Nannies in local lockdown areas told they must come to work

Under new local lockdown restrictions to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in parts of Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire where there has been a rise in cases, applicable from last Friday (31 July) people are banned from meeting each other inside their homes or in gardens – and members of two different households mixing in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues.

Nannies, cleaners and repair workers are exempt from the rules, however, while nurseries, childminders and holiday clubs can continue to operate.

BAPN’s managing director Tricia Pritchard told Nursery World that they fear the exemption will put nannies lives at risk with households mixing and the measure simply won’t work if they are allowed to continue to go to work.

She said, ‘We’ve written to ministers, MPs and city mayors bringing this issue to their attention, seeking clarity and asking for guidance specifically for nannies but without success. We’ve called for employers to send their nanny home, but the Government guidance does not support this.

‘At the beginning of lockdown back in March, we were inundated with calls from nannies who were confused by the advice – stay home – don’t mix households – avoid public transport – social distance, but go to work if you can’t work from home. It was chaotic and the guidance for new local lockdowns is no clearer. 

'Only this morning I spoke with a nanny working in Cheshire. She went in to work today, somewhat reluctantly, but her employer insisted she must. When she got there, both mum and dad were working from home which they have been for several weeks, the cleaner was in the house, as was dad’s secretary, and as was the child’s music teacher.

'Our member called us in tears and wanted to know if she refused to go in the house could she lose her job. She’s aware the family’s cleaner has at least one other house she cleans and assumes the music teacher isn’t just working with that particular family either. That’s six adults in that household and all complying with the guidance - it doesn't make sense.’

Ms Pritchard went on to say that a lot of nannies who worked through lockdown had felt ‘exploited by their employers’ and ‘as if their lives don’t matter’.

She told Nursery World that some nannies who refused to go to work have lost their jobs, several had been threatened with dismissal and some had been required to move in with a family despite being a live out nanny before lockdown.

In some cases, nannies have had to go into households where one of both parents have been self-isolating, while some nannies reported that they felt they needed to self-isolate, as they were either experiencing symptoms or were aware they’d been exposed to the virus, but their employers would not allow them to.