So about two days ago I got a text telling me that the child i nanny for is very sick with a high fever, and they had to go to the doctor- but to still except to come in at a normal time. they ended up going to the ER with him, and not actually getting a firm diagnosis, and STILL asked me to come in to clean that same day. i said no. that night, they admitted that he still had a fever but was doing a little better and tried to guilt trip me into coming in by saying that they won’t have anyone to cover for them if i don’t come in. i set a very clear boundary, saying i have a weak immune system and cannot afford to get sick. they said they understood, yet still texted me the next morning saying the fever was gone (after they used meds to get it down) i explained i wanted him to have no fever for 24 hrs before i came back. it hadn’t even been 24 hrs when they texted me again saying he was back to normal, and they think he might have had roseola. this was just a guess. and then they said “we should be good for you to come in tomorrow” without even asking me. so i did end up coming in. this kid had a rash all over his body, slept for 3 hours on top of me as he woke up in a crying fit. he was really warm and i looked for the thermometer everywhere but couldn’t find it. it usually sits out on the counter, so now im even wondering if they hid it. he barely ate, and was falling asleep and generally not doing great the whole day. i am so fed up and angry because now i have a sharp pain in my throat along with some other symptoms and i feel like im catching his sickness. i am so upset that they would disrespect me like this and not be honest. is this a valid thing to be really angry about? it’s just the cherry on top for some other frustrating things that have been occurring with this job. i’m not sure if i should address this, if i should call out tomorrow, or what i should do to be honest .
as a nanny, i was lied to about child’s health and now im sick
r/Advice
Comments
I’d be furious and consider quitting.
I’m immunocompromised, so I can relate to this so much.
Your health is more important than this job, so I would call in and tell them that you caught whatever their child has and simply can’t work until you’re better.
Hopefully, you’ll feel better soon, so you won’t miss too many days, but you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of kids.
Yes, you are 100% valid in being angry. They knowingly put your health at risk after you clearly communicated your boundaries—not once, but multiple times. That’s not just disrespectful, it’s irresponsible.
At minimum, you should absolutely take tomorrow off to rest and protect yourself. And when you’re ready, it’s worth having a direct conversation to address the pattern—being a nanny doesn’t mean sacrificing your well-being or being pressured into unsafe situations.
If this kind of disregard keeps happening, it might be time to reevaluate the job. You deserve respect, honesty, and a safe work environment
You’re right to be angry. They disrespected your boundaries and put your health at risk. Take care of yourself first