While Texas weather is like spinning the prize wheel at a carnival, we typically don’t have the type of weather that causes cancellations. However, since most of us are survivors of Snow-mageddon in 2021 and Tree-pocalypse of 2023, planning for potential bad weather has become a necessity.
While bad weather can stop families and nannies from going to work, it doesn’t stop bills from being owed. It is important to discuss with your nanny a policy for days with snow, floods, or power outages. Whatever you and your nanny decide, always get it written down in a contract.
Define “bad weather” with your nanny.
Sometimes small ice storms can wreak havoc on our Texas roads. And sometimes a huge storm early in the morning is gone by the afternoon. When defining what you consider bad weather to your nanny, the roads should be the primary concern. If emergency services are asking people to stay off the main roads, your nanny should not be required to drive to work.
A good rule of thumb is to check with your local school district about cancellations. If your local school has cancelled classes for the day, your nanny may not be able to come to work safely.
Consider your nannies location and your location.
Very rarely do nannies live in the same neighborhood as their nanny families. While your neighborhood may be dry as a bone, your nanny’s neighborhood may have been hit hard by a storm. It should be noted in the nanny’s contract that if the schools in her area are closed, she may not be required to come into work. If you have to have your nanny come in, consider they might have their own children who’s school has been cancelled. Be sure to establish your rules on the nanny bringing their own child to work for these days.
Consider your own job expectations.
Many of us are lucky enough to work from home and are not expected to drive in bad weather. But if you are a person working as a doctor, nurse, police officer, etc you will most likely be required to come into work. Make sure that is expressed to your nanny upon hiring, as well as in writing. If a nanny understands they are expected to come in, no matter what the weather, they can plan accordingly.
Letting the nanny spend the night.
Families know their job expectations better than anyone. If you have very important meetings, or have a job that requires you to come into the office, seeing if the nanny is willing to spend the night can be the perfect solution. It is very important to have good rules and expectations set for when a nanny spends the night. Do you have an appropriate place for them to sleep like a guest bedroom or an office? Will they have access to their own bathroom? Should they bring their own food? Also always consider if the nanny has their own family or pets who need their attention.
Is it guaranteed minimum hours or paid time off?
Guaranteed minimum hours refers to the minimum number of hours a nanny is paid during a given week. These hours should be paid even if the family asks the nanny not to come in to work for any reason, such as the nanny family is going on vacation. Paid time off refers to days the nanny asks to take off. With these parameters in mind, bad weather days should always be included under guaranteed minimum hours. Nannies are not asking for these bad weather days off. They are being forced to have them off due to outside circumstances.
Above all, the safety of everyone should be at the forefront. If you wouldn’t put yourself in any kind of danger, you should never expect your nanny to put themselves in danger.
