Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Looking for opinions...

I work part-time and have a sitter come 2 days a week. When I interview sitters I ask if they're ok working with sick kids, everyone has said yes.

Last week, DD (3.5yrs) had a runny nose, she was over it within 24 hours. Then DS (1yr) got it and it's lasted about a week, again just a runny nose with a little congestion. DH got this illness and it hit him HARD, he had a fever, chills, stuffed up all weekend. Turned out the sitter had it as bad as DH over the weekend. She didn't say anything, I asked her and she answered and when I told her DH's symptoms she said "me too!" I know she's a waitress on weekends so I asked if she was able to work and she said "no I had to call out" but shrugged it off politely.

I feel horrible. Obviously, a job hazard of working with germy little kids is that you're going to get sick. But this one cost her money! I apologized left and right and she was really nice about it.

Would you do anything else? Give her money? I don't want to set a precedent that I don't intend on keeping up with (I'm not going to pay her every time she gets sick from my kids) but I'm also feeling awful!

Message edited 5/19/2014 10:22:21 AM.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I wouldn't give her anything - that is an unfortunate hazard when working with kids.

Message edited 5/19/2014 10:22:58 AM.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I think that's the price you pay with the business. When I worked at a daycare in college I was sick the first year on and off. Wasn't easy too having to skip classes when I was really sick.
Maybe send her a little "get well" cookies or plant. She could get sick anywhere. Even waitressing. She sounds nice and as long as you treat her well, good bonuses, easy with vacation days, sick, nice gifts for holidays then I'm sure she's fine about it.

Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Its part of life. Just like if a teacher caught a cold from a student.

I catch stuff from my co-workers all the time. Sucks but just how it goes.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

It's an occupational hazzard.
I don't work with kids and I still get sick.
You can't blame it on the person who got you sick, they didn't do it on purpose.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I wouldn't worry. If your kids just had runny noses it was probably something different anyway as was whatever your DH had. There are a million viruses going around. Our babysitter got what me, DH and one of our girls had. She was sick on her day off, but she wasn't around DD when she was sick. (I was sick to so I gave her off). There have been times my kids have caught her cold too.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I think it's ridiculous to feel like your kids got her sick. To me it sounds like your DH likely had a totally different "bug" than what your kids had. Regardless, you can get sick from anyone. It's not like you had her caring for your children while they had fevers with vomiting and diarrhea. They had runny noses. If I didn't let anyone care for my kids when they had runny noses, I don't think I'd ever be able to go to work. I don't think you should feel "responsible" for getting her sick, it comes with the territory if you leave your house IMO.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Thanks ladies, I'm pleasantly surprised, I would have guessed the LIF militia would say to throw money at her

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Sick is sick. Not your fault or responsibility to compensate for her other job.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

definitely not! You can't even be sure that she didnt give it to you guys- you can never tell with illnesses

Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I'd say it comes with the territory. Shes choosing one job agreeing to be around sick, germy kids and choosing another job where she knows if shes out she doesn't paid. It sucks but that's life. I wouldn't be offering her any extra pay.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Posted by melbalalala

Thanks ladies, I'm pleasantly surprised, I would have guessed the LIF militia would say to throw money at her

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Not your fault at all! She could have gotten sick from anywhere. Even if it was from your LO, you are not obligated to do anything.

Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

When I used to babysit, the family would occasionally give me extra 20 or 30. and say, here's alittle extra for your hard work etc.
If you want to do soemthing, don't mention the sickness thing

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

theres no way of knowing if your kids were the ones who got her sick. she could have easily caught it anywhere!!

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I understand that you feel badly, but it is not your fault she was sick.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

If she chose to work with kids and waitress, this is the way it may go. Don't do anything.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

Posted by melbalalala

Thanks ladies, I'm pleasantly surprised, I would have guessed the LIF militia would say to throw money at her

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

No money definately. But maybe buy a nice lunch or something or soup for her when she sits next time is a nice gesture!

Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I think lunch or dinner is a nice idea. Plant is a little weird. It's too "get well" imo and she just had a two day cold.

Re: Kids got the nanny sick...feeling guilty..wwyd?

I don't see the big deal at all -
She's your nanny, you have small children .........
ANYONE can get sick at any time.
I commute on the LIRR and work in an office w/ hundreds of people ......I can get sick just as easily as someone babysitting ...

it stinks that she was THAT sick - but it's not like your kids were puking their guts up and you didn't TELL her ......KWIM? They had a minor cold -