Giving a Nanny Thanksgiving Day Off??

I hired my nanny through Agency. The general agreement (agency told me) that they have six days major holidays. So, the day after thanksgiving is not a holiday. And, also the day after x'mas or before x'mas as well. Hope it helped.

You don’t mention what your nanny preferred; weather or not she would like to have this day off. It strikes me that being a nanny is very intimate job. The nanny as well as you must straddle a fine line between employer/employee and something much more meaningful to your family/almost being a family member. Regardless of your feelings towards her, if she is a good nanny, then your children love her. After all, she is responsible for their physical and emotional well being a lot of the time. Having been a stay at home mom I don’t know what is the “norm” concerning nannies and days off. But I do know that feeling relaxed and rejuvenated gave me the energy I needed to be a better mother. Being able to chat with your nanny about the kinds of things she needs in this area could be very good for your children.

Hello, I don't have a nanny, but if it were me I would do a paid day off on Thanksgiving day and allow her to take additional days off using her vacation time you've allowed. I think that is more than fair; and I think what you've granted as far as paid sick/vacation days is super fair!! Happy Holidays :)

Hey Y., It's past the week, but I think there is always something to do for your child. Organize her clothes; sort out the "too small" stuff, toys can be organized and the room can be set up for the holidays.
Go through what your daughter's calendar and the family obligations, talk about what the expectations are for the busy season. Maybe it's easier when you have a small child, but it can be so busy it gets complicated.
I sometimes need help on those Fridays for these tasks.
The toys can always be cleaned in the winter. I think it's nice for relatives to know your childcare giver if they are in town. If you're paying her, then figure out some things for her to do if you are with your daughter part of the day. Kids hate riding around doing errands
when they can be at the park and this could have been a great day to do the massive amount of errands we all have to do. I'm sure you figured it out. Happy Holidays I can see most would give the day off with pay. I don't see Thanksgiving as that big of a deal, but if she is going out of town she would use the vacation days, right? If you were out of town, would you still pay her for Friday? or the week? I would but I'm sure you would talk about this and expect that she would try to co ordinate her vacations with yours if possible. Not everyone has the days off they want in life, I don't!!

I believe it includes the day after also. My husband works for a union and they get only the major holidays off and that includes Thanksgiving and the day after. It also depends on if you have a job that has you come to work on Friday after Thanksgiving then that needs to be discussed with your nanny so that they are aware. I have a couple of friends who are nannies, they had both days off. Don't know if this helps.
~~D.

I think it would be a nice gesture to allow paid Friday after TG off as most companies do.

Y., you understand these reponses are our own opinions, and that you must make the decision yourself. Please consider these things, Thanksgiving and Christmas are both holidays we like to spend with family, some we have not seen in a while, or we go see family on the extended weekend. Is it worth creating an environment where the nanny may be bitter over such a choice or have such a relationship with you nanny for her to be content with your decisions. I understand this is an employer/employee relationship for some, but ask yourself is that what you want for your child, is the nanny an employee/job for your child? Or is there a tighter bond.
Unless you had a specific need for her that day I would give her the extra day, she should show you extreme gratitude in the future and understand that you are very family oriented person. We have a live in Nanny, but we give her any time off when we are home.
Hope that helps, remember just an opinion.

If you forgot to specify, you should always lean toward the generous side.

As an auditor in my former life, I worked with many different companies and it is not standard practice to give the day after Thanksgiving off - it can be (and often is) taken as a paid vacation day. So IMO it would be very generous of you to include the day after Tday as a paid holiday.

I don't, as a matter of course give her Friday off. Last year she came to work. This year, I had so many family around that I gave her the day off. If you want her tell her you need her and ask if she could come. She might have her own children to care for --since kids are off-- which would make working difficult for her.

I have been in the childcare industry for many years. IMO I would give both days off, since most employees do the same. A basic rule of thumb, the more generous the employer, the more loyal the employee. A nanny is a very important part of the family. On the plus side, she gets a mental charge and has that much more to give your children!

If I had a nanny I would give the day after THanksgiving as paid time off. Most employers do this for their full time employees. And I am guessing that you and your husband would be home so a nanny wouldn't be needed that day??????

You can relieve her of her duties the day before a little early say at 2 or straight after you get off of work or what ever the case may be but All major holidays off does not mean the day before.......Do the same with Christmas eve, if you whole family is home and you don't really need her on Christmas eave then let her go at 1200 to do whatever or give her the day off. Thanksgiving and Christmas seem to be the only touchy holiday's I'd think because most people want to be with their families and friends.

It seems you posted this question after Thanksgiving. I'm wondering what you ended up doing & if there was a problem. I was a professional nanny for 8 years, placed through agencies & worked on both coasts. I was always given both Thursday & Friday off for Thanksgiving in addition to my vacation & sick days. My advice is to take a look at the entire year & write down the "paid major holidays off" so that it is clear for both of you & make sure you're both okay with the selected days. This will make it easier for her to make plans for the holidays.

Also, I would not combine paid sick/vacation days (if that's the case). I think everyone should be allowed 2 weeks paid vacation regardless of whether or not they have been sick. If she abuses the sick days, that's another issue. Overall, I say treat her well, be generous & she will be appreciative & go the extra mile for you & your kids. I only intended to stay at my last nanny position for 1 year but the family treated me so well that I ended up staying for 3 years. I would do anything I could for their family. I can't say that for everyone I worked for.

By the way, I think it's fantastic that you are on here looking for advice & trying to keep in check with the nanny world.