Broken contract with nanny
If there is a written contract between the nanny and the family and the nanny breaks that contract (for example leaving last minute before the contract time expires) what recourses have families taken? What is the best way to deal with that?
Jan 9, 2023
Parent Replies
My advice is to move on and find a more suitable nanny that's a good fit. You are most likely in a different economic position and you want to bring abundance into your home.
I’d first make sure the provisions in your contract are legal to begin with. For example, California is an “at will” state and employees may leave their job at any time as employers may terminate at any time.
I don't know your situation. But if my nanny left suddenly, I would just let it go. Nannying is very difficult and low-paid work and often done by people with shaky immigration status. Did you offer this nanny health insurance? Did you report wages to the IRS? Will your nanny get Social Security for the income they made on the job? Did you sponsor their visa, if they needed that? In other words, did you give the work the hallmarks of secure employment? If not, and honestly even if so - just let it go.
Your recourse would be to not provide a good reference for that nanny in the future.