately more notice that required when a business eliminates your position so I don't see a problem with the month's notice. It sounds like you are lucky they didn't wait until the night before.

Based on your previous post I would say their notice is actually great for you. You weren't happy and now you don't have to worry about not taking up your other interests.

seems like the relationship wasn't working from both sides... you don't sound like you were happy with them, and maybe they weren't happy with your for whatever reason. but, at the end of the day, they've given you a MONTH of notice - unless you have a written contract signed by you and your employers that they are to give you "x" amount of severance/notice, i'd put my energy into looking for a new job :) hope you find something better than this, it sounds like they didn't treat you too well!

I'm not planning to give my nanny severance, but I told her when I was in the interview process that we would most likely not need a nanny after August 9th. There was some possibility about a month ago for a nanny share involving my youngest and my nanny, but she was a full participant in the decision making process, and when we found other accommodations for my youngest, I let her know immediately. So, she has known for a long time that August 9th will be her last day. We took her on vacation, but if we hadn't, I would have gone over the non-payment fact upon hiring her months ago. On one hand, a month's notice is fair with jobs, but it sounds like they weren't very nice about it. Unfortunately many people treat hired help in a rude way, and it's a very telling character trait (or lack of). I have a friend who nannied for a family, and the father was HORRIBLE and rude. On your end -post yourself on Sittercity and Care.com and some of those sites. That's where I and most of my friends with nannies hire from.

Nope. Most lay-offs or dimissals are given with 2 weeks notice. Or, to look at it this way, employees themselves are traditionally encouraged to only give two weeks notice before they leave their employer.

As for "receiving something"...? That is what might be called a severance package and this is really an option you only find in the corporate world and for long time, high performing employees that are laid off thru no fault of their own (i.e. bad economy).

As a nanny, if I wasn't needed anymore, I would expect my bosses to give me at least 30 days notice, plus a severance. This is a career-job, not a babysitting job. Some people fail to understand the difference.

I know that when my bosses finish utilizing me in the future, I will be given 6-8 weeks notice, and a bonus.

hello
I don't know that they should receive anything perse. While I don't agree with how the guy told you to start looking, truth is, nowadays, a month notice is actually pretty good. When I was laid off, there was no time to give my sitter notice, it was either I keep paying her money I was longer going to be earning or I let her know on what was her last week. We told her nicely but explained that my job had ended and therefore, so did her. As for a bonus, we didn't give her one. However, we had given her Christmases bonuses in the past and some paid time off , therefore, I don't think it was necessary.
Best of luck to you

Check out this response I came across earlier today...http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/question/q/1033?utm_campaig...

Unless you are a nannie sent by a company---nothing honestly. Was there a written contract? Did you pay taxes on your salary---report your earnings?
I did the "nannie" thing and the widowed dad told me a week before he rited that he was retiring and he still wanted me but the hours would vary. I told him since their was no contact, that's fine, however, I have 2 of my own kids and summer was coming up and they come first, so if he had to find someone new, that's okay. Well, he worked it out with me. Now I didn't need the job, I did it for extra spending cash for the my kids activities. He sold his house and planned to move within 2-3 months after that and since it was out of state, I knew. I was surprised when he asked me to travel to his new house for Friday night thru Sunday afternoons, so he can "get a social life again...code for date again". I told him no because my family needs me more, you can find someone in NJ. Another family was told about me via referral and didn't even meet me---called on the phone and offered me the job. Since it was only 2 blocks away and for only 4 hours a day I took it. Three weeks into the gig, the woman tells me via a voice mail that, "Thanks soo soo much for doing this on short notice, but my SIL just got fired and asked me to pay her to watch Sabrina, so you don't have to come on Monday." That was on the Thursday before--so it depends on the family. If you take another nannie job, lay everything out on the table ahead of time and discuss what they are willing to offer as far as the Perks or benefits" of the job. Good Luck!

Of course there was no reason to inform you that your services will not be required in a mean and nasty way, but consider yourself lucky that your getting a lot of advance notice.

As with any type of employment, severence pay depends upon many things, length of employment, economic conditions, how valued the employee was, etc. You should NOT expect to receive any type of severance when your employment is terminated as it is not required and they wouldn't pay your for vacation.

I would give fair warning and leave it at that. It woudl depend on the relationship you have with her and how long you have known one another. Maybe a card with a gift certificate as a thank you if you were really close would be appropriate.