Nanny pregnant, what to do about maternity leave etc?

[anna_r]

Our lovely nanny who has been with us for 1.5 years has just told me she is pregnant. I'm obviously really happy for her but very nervous about the childcare implications. Does anyone have any experience of this or advice? I'm going to speak to simply childcare later and also our nanny payroll company to get advice on those aspects. She is hoping that we keep her job open for 6 months (with a maternity cover nanny) while she decides what she wants to do re hours, days etc after that and she will want to bring her baby to work with her. My gut feel is that there is the potential for lots of change for our two daughters which will be difficult. Does anyone know the legal situation? Thanks x

[Fuschia]

You will be responsible for paying statutory maternity pay if she is entitled, most of it you can reclaim

Does her contract specify anything?

With regard to return to work she can request flexible working I think (unless s small employer is exempt)but you dont have to agree

You need to decide I suppose if you are ok with her bringing her child ... Alternative being a whole new nanny which would also be disruptive

[Mook]

Hiya, I was once a pregnant nanny.

Legally you have to keep her job open for her, but under the same terms and conditions that it was before she got pregnant - ie without her bringing her child to work with her.

She can request flexible working, but I believe that is down to the discretion of the employer, but you do have to provide a good enough reason to refuse it.

As an employer you are supposed to do a risk assessment - talk to your nanny about how she is feeling and what you can do to make her working life easier. You have to allow her time off for appointments - I managed to arrange my scans (and I had a few) for a Friday which was my day off but my midwife appointments were on Tuesdays so I sometimes used to take the little boy that I was looking after with me - that was something that I choose to do but I was in NO way under obligation to do it. Just keep the lines of communication open.

[anna_r]

Thanks both for your advice :)