Best way to fire a nanny?

[Ecoden]

I'm at my wits end with our lazy nanny. I'm also pretty sure she doesn't like me or my baby. I'll spare you the details but the bottom line is she needs to go. I have found a replacement who comes highly recommended to me by 2 friends so that's good.

Anyway my question is since she's been at my house/knows where I live I'm nervous about making her angry about being fired. I'd doubt she'd retaliate but I'm nervous about it. When should I do it? Should I tell her the truth? In person? She's only been working for us for about 1.5 months.

 

[Beanonorder]

I'd do it face to face. It's hard but I'd just sit her down and say that you don't think she's the right fit for your family and that you'd rather terminate her services now before lo forms more of an attachment.

 

[Larkspur]

Have you spoken to her at all about the issues you've been having with her work? Has she attempted to address those issues? Or will this be out of the blue for her?

If you have already spoken to her, then I would sit her down and politely and professionally tell her that it's not working out for you on the fronts that you've already discussed, and that you are giving her X amount of notice so that you can both find an employment arrangement that suits you better.

If you feel truly uncomfortable about your child being in her care during the notice period, I would take the financial hit and pay her out rather than keep her on. But she would have to be pretty psychopathic to take out an employment situation on a child.

 

[zorak]

I think you really have to approach it like any other employment situation. Give warnings/requests for improvement then if this does not happen terminate the employment professionally. Definitely do it face to face and have any moneys due organised for there and then.

 

[Ecoden]

It's a nanny share with my neighbor. We've verbalized our concerns in several face to face meetings and we recently have her a detailed list of what she is and isn't doing and what is expected of her. She always says she understands and it all makes sense (it's not hard stuff, a main issue is she doesn't listen to us) but if anything she's worse. So no it shouldn't be out of the blue and yes we have given her a chance and the tools to change.

I have to respectfully disagree that this is like any other employment situation. When letting people go at work, they don't work in my home. I've just never had anyone work in my home before so it's a new situation. We have no formal financial obligation but i could see a week of pay being appropriate. Once fired I would not have her come back. Like I said, I already don't think she likes us...even if it's probably because I don't like her.

 

[MindUtopia]

If you don't have a written contract with her, I think you just tell her that you don't think you're a good fit for each other and let her go. Honestly, I also think it's totally fine to do it over email if you communicate regularly via email, if you don't think it would be awkward still seeing her at your neighbour's house. It sounds like it's not working out for both of you, so she'll probably be relieved too.

 

[Kirsty3051]

I'd do it face to face. It's hard but I'd just sit her down and say that you don't think she's the right fit for your family and that you'd rather terminate her services now before lo forms more of an attachment.

I work as a nanny in the UK, and think this is probably your best route.

Working with other people's children is extremely difficult but if she's still not meeting your expectations after almost 2 months, it's definitely time to find a more suitable replacement. She'll probably see it coming.

 

[MumToEva]

I would do exactly as you are suggesting - meet with her face to face and tell her that her services are no longer required as you are not happy with her work for all the reasons you have previously highlighted, yet she has made no effort to improve, give her a weeks pay upfront with no notice period required. I definitely wouldn't have her around your baby beyond that, as you never know what she might do! And I would probably change the barrels in your locks just to be sure if she has had keys or access to your keys - cheap to do and gives you peace of mind.