Keeping Your Nanny Happy: Be on Time
At the end of your workday, you’re likely more than ready to clock out and go home. Having to work later then you expected is never fun, and can leave you feeling grumpy towards your job and/or boss. While your nanny adores your children, he or she likely looks forward to the end of their shift too, and they can feel the same way you do about having to work late without proper notice.
As soon as you realize you’re going to be late, let your nanny know.
One great rule to follow is to notify your nanny that you will be late as soon as you are made aware of the situation. Don’t wait until the end of the day. Even if your caregiver lives in your home, and you know they don’t usually go out after their shift, you should still give them as much notice as possible. This shows them that you respect them and their time.
Don’t make being late a habit.
If you can avoid getting home late, do so. Don’t volunteer to work late unless you’ve previously discussed it with your nanny and try to get your errands completed in the time frame you expected. If your nanny was continuously late showing up for his or her shift, you’d probably start looking for a replacement. Keep your nanny happier by relieving them at the agreed upon time, so that hopefully they aren’t tempted to look for a replacement family to work for.
If you are late, make sure your nanny is compensated for the extra time.
Even if you’re only 10 minutes late, make sure the additional time is recorded and added into the nanny’s paycheck. Why would you need to worry about 10 minutes?
- This keeps it legal. You are required to pay your employee for the time that they work, including any overtime. If you’re new to life with a nanny and unsure about payroll and taxes, visit our website! We can calculate, record, and report payroll taxes and earnings, as well as facilitate paying your caregiver employees. We cover all your payroll, deduction, and tax filing needs from CPP and EI deductions to preparing the right paperwork and filing the correct CRA documents for employers and employees.
- 10 minutes here and 20 minutes there can add up. Just as you wouldn’t be expected to stay late at your job without compensation, you shouldn’t expect your nanny to work additional time for free.
- This keeps your nanny happy. Paying them for the additional time they work goes a long way in showing appreciation and respect for their time and hard work. You can also check out our article 5 Simple Ways to Show Your Nanny Appreciation for ways to show your nanny you are thankful for all that they do.
Playing with the kiddos, feeding them, cleaning them, keeping them safe, and doing everything your nanny normally does for your family is literally exhausting. You don’t enjoy working late, and it’s likely they don’t either. Be a courteous employer by sticking to your agreed upon schedules, notifying your nanny ASAP if you’re going to be late, and making sure they are compensated for any additional time worked.
Photo courtesy of Alex the Shutter on Flickr.
