Hellobee Boards

For right now you're fully employed by them though right? It's the limbo of not knowing when your job will end and if the end is temporary or permanent? Assuming you're fully employed until they come home, I think it's totally fair to ask that they pay you half pay until they have reached a decision. I would honestly go into the conversation saying something to the effect of "I am trying to figure out the best option for all of us given the current situation, one of my biggest concerns is my finances once X comes home and I'm no longer needed. I would really love to stay until then but it will put me in a tricky place to not have a pay check coming in while I look for work since planning ahead isn't easy given the circumstances." There's a chance they will come back and offer a better deal than what you were going to put on the table but if they don't at least you can still suggest it (I was a nanny for a long time and had a semi similar situation, they didn't want me to leave despite a 10 week gap in needing me and then needing reduced hours but suggested I do some personal assistant work for them and a friend and paid my full salary so you never know.)

Do you have a contract? If so, enact the termination clause of that. If not, I think your 45 day notice is fair. They can't just string you along without pay. You have everright to find a new job, as you have to male a living. Good luck!

@LBee: I guess I didn't see it as a request so much as an offer? Just saying that she loves the family and knows their future plans are up in the air so if they're interested, she could make this arrangement for them to ensure that she's still available once they've decided.

@travelingnanny: During this time would you be trying to find another short term gig? Maybe you could offer as part of the package to do a certain number of hours a week so the parents could have a date or run errands?