When you hire a nanny, you’ll probably talk about things like pay rates and schedules. But should nannies get paid sick days? What about paid holiday and bank holidays? Being a nanny is a job, and just like any other profession, nannies should receive benefits like overtime and paid time off.
Lots of families forget to negotiate these things when they hire a caregiver, so it’s important to talk about them before you officially hire someone. Just make sure you’ve reviewed the laws in your county or city. Once you’re in agreement, make sure you add all the details to your nanny contract.
Paid sick days for your nanny
When your nanny is around kids all day, it’s inevitable that they’ll get sick. In the UK, an employee’s eligibility for statutory sick pay and how much sick pay they’re entitled to depends on a few factors. For example, the nanny needs to earn an average of at least £123 per week, be sick for four full days in a row or more, etc. You may, however, want to negotiate with your nanny to offer pay for individual sick days as an additional incentive. And don’t forget to make sure that you’re all up to scratch on sick note requirements!
Plan for your nanny’s sick day(s) now by weighing up your options for backup care.
Providing paid bank holidays
Although bank holidays do not have to be given as paid leave, you might consider offering this anyhow as an incentive for your nanny. Childcare providers, especially those with families of their own, will appreciate the extra bit of money in their pocket. If offering paid time off for every bank holiday isn’t a feasible option for you, perhaps consider offering it for a handful of them instead. In the end, it comes down to what works best for you and your nanny.
Setting a paid holiday policy
Everyone needs some time off to recharge. And nannies definitely need some rest and relaxation after caring for your children. Five-and-a-half weeks of paid holiday is the statutory entitlement for employees in the UK.
Many families try to coordinate their nanny’s holiday time around family holidays, so they’re not left scrambling to find backup childcare. Maybe your nanny takes one week off during the summer while your family is visiting Disneyland Paris and then has the other five-and-a-half weeks to use whenever they please.
Set rules for using these days off. For example, how much notice does your nanny need to give you if they want to plan a holiday? How will they let you know: in-person, or via text or email? Can they split the days up or do they have to use it weeks at a time?
Providing paid time off is not only a legal requirement in the UK, it’s also crucial to attracting a good nanny and showing them you appreciate everything they do for your family. As long as you and your nanny communicate effectively and keep track of the time off that is used and available, it shouldn’t be a point of friction in your working relationship.