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 annual leave and public 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 your legal obligations concerning paid time off. 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 Australia, an employee can take paid sick leave when they are unable to work due to illness, and they can take paid carer’s leave if they need to care for an immediate member of their family or household. All part-time and full-time employees are entitled to this, as per the National Employment Standards. How much paid sick or carer’s leave your nanny is entitled to in a year is based on their ordinary hours of work. This usually equates to 10 days for full-time employees and pro-rate for part-time employees, and this leave is accumulated from the time you start working.
Providing paid public holidays
When it comes to public holidays in Australia, all employees are entitled to take the day off. Full-time and part-time workers who decide not to work on a public holiday are entitled to their minimum pay rate for the ordinary hours they would usually be working on the day in question.
Setting a paid annual leave policy
Everyone needs some time off to recharge. And nannies definitely need some rest and relaxation after caring for your children. Four weeks of paid annual leave is the standard entitlement for employees in Australia. Some companies, however, like to add extra incentive by offering additional paid leave or giving their employees the freedom to take their leave when and as they please. Many families try to coordinate their nanny’s annual leave 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 the Gold Coast and then takes the remainder when they please. As long as you’re meeting the legal requirements, the rest is up to you to decide together with your nanny.
Which brings us to the next point: set rules for using these leave days. 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 to full-time and part-time employees is not only a legal requirement in Australia, 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.
