Wednesday

Nanny gets shortchanged on Paycheck

Received Wednesday, August 20, 2008. - Perspective & Opinion
I need the opinions of some others on my situation. I recently started working for a family as their nanny, that I have previously been working for on an as needed basis for over a year. They have treated me awesome, and even gave me birthday and Christmas presents even though I was only working a few hours a month for them.

Last week I contracted pink eye from their daughter. When I arrived in the morning I had no clue she had it, and I truly believe the parents didn't either. Well, I missed the next day of work because I was highly contagious, and it was actually pretty painful. They didn't pay me for the day I called out, even though I kind of thought they should since it was their daughter that gave it to me. So, I was out over $140 for my daily salary and then another $35 for medical care. Then, the child was sick on Monday and the mom called and told me not to come. Our work agreement clearly states I get paid, even while not working unless I have 2 weeks notice to find other work. I came to work today, my last day of my work week, and there was a check for just 2 days on the counter, even though I was supposed to be paid for 3 days. The mom will be home tonight and I am so frustrated by the situation I am thinking of leaving. They are moving in October, which they just told me this week as well. I am feeling like they are just taking advantage of me since they know I only have to work another month.

So, my question is this, how should I bring up the money for the missed day of work when she called me and told me not to come? Should I just quit knowing this is probably a sign of things to come?
Please I need some help.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

You really need to stand up for yourself.
Even though I would feel it only fair to pay my nanny if my child gave her pinkeye, I definately think you are entitled for the missed day of work from when the parent called you off.
They may very well be trying to take advantage of you since they are moving soon, but that does not mean you have to allow it!

At least demand the money for the day that your contract stipulates you would get paid for if a child is sick.
As for not paying for the missed work because of the pinkeye, yet another parent that has no moral character and treats their nanny disrespectfully.

Anonymous said...

Well, since they are moving anyhow, I suggest asking for your reference letter now. Reminding them of the contract details. Perhaps politely state "hey, I think there was a mistake, feel free to put it on my next check but... balh blah." As for leaving, start looking now for another position!

Good luck. Get the money. You are a professional. If they were shortchanged on THEIR paycheck, I don't think they would roll over and take it. PERIOD. I am tired of seeing nannies taken advantage of just becasue our market isn't regulated. And to all you FAIR AND WONDERFUL employers out their.. thank you!!!! Good luck OP

Anonymous said...

I had a family that I nannied for for almost a year do the almost the same thing to me--take advantage of me because they were moving.

If it was my child that gave her nanny pink-eye, I would pay for her sick day, but you can't expect everyone to be that nice. However, you can and should expect her to stand up to her agreement whether or not she is moving or not.

Anonymous said...

Love your post, love. But I do think this nanny should collect the money that is owed to her NOW. Please don't wait until the next payday, as anything could happen between now and then.
And as Love said(great advice!), absolutely get your letter of reference now while you can.

Anonymous said...

You should ask for your letter of recommendation now, under the guise that you need to start looking for a job of rnext month (which should actually be the truth.)

Also ask for the day the child was sick.

As fot he missing work because it was contagious...who did you think you were going to expose? the child had already brought it into the house adn everybody was already exposed, so that was sort of a thin excuse for missing work I would say. However, had you thought of a better reason, like needing to see the doctor for treatment, it might be a different matter.

Anonymous said...

Did you agree on sick days and payment for them when hired? That would answer the question clearly IMO on whether that day is paid.

You should be paid for 3 days for this week since you weren't given 2 weeks notice.

They are leaving in two months. If you need the reference, don't risk creating animosity until after you get it. And don't count on a written letter as sufficient. I would never hire a nanny based only on a written reference and would insist on speaking with your employer. However, I do think it's possible to raise the issue with them directly and nicely now without it being a problem. Just bring a copy of your work agreement, point out the lack of notice, and ask if you can please be paid. If they refuse, keep your cool, get your reference, and leave as soon as you are able. Good luck.

kathleencares said...

No need to quit if they are moving in a month. I would ask them to pay you the money for the day they told you not to come to work. If they go for it, great, but it not, I would just stick it out for the rest of the month and make the best of it. And I agree with one of the other comments - get your letter of recommendation now!

Anonymous said...

I wholly agree with nyc mom. Does your work agreement state that you are to be paid on days you are sick? If your work agreement states you are paid no matter what, whether you call in sick or they call to say you don't need to come that day, then just remind them of what it states, and remind them that they didn't pay you accordingly, and that you'd like to be paid as agreed.

I really don't think it's relevant whether the child ,or some friend of yours, or whomever the case may be, gave you the pinkeye. The issue is what your work agreement says.

As for the letter of reference, I too would not write an anonymous letter for a former employee, nor would I greatly value such a letter if I interviewed a potential employee who presented one.

I would write a new letter on behalf of my former employee for each new potential employer, and/or talk to them on the phone.

Similarly, I would expect to speak live with former employers if I were interviewing someone.

Let us know how everything turns out and good luck.

Anonymous said...

start your job search right away. keep it private to protect yourself from being fired. i like the idea of getting the letter of recommendation now. you can say it's for an evening or weekend babysitting job.

meanwhile, you still need that missed money. you should ask for the money and confront the mom about it as politely and professionally as you can. people like this don't like to be confronted. if she doesn't give you what you like, leave as soon as you have secured your new job.

this is not a good family, no matter how they treated you in the past. no one who really cared about you would allow you to get sick and not pay you. that's just really crappy no matter what. i am sure they stopped being nice because they are leaving soon. it seems so obvious to me.

Anonymous said...

It seems that way too many who employ nannies will do most anything to screw them out of money when it is patently clear that it is owed to them. I have to wonder if they are preying on or hoping for a nanny's meekness in order to save a few bucks. It's good that these misers are finding out that nannies will stand up for themselves. Please be firm in asking for the money you were shorted, even if you must act as if it were an oversight. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

they should pay you for the day you didn't have to go to work. personally, i'd have paid you when you were sick.

i'd leave. yes,leave and let them scramble for temp care.

Anonymous said...

Start looking for another job asap!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think the parents are correct in this situation. You had pink eye, not a nail through your head. What were you doing calling in for pink eye?

Nannies need to wise up and realize they have jobs so many times because parents need the reliability of a nanny who comes to their home when scheduled. That means if a child is sick, you show up and suck it up. That means if you catch a sniffle from a child, you suck it up and go to work.

I would have offered to pay for your antibiotic eyedrops and doctor's visit, but I would have little tolerance for someone who took a whole day off because she had an itchy eye.

Anonymous said...

h-While your points are valid, employers need to realize that like most "normal" 9-5 jobs, nannies do have lives outside of the families they work for. This woman could have had her own family that could have been exposed to pink eye as well. She should be paid for the missed time.

Anonymous said...

h,

you also said before that you don't think a nanny should get any sick time at all, right? I am glad I am not your nanny. Although the package you discribed that you give your nanny seems generous at first glance, one can see by reading your posts that you are a supreme bitch. I have to say that I feel so sorry for anyone who works for you. "Nannies need to wise up?" Are you for real? I think you need to wise up and realize that no matter how great you think you are, you are and will always be an unpleasant person.

Anonymous said...

oh h, you are too funny.

please tell me, what nanny is going to be willing to come to work feeling sick for YOU, and take care of YOUR germy little snotty child when you are too heartless to care about HER?

in all seriousness, you need a wakeup call. if you don't take care of your nanny, she is not going to take proper care of your child. think about it.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Does anyone wonder who the hell "H" is... Hey... H... were you wronged by a nanny at some point in your awesome life or was your mother a jackal by any chance?

Anonymous said...

AWWW.... "H" and child share a special moment....

http://www.adjunct.diodon349.com/Christian/Satan2.jpg

Anonymous said...

I actually feel kind of sorry for H. I couldn't imagine being so angry. I assume she spends most of her life that way, considering everything she's ever posted on here drips with hostility and self righteousness. I doubt she saves all that anger JUST for our sake on this blog.

As far as pink eye is concerned, doesn't it hurt? I've never had it, but I was under the impression that it was in fact something you called out of work for...
H, what happened to you that you view your nannies (and I'm sure the rest of your HELP) as less than human? Why don't they deserve the same respect YOU do? You sound so cold and condescending. Did you ever stop to think that your bad experience with nannies may have been partly due to how you treat them?

UmassSlytherin said...

H,
I have to agree with the above posters. You have some serious issues that you need to deal with: issues regarding entitlement. Here is a quote from a Richard Wright novel:

(I don't know if you know who he is but he is a famous black American author, fyi)

"All these white folk dressed so fine: their assholes smell just like mine."

Not to put a racial spin on things, but classism is prejudice too: just of a different kind.

Anonymous said...

I love that Umass, Laughs, and posted what they di. Laughs... funny spin on things. You other two; your words couldn't be truer. I would not want to be h's nanny. It is so yucky to act as though you are better than someone because of their job. I know PLENTY of nannies that hold their MASTERS for goodness sakes, and still, depite the ostensible cut in pay, CHOOSE to nanny... BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT!!!! As for h, I am sad for you; that you think nannies are so muh less and deserve les the "real working world" does. On that note thake this: WE RAISE YOUR CHILDREN... IS THERE A MORE IMPORATANT JOB???? The answer you are grappling for is "NO."

Anonymous said...

That was Umass, Laughs AND JERSEY.. darn laptops always trip me up :(

Anonymous said...

You do realize what H has proposed, including health insurance and all of the days off and vacation time, in addition to a week bonus pay for showing up every scheduled day is in fact a very generous proposition and one I might add, many a nanny would bbe chomping at the bit to secure for herself.

The very idea that a grown man or woman cannot work through a cold, a soar throat or pink eye- is absolutely appalling. It is people like YOU that have the rest of the world thinking we are nothing but weak and whining Americans.

UmassSlytherin said...

One cannot plan when one will become ill. Furthermore, it is up to said employee to determine if they are too ill to attend work. Everyone is entitled to at least two unplanned sick days for unforseen illnesses or emergencies. That is just a given.

Anonymous said...

Damn soar throats..always soaring just out my reach!

If only I wasn't such a lazy American. Maybe then I could catch it.

Anonymous said...

Oh by the way dempsey, that is NOT why people think we are weak and whining Americans. It goes a little deeper than that. But go on with yo bad self and those simplistic ideas ;-) It's cute when people preach such one-dimensional views with such authority and conviction.

UmassSlytherin said...

good catch, jj! :) hehe!

Anonymous said...

jxj
Awesome! LOL, I totally missed it!
I'm definately off my game tonite.

Anonymous said...

dempsey said, "The very idea that a grown man or woman cannot work through a cold, a soar throat or pink eye- is absolutely appalling. It is people like YOU that have the rest of the world thinking we are nothing but weak and whining Americans."

okay, that's fine. don't have compassion. just don't expect your nanny to be compassionate, soothing or nurturing to your child either. better yet, someone like you may not want to have kids. they tend to be "weak and whining" you know.

Anonymous said...

OP Here:

First of all, for anyone saying that pink eye is an itchy eye, have you ever had it? I had a fever of 104, a horrible head ache, and eyes that itched like you wouldn't believe. I sat in the shower for 30 minutes just crying I was soo miserable. And, I went to work the very next day.

I decided to broach the subject with the family next week. Thanks for your help.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you could have gone to the hospital with a fever that high. Yes, I think your employers got off quite easy. They should be thankful it wasn't worse.

I am glad you will talk to them. I know it's very hard, but be strong. You will be glad you did.

Anonymous said...

YAY! I FRICKEN LOVE Umass and Jersey.... They are always so entertaining :)! HEHE... If you lived near me I bet we'd be friends!!!

Anonymous said...

OP...

Pink eye is uncomfortable, I've had it more than once. It's itchy yes and can be glued shut after waking up BUT never have I had a fever with it. I've never stayed home from work because of it because as an adult I can control when I touch my eye and wash my hands if I do.

A 104 temp doesn't appear to be because of pink eye to me. Obviously you were sick but I can't imagine it was because of pink eye.

Anyway.. I agree you should get sick pay if you're sick (which it sounds like you were) but I don't think it's necessary to be out of work due to pink eye.

Anonymous said...

i'm surprised at the number of people who think it's okay to go to work with pink eye. it's highly contagious and the bacterial type requires a doctor's visit and antibiotics. no way would i let anyone with pink eye be around my children. and when i managed employees, i'd have sent them home too. it's soooooo not the same as working through a cold.

Anonymous said...

I've had pink eye that was so bad that I had to call out of work for a week. The infection spread from my eye to my ear and it was goopy, swollen and gross. Yes, I had a fever, yes, I was miserable, and yes, pink eye is a completely justified reason to call out of work. (I'm one of those people who can catch pink eye just looking at it...)

OP, you should get paid for sick days, especially when it was their child who gave it to you and you should DEFINATELY get paid for the time that the child was sick and they cancelled on you. That's just plain rude and cheapo of them.

Talk to them ASAP and get your money! (Easier said than done, though!)

Anonymous said...

read your contract. search for the part that says "paid sick days" etc and stand up for yourself. no one deserves to be screwed over.