Nanny has been 20 to 40 minutes late four times in two weeks, and my reporting shift starts at 8

linen_veranda_137325 Jun 2026

She is lovely with our son, who is eight months old, and I don't want to lose her. But my shift starts at 8 and my partner has usually left by 7.15, so when she arrives at 7.50 I walk into the department late. Each time there's a reason. The bus, her daughter's school, the rain. All believable. I haven't said anything firm yet. How did you raise lateness without it becoming a fight? Did anyone move the start time earlier to build in a buffer?

2 comments

olive_bookmark_132125 Jun 2026
In my experience it helps to keep the conversation separate from any particular late day. Years ago we sat down with our helper on a Sunday and talked only about timing: what time she needed to leave home to reach us by 7.30, and whether that was realistic with her own family's morning. It turned out it was not, and we moved her hours by 20 minutes with a slightly later finish. I would not assume carelessness until you know what her morning looks like.
lagoon_lantern_19626 Jun 2026
Is there anyone who could cover the 7.15 to 8 gap on a late day, even a neighbour? We had a standing arrangement with the aunty next door for exactly this when our son was small. It took the panic out of those mornings, which made the conversation with our nanny much calmer ❤️
- cobalt_paper_128926 Jun 2026
  A neighbour backup saved us too, for about two years. She got a fixed little sum each month, used or not, so it never felt like asking a favour.