Before you approach your nanny about being a travel nanny or inviting her to join you on your next trip, here are some things you should consider. A nanny to care for your children is a luxury. Taking your nanny with you on vacation is an extravagant expense. It’s worth the cost if you have another pair of hands, a chance to go on an adventure with your partner or to be alone for a bit. These are some things to consider when deciding whether to hire a babysitter.
Tips for Traveling with Your Nanny
It’s your vacation and not theirs.
Remember that your nanny is on the job, so this is not a vacation for them. You have chosen the destination. It is a place you wish to visit with your children.
Your boss may send you on a business trip, but taking a vacation with your nanny will be similar. You may be sent somewhere sunny and warm, or you might get to relax on the beach or take in some sightseeing. You’re still on a business trip. Some nannies even claim that working on a family vacation is more exhausting than caring at home.
Communication
It would help if you communicated well with your nanny to have a strong working relationship within your home. This is also true for vacation arrangements. Your nanny should understand your expectations, including their responsibilities and schedule. If you do this, you won’t be disappointed if your holiday doesn’t go according to plan. Approve payment, lodging and the itinerary. It is best to do this in writing.
Hours worked = hours earned.
While travelling to exotic or interesting places may be fun, it does not replace their wages. Your nanny must pay her bills when she returns home and buy food.
Remember when you pay your nanny for any hours she works. Over 40 hours of work is considered overtime. The hourly rate is 1.5x. Your nanny should not be paid a flat rate for holidays. They are still hourly workers, whether working in your house or looking after your children at the beach. You are subject to the same labour regulations and wage requirements while you’re away as your nanny.
You might bring a small notepad or use a smartphone to keep track of your nanny’s hours. It would help if you verified these hours regularly with your nanny to avoid any unpleasant surprises at the paid time.
Travel time is paid time.
Your employee has the right to be compensated for time spent travelling to and from your destination. Your holiday travel time is different from your commute and must be compensated. For some families, travelling far from their home is the hardest thing. You might need your nanny’s help during these hours. You shouldn’t expect to pay for the company’s travel time if you are an hourly worker.
All travel expenses are covered.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, taking your nanny on vacation can be expensive. Their airfare, meals and accommodation, as well as any other travel-related expenses, will be covered by you. If you were on a business trip, your company would pay for transportation, food and accommodation. It would help if you also reimbursed your nanny for the meals they prepare. Your nanny wouldn’t have to reimburse you for these expenses if they weren’t requested.
You will be required to pay the admission fees if you ask your nanny to accompany you to a museum, amusement park or other attraction. You shouldn’t expect your babysitter to work on an excursion if it is voluntary. They are not required to pay entrance fees or any other costs. You can ask them to come with you, or they may prefer to do something different.
You can share a room with your kids.
While sharing a room with your children may help you save money, it might not be the best option. The nanny has to take time off, and sharing a room with children she’s had to care for all day will not allow her to relax. Your children must go to bed at the same time as your nanny, and it might take hours for your nanny to get to sleep. Your request to have your children join you on vacation might be denied if they don’t have their bedroom.
Do you expect your nanny will help your children if they get up at night? Your nanny must sleep at least five hours consecutively and have a minimum of eight hours of rest each night. Otherwise, the whole night will be considered paid hours. It may be more practical for your nanny to have their room.
Your nanny should have downtime.
Your nanny can take a break from their duties when you’re home and go to bed. Your nanny will need to be able to relax as much when they are on vacation. They might have evenings off or be able to take some time off to do whatever they wish. You and your nanny should agree on when they are not working. Communication must be clear to avoid confusion about when they should work and when they can be relieved.
Unpaid time is any time they aren’t responsible for your children.
Travel is not PTO
Paid time off (PTO), also known as nanny time off (NTO). Your nanny cannot use PTO to work for you when you are on vacation. Your nanny cannot use PTO if you’re on a business trip.
Give them a day off.
It is possible to use it, particularly if you are returning on Sundays and have to return to work the following morning. This could result in overtime pay for a nanny who works on Sundays when they have the day off.
If they answer no,
Your nanny might not expect your family vacation will be as fun as it is for you. You might decline to give them the opportunity. They might decline the opportunity because it isn’t exciting or difficult for them to visit. They should still receive their weekly wage or guaranteed hours if they don’t want to go.
