Understanding Annual Leave for Nannies: What Families Need to Know

If you haven’t employed a nanny before, it can all be a bit of a minefield…

One of the most common questions I get asked by families is, “How does annual leave work for nannies?” Unlike many other employees who have full control over when they take their holidays, nannies typically have less flexibility. In most cases, nannies only get to choose half of their annual leave, while the family selects the other half, typically to use for their own holidays.

How Much Annual Leave Do Nannies Get?

By law, nannies in the UK are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid holiday per year, including bank holidays. However, if a nanny works part-time, their holiday entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis. Some families offer more than the legal minimum as part of a benefits package to attract and retain the best nannies.

Who Chooses the Holiday Dates?

This is where things differ from a typical office job. It’s standard practice in the nanny industry for annual leave to be split as follows:

• Half of the holiday (14 days for a full-time nanny) is chosen by the family, usually aligning with their own holidays when they don’t need childcare.

• The other half is chosen by the nanny, allowing them to take time off when it suits them.

This split means nannies often have less flexibility than employees in other industries, which can feel a bit unfair at times.  But hey, every job has its quicks, right?

What Happens If a Family Takes Extra Holiday?

Here’s something that sometimes surprises families: If the family decide to take extra time off, whether it’s for an extended holiday, work shutdown, or just a last-minute break, you still have to pay your nanny their normal salary for that time.

Think of it this way: Imagine your boss calls you up and says, “Great news! We’re closing the office for a couple of weeks. The bad news? You won’t be getting paid.” You’d be pretty unimpressed, right? Well, it’s the same for your nanny!

Since nannies are employed on a continuous contract, they are entitled to be paid even when the family chooses not to use their services. After all, this is their profession, the way they pay their mortgage and put food on the table! So, no matter how much extra holiday the family takes, nannies must still receive their full pay

A Growing Trend: Bonus Days at Christmas

A positive change I’m seeing more of lately is families offering their nannies the three days between Christmas and New Year as additional “bonus” holiday days. This means nannies can fully enjoy the festive break without having to dip into their annual leave allowance.

This small gesture makes a big difference, showing appreciation for the hard work nannies do all year round. It also encourages loyalty and goodwill, which benefits both the family and the nanny.

Tips for Families and Nannies

• Be clear about annual leave from the start. Discuss and agree on how holiday will be allocated when drawing up the contract.

• Plan ahead. Both the families and nannies should give plenty of notice when booking their chosen holiday weeks.

• Consider offering additional perks. Offer more than the legal minimum of annual leave, extra paid days off at Christmas or even the nanny’s birthday off can be great ways to show appreciation.

At Your Nanny Friend, I always advise families to think about how they can make their nanny feel valued. A happy, well-rested nanny is one who will provide the best care for your children!

Need help navigating nanny contracts and benefits?

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