Your Nanny and COVID 19: Thoughts from our Park Slope Parents Members

 

As Brooklynites practice hand washing, social distancing, and working from home, many families are wondering: how do I compensate my nanny? A question posted to our Advice List got quite a few responses. It seems that, for those who can afford it, paying your nanny full-time and keeping the channels of communication wide open is the current standard. 

Circumstances making it hard pay your nanny? Consider posting on the PSP Classifieds. Here’s how to post for your nanny, and also how to find a nanny. Due to current and impending school closures, there may be an influx of people looking for childcare; you may have just what they need! Nanny shares are also a great option, so check our PSP Guide to a Successful Nanny Share. If we come together as a community, we can help each other out! 

Hand in Hand also has a great article you should look at: How to be a Fair Employer During the Coronavirus Crisis in New York

THE QUESTION:

“Is anyone else thinking about how to compensate childcare providers who will not be able to work due to the outbreak? Our beloved nanny travels an hour and fifteen minutes on the train to be with us each day, which is seeming like a worse idea with every passing hour. I make the same commute in the opposite direction (go fig) and have just been given leave to work remotely. We offer our nanny paid sick days, aid vacation, and paid holidays, but the impending shutdown of schools, public transit, etc, could go on for quite some time. I know we're not the only people caught on the horns of this dilemma. What are other families thinking and doing regarding compensation?”

THE ANSWERS:

We will be paying our caretaker full pay for as long as this is happening. We had a small discussion on hands washing, no feeding with fingers and such, to even asked for a change of outfit everyday upon entering doors. 

I work fully from home with own brand, and Depending on my husband's work situation, we will most likely first reduce her days or hours, so that she can avoid rush hours with crowds. Will also need to play by ear, if she ends up staying home completely, she will and must be paid full. “

 

“I have a playgroup assistant that works with me and nanny's for one of our students as well.  Both the family and I are planning to pay her indefinitely. If it costs us to tighten our belts we feel it's our duty. I especially feel if we are getting paid, we have no cause to stress someone further right now financially. 

It's likely I might lose money in this but it won't stress me as much as it would her.” 

 

“We will also be paying our nanny in full in the event she needs to reduce hours/can’t come in to work. Our offices aren’t closed, but my husband and I have some flexibility to work from home. Whatever happens with our work, we’ll be paid, and it’s only fair that she is too. No one should have to worry about losing their income because of something like this.” 

“We’ve started to pay for her to come to/from work by uber or other car service. Have also talked about focusing on outdoor activities rather than play dates. Told her we have supplies for her in case she needs at home. Suggested having the kids remove their clothing at our front door from school and change right away. Bringing purell everywhere. And added more frequent disinfecting of our house.“

 

“We are paying full time even though she can’t come bc of the virus. Also paying our house cleaner even though we’re not having her come in either. I feel pretty passionately about this. It’s a crazy time, usual rules of sick days etc aren’t applying at my job and i couldn’t stomach not doing it for her.”

 

“I can imagine that parents who own small businesses or might not get paid to work from home could find it hard to pay a nanny. In that case, reach out on PSP! I’m a physician who has to keep working and my husband might be working from home— an impossibility if our school and daycare close and he has a 4 and 1 yo underfoot. Families like ours might need a temporary nanny until things return to normal and perhaps it could keep another family’s nanny relationship going.”

“I told her there was a very high likelihood that I would send her home next week and that tomorrow I’ll pay her 2 weeks ahead just in case. She already works 8-4, slightly off rush hour, but since I’ve been working from home this week I’ve relieved her an hour early in the hopes of giving her an emptier subway. But once I take over care of the kids, obviously I won’t be “working” from home, so it’s just all going to suck big time.”

“I’m not making her come here if things are all closed down in the city. It’s not good for her and it’s not good for us. Paying all along though. I’m also paying our usual cleaning lady even though I have cancelled. This time will be so hard for individuals working gig to gig.”  

 


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