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What Happens If Your Nanny Gets Sick? Employer Obligations Explained
When your nanny wakes up unwell and can’t make it to work, it’s stressful for everyone involved. But just like any other employee, your nanny is entitled to certain rights and protections when they’re sick.
Here’s a clear breakdown of what Australian families need to know about sick leave, pay obligations, and practical steps to manage things smoothly - plus how Kiddo can step in to help with last-minute childcare.
1. Understanding Sick Leave for Nannies
If your nanny is employed on a permanent part-time or full-time basis, they’re entitled to paid personal (sick) leave under the National Employment Standards (NES).
- Full-time employees accrue 10 days of paid personal leave per year.
- Part-time employees accrue this leave on a pro-rata basis depending on their regular hours.
If your nanny is casual, they do not receive paid sick leave, but they can take unpaid personal leave if they’re unwell or caring for a family member.
You can ask your nanny to provide a medical certificate or other evidence if they’re away for two or more consecutive days (or if there’s reasonable cause to request it sooner).
2. Do You Still Have to Pay Your Nanny When They’re Sick?
If your nanny has accrued personal leave, then yes - those hours or days should be paid as normal. The payment should match their ordinary hours of work (excluding overtime or allowances).
If they’ve used up their sick leave balance or are a casual nanny, you aren’t required to pay them during their absence.
If you use Pay The Nanny, this is all automatically handled in the payroll - leave balances, accruals, and deductions are tracked and applied correctly, so you’ll always remain compliant.
3. What if Your Nanny Is Away for an Extended Period?
If your nanny is away for a longer period, such as with a serious illness or injury, you may be required to provide unpaid personal leave or consider temporary adjustments to the role.
As an employer, maintaining open communication is key - agree on how long they expect to be away and whether you’ll need short-term cover in the meantime.
If your nanny is likely to be away for more than a few weeks, families sometimes hire a temporary nanny or babysitter for continuity.
4. Need Backup Childcare? Kiddo Can Help
If you find yourself suddenly without childcare because your nanny is sick, Kiddo is a fantastic resource for families.
Through Pay The Nanny’s partnership with Kiddo, families can quickly book verified, experienced carers for short-term or last-minute needs - often within hours.
Kiddo connects you with:
- Verified babysitters and nannies available for immediate bookings
- Backup childcare during your nanny’s sick leave
- Easy, secure payments through the app
- Flexible options for one-off or ongoing arrangements
We calculate, file and pay. You don't.
Pay The Nanny runs your payroll, files with the ATO and pays your nanny on time, so you never have to.
Enquire NowIt’s a stress-free way to manage unexpected gaps without disrupting your week or compromising care for your kids.
You can learn more about how Pay The Nanny and Kiddo work together here.
5. Communication and Compassion Matter
Even when things get tricky, it’s important to handle your nanny’s absence with empathy. Illness is part of life, and showing understanding builds trust and loyalty in your working relationship.
That said, it’s also fair to communicate your family’s needs and work together to plan for contingencies. Having a clear employment agreement and a backup plan (like Kiddo) helps avoid stress when these moments arise.
6. How Pay The Nanny Can Help
At Pay The Nanny, we take care of the payroll, leave management, and compliance so you don’t have to worry about whether your nanny’s sick leave has been processed correctly.
We help families across Australia stay on top of:
- Leave entitlements and tracking
- Payroll and payslips
- Tax and superannuation compliance
- Worker’s compensation and insurance
So when your nanny is unwell, you can focus on your family - not on the paperwork.
Make Sure you Have a Plan:
Having a reliable nanny is invaluable, but life happens.
With Pay The Nanny managing the payroll and Kiddo ready to step in when needed, your family’s childcare can keep running smoothly no matter what the week brings.
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