Navigating Holiday Time Off: A Nanny’s Guide
As a nanny, you know that you are an indispensable part of your family’s daily life. However, just like everyone else, nannies too look forward to enjoying holidays with their loved ones.
In a profession so closely intertwined with the daily lives of families, requesting time off during the holidays can feel tricky. For that reason, we’ve put together this guide for nannies on how to professionally approach asking for time off this holiday season.
Clear Communication is Key
Clear and open communication is the cornerstone of maintaining a positive working relationship. We say this about everything from navigating conflicts to when it’s time to leave.
When it comes to requesting time off for the holidays, here’s how to approach it:
Choose the right time: Timing is everything, and this is more true than ever during the holidays. Aim to have this conversation well in advance of the holiday season, allowing families ample time to make alternative arrangements.
Be clear on dates and needs: Specify the start and end dates of your requested time off, to avoid any confusion later on. You may feel overly assertive in being specific, but it’s actually more helpful than saying you want to be away “for a few days around the holidays”.
Refer to your contract: If you have paid time off (PTO) or paid holiday days in your contract, now is the time to refer back to it. What is the agreement for number of consecutive PTO days? What is the expectation? A contract can be a saving grace to avoid any conflicts, as everything has been discussed beforehand, so if you don’t have a nanny job contract, now is the time to fix that!
Transparency creates trust, laying a strong foundation for a lasting professional relationship.
Pre-planning Makes Perfect
The earlier you broach the topic, the smoother the process will likely be. Ideally, bring up your holiday time off request at least two months in advance. This shows consideration for the family’s time and planning, and makes it easier (and cheaper!) for both sides to book tickets or make other relevant arrangements.
If you can, suggest alternative childcare solutions or offer to help find a temporary replacement during your absence. This can be a super helpful way to show the family you are invested in their well-being and take your job seriously. Maybe you have a friend who is amazing with kids and who’ll be around while you're away?
Give and Take
Sometimes, it might be necessary to negotiate your time off and to compromise with the family. Maybe you wanted to leave early while the kids are still in school, which creates a big problem for the family. Or maybe they’d love for you to babysit on New Year’s Eve even though it’s not part of your regular schedule, and they’d be willing to compensate you for this time.
Being flexible and willing to negotiate in a way that takes both their needs and yours into account sets your working relationship up for success in ways that will linger well into the future. If you’re willing to work on a holiday day, ask for a higher hourly rate that day, or see if they’d be willing to give you an extra PTO day for it. Try, if you can, to plan your holiday travels to line up with theirs.
Again, the sooner you have this conversation, the easier it is for each party to get what they wanted. That includes you!
Unplug and Recharge
The holidays are a time to relax and rejuvenate. Paid time off is meant to be time off. That means it is essential for nannies to:
Truly unplug: Make it a point to not engage in work-related activities during your time off. Don’t be on call, take on other babysitting gigs, or do prep work. It’s unlike us to tell you not to go above and beyond, but truly unplugging is the best way to make sure you’ll be a stellar nanny when you go back to work.
Recharge fully: Enjoy your break to the fullest! Whether it’s spent with family or friends or your favorite snuggly set-up on the couch, enjoying your time off means recharging your batteries. This ensures you come back re-energized and ready to continue providing A+ care to your charges.
We’re here to support you
If you are a nanny within the Smart Sitting network, you know that we put our nannies and sitters front and center. We are always looking out for you and trying to figure out new ways to support you in your childcare career.
Are you having a hard time figuring out how to navigate asking for time off this holiday season? Reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it. Or why not bring up your question at one of our virtual support groups with our community coordinator, Luke?
And, of course, if you are not yet a SmartSitter, but are a dedicated, experienced childcare provider looking for new work, we want to hear from you! We accept a limited number of caregivers, so that we can give each member individualized attention on the way to their dream nanny job. If you think you have what it takes, apply via the link below!