Do You Pay Your Nanny When You Go on Vacation?

Most families assume that if they are not home, they do not owe their nanny for that week. That is usually incorrect — and it is one of the most common misunderstandings in household employment. Here is what you actually owe under California law and standard practice.

Do I have to pay my nanny if I go on vacation in California?

If you have a written agreement that includes guaranteed hours, you are contractually obligated to pay them — even if you are away.

If you do not have guaranteed hours in writing, the obligation is less clear. California law does not automatically require you to pay for full weeks you cancel in advance. However, most professional arrangements in Los Angeles include guaranteed hours, and not offering them will limit your candidate pool significantly.

What are guaranteed hours for a nanny?

Guaranteed hours are the minimum number of hours per week you commit to paying your nanny, regardless of whether you use them.

A standard full-time agreement might guarantee 40 to 45 hours per week. If you cancel a week because you are traveling, your nanny is still reserving that time for you and relying on that income. The expectation — and typically the agreement — is that those hours are paid.

Simple clause example: “Family guarantees ___ hours per week. If Family cancels scheduled hours, Nanny will be paid as normal.”

Is this a legal requirement or just industry standard?

Primarily contractual. If guaranteed hours are in your agreement, you owe them. Not paying is a breach of contract.

California wage law — such as reporting time pay — generally applies when an employee shows up to work or is sent home early, not when a full week is canceled in advance. That is why the written agreement matters.

Separately, this is standard practice. Families who do not offer guaranteed hours struggle to hire and retain strong candidates.

What if you bring your nanny on vacation with you?

This becomes a working trip. All working hours are paid at the agreed rate, overtime still applies under California law (daily and weekly thresholds), travel time is paid, and all expenses — flights, accommodation, meals — are covered by you. Your nanny should have a private room.

Some families use an overnight rate or flat travel stipend for certain hours, but this must be agreed in advance and still comply with wage laws. See the full travel guide for how to structure this correctly.

What if your nanny takes their own vacation at the same time?

If they are using accrued PTO, that time is paid as normal. If you cancel the week and they independently choose to travel, you still owe guaranteed hours unless your agreement explicitly states otherwise.

What about partial weeks or schedule changes?

If you cancel part of a week, you typically still owe the full guaranteed hours unless your agreement allows for prorating canceled days or banking hours to another week. These arrangements must be clearly defined in writing. Do not assume flexibility without it.

What does “available to work” actually mean?

Your nanny is considered available if they are ready and willing to work their normal schedule and have not made conflicting plans or declined shifts. If they are unavailable by choice, guaranteed hours may not apply — depending on your agreement.

How do most Los Angeles families handle this?

Professional nanny arrangements in Los Angeles almost always include guaranteed hours. Families pay their nanny as normal during vacations. Many also offer separate paid vacation time for the nanny — one or two weeks of PTO — in addition to guaranteed hours.

What if you cannot afford to pay during vacations?

Structure the agreement upfront. Options some families use: lower guaranteed hours (35 instead of 40), or a limited number of unpaid cancellation weeks per year. These terms must be agreed in writing before the role starts. You cannot change them later without mutual agreement.

If cost is a constraint, consider adjusting the role structure or exploring a nanny share.