Is raise expected after a year? (PT nanny)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you tell your nanny you "can't afford" to give her a raise, make sure she doesn't see you able to "afford" everything else.

Unfortunately, very little can be hidden from your nanny.

That's why you should never use this excuse. What you can afford is completely subjective and depends on your priorities.

If you are not offering a raise, explain that the salary is still competitive for your market/area and for the duties performed.

Honestly though, we are all disappointed when not getting a raise, and with such an intimate work environment, it can be difficult to deal with. You can't do something small like $0.25-$0.50/hr?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you tell your nanny you "can't afford" to give her a raise, make sure she doesn't see you able to "afford" everything else.

Unfortunately, very little can be hidden from your nanny.

That's why you should never use this excuse. What you can afford is completely subjective and depends on your priorities.

If you are not offering a raise, explain that the salary is still competitive for your market/area and for the duties performed.

Honestly though, we are all disappointed when not getting a raise, and with such an intimate work environment, it can be difficult to deal with. You can't do something small like $0.25-$0.50/hr?

Nannies tend to be much better informed than parents as to "competitive" rates. Logic has it that most parents are relatively new to the nanny world, compared to experienced nannies who've been in the field for many more years.

If you're not offering a respectable annual raise, make sure you have first trimmed your other luxury expenses. Otherwise you may be nanny searching again.

[Anonymous]

What a stupid conversation PP's are having. I asked a simple question and you've managed to make some big assumptions that don't even apply

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a stupid conversation PP's are having. I asked a simple question and you've managed to make some big assumptions that don't even apply

People discuss whatever they want. Welcome to DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a stupid conversation PP's are having. I asked a simple question and you've managed to make some big assumptions that don't even apply

To answer your question, OP, no I don't think a raise is "expected" for a PT nanny. It would certainly be appreciated, but I also wouldn't assume she will jump ship if she doesn't get one. If you feel she has earned one, go ahead and offer one. If not, and its a deal breaker for her, she will likely come to you about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a stupid conversation PP's are having. I asked a simple question and you've managed to make some big assumptions that don't even apply

To answer your question, OP, no I don't think a raise is "expected" for a PT nanny. It would certainly be appreciated, but I also wouldn't assume she will jump ship if she doesn't get one. If you feel she has earned one, go ahead and offer one. If not, and its a deal breaker for her, she will likely come to you about it.

...or she'll quietly accept a better paying job offer, and nicely say goodbye to you.

[Anonymous]

Nannies tend to be much better informed than parents as to "competitive" rates. Logic has it that most parents are relatively new to the nanny world, compared to experienced nannies who've been in the field for many more years.

If you're not offering a respectable annual raise, make sure you have first trimmed your other luxury expenses. Otherwise you may be nanny searching again.

That is a funny post. It doesn't matter how an MB spends her money. It's none of the nanny's business. Nanny should get a raise if she earned it and can show above and beyond service.

Also, never trust the DCUM nannies for competitive rate quotes, although it may be worth a new family's time to ask real life nannies in their area about wages. Otherwise, there are plenty of resources on the web that can help inform a family about average market rates.

[Anonymous]

I don't think raises are as common for PT nannies in part because staying for a year+ is less common for part timers. If your nanny has worked hard and earned it and you'd like to keep her around, a raise can be a good way to earn loyalty. Other benefits would likely be welcomed as well, a bonus, health care stipend, or additional time off would all be great gestures.

[Anonymous]

I've been working with one family for just over 1.5 years now, and living with them for just over a year. The MB didn't really understand what is common to throw in when doing a work exchange (basic foods, slightly cheaper rent total) and things that were expected by what she had said when I was already working (kids going to bed at 8:30pm etc) have not been true at all. I love the family, and she is laid back in some ways that I really like, but kids going to bed at 10:30pm on a school night or midnight or later on weekends is not something I agreed to with the extra noise upstairs over my head.

I also was told of extra guests staying quite often which is fine with me, but not someone who is suddenly staying here rent free for like 2+ months (who doesn't help out with day to day stuff like taking the garbage out or doing her own dishes, and eats MY food) and I wasn't even talked to about it beforehand (I DO pay rent with my work).

My job duties have changed a lot, I have gained more experience in the past 1.5 yrs and I don't work anymore at the pay rate I do with her for anyone else. I had hoped that she would bring it up once I started doing more and taking care of more kids (both hers and sometimes a friend of theirs) but she hasn't. She also doesn't give any kind of bonus or gifts for standard things like Christmas and birthday, when all other live-in positions I have had did. I mean, I got a collapsable water bottle for Christmas ($7) when I spent more than that on her kids and lots of time working on a project and collecting items for her child. Not that it is all about the gifts, but my other VERY PT positions gave way more than her. She bought a $100 rock polisher for her son that never gets used, so she wasn't lacking in money either. No gift card for $25 even. For my birthday the kids relative gave me that, but she didn't even give me a card. I could earn much more working the same hours with another family than I could staying with her.

Sad part is that her giving me a raise wouldn't even cost her anything since it is just hours that I am working and sometimes we are having to find ways for me to fill the last couple of hours each week. She could easily give me that raise and just decrease my hours by 2-3 a week and it wouldn't affect her in any way.

I am now looking into other options, and will give her until the new year to change things (I will bring up a raise myself by then). If after 2 years and all this, she won't change, she won't have me anymore. Sad because her one kid really needs someone stable being here, not someone new every year, and he won't find that with the people she would get to replace me at the current rate she is paying.

I have tried to be patient and not be entitled with everything, but at a certain point you just have to look at those that show their appreciation in any kind of way and those that don't, you move on from. I had an MB previously that would come home almost everyday and tell me how lovely the house looked etc. This one, she doesn't do the dishes on the weekend (I do them during the week) and the kitchen is a mess, sink filled so you can't use it, and then makes comments like "Oh you didn't need to do the dishes, I was going to but I just didn't get a chance to yet (or was too tired)" etc. Like I could have just left them sitting there for days until she got around to it (even though it was my day to start doing them again). Also, from past experience, that pot that she tells me not to do and she will, just sits there for a full week until I finally go ahead and do it.

Sorry about this rant, I just don't feel appreciated anymore and something simple like a raise would mean so much at this point. Saving up to move out if needed and starting to keep my eye out on good places to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been working with one family for just over 1.5 years now, and living with them for just over a year. The MB didn't really understand what is common to throw in when doing a work exchange (basic foods, slightly cheaper rent total) and things that were expected by what she had said when I was already working (kids going to bed at 8:30pm etc) have not been true at all. I love the family, and she is laid back in some ways that I really like, but kids going to bed at 10:30pm on a school night or midnight or later on weekends is not something I agreed to with the extra noise upstairs over my head.

I also was told of extra guests staying quite often which is fine with me, but not someone who is suddenly staying here rent free for like 2+ months (who doesn't help out with day to day stuff like taking the garbage out or doing her own dishes, and eats MY food) and I wasn't even talked to about it beforehand (I DO pay rent with my work).

My job duties have changed a lot, I have gained more experience in the past 1.5 yrs and I don't work anymore at the pay rate I do with her for anyone else. I had hoped that she would bring it up once I started doing more and taking care of more kids (both hers and sometimes a friend of theirs) but she hasn't. She also doesn't give any kind of bonus or gifts for standard things like Christmas and birthday, when all other live-in positions I have had did. I mean, I got a collapsable water bottle for Christmas ($7) when I spent more than that on her kids and lots of time working on a project and collecting items for her child. Not that it is all about the gifts, but my other VERY PT positions gave way more than her. She bought a $100 rock polisher for her son that never gets used, so she wasn't lacking in money either. No gift card for $25 even. For my birthday the kids relative gave me that, but she didn't even give me a card. I could earn much more working the same hours with another family than I could staying with her.

Sad part is that her giving me a raise wouldn't even cost her anything since it is just hours that I am working and sometimes we are having to find ways for me to fill the last couple of hours each week. She could easily give me that raise and just decrease my hours by 2-3 a week and it wouldn't affect her in any way.

I am now looking into other options, and will give her until the new year to change things (I will bring up a raise myself by then). If after 2 years and all this, she won't change, she won't have me anymore. Sad because her one kid really needs someone stable being here, not someone new every year, and he won't find that with the people she would get to replace me at the current rate she is paying.

I have tried to be patient and not be entitled with everything, but at a certain point you just have to look at those that show their appreciation in any kind of way and those that don't, you move on from. I had an MB previously that would come home almost everyday and tell me how lovely the house looked etc. This one, she doesn't do the dishes on the weekend (I do them during the week) and the kitchen is a mess, sink filled so you can't use it, and then makes comments like "Oh you didn't need to do the dishes, I was going to but I just didn't get a chance to yet (or was too tired)" etc. Like I could have just left them sitting there for days until she got around to it (even though it was my day to start doing them again). Also, from past experience, that pot that she tells me not to do and she will, just sits there for a full week until I finally go ahead and do it.

Sorry about this rant, I just don't feel appreciated anymore and something simple like a raise would mean so much at this point. Saving up to move out if needed and starting to keep my eye out on good places to live.

This is totally unrelated. Maybe you should start your own thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been working with one family for just over 1.5 years now, and living with them for just over a year. The MB didn't really understand what is common to throw in when doing a work exchange (basic foods, slightly cheaper rent total) and things that were expected by what she had said when I was already working (kids going to bed at 8:30pm etc) have not been true at all. I love the family, and she is laid back in some ways that I really like, but kids going to bed at 10:30pm on a school night or midnight or later on weekends is not something I agreed to with the extra noise upstairs over my head.

I also was told of extra guests staying quite often which is fine with me, but not someone who is suddenly staying here rent free for like 2+ months (who doesn't help out with day to day stuff like taking the garbage out or doing her own dishes, and eats MY food) and I wasn't even talked to about it beforehand (I DO pay rent with my work).

My job duties have changed a lot, I have gained more experience in the past 1.5 yrs and I don't work anymore at the pay rate I do with her for anyone else. I had hoped that she would bring it up once I started doing more and taking care of more kids (both hers and sometimes a friend of theirs) but she hasn't. She also doesn't give any kind of bonus or gifts for standard things like Christmas and birthday, when all other live-in positions I have had did. I mean, I got a collapsable water bottle for Christmas ($7) when I spent more than that on her kids and lots of time working on a project and collecting items for her child. Not that it is all about the gifts, but my other VERY PT positions gave way more than her. She bought a $100 rock polisher for her son that never gets used, so she wasn't lacking in money either. No gift card for $25 even. For my birthday the kids relative gave me that, but she didn't even give me a card. I could earn much more working the same hours with another family than I could staying with her.

Sad part is that her giving me a raise wouldn't even cost her anything since it is just hours that I am working and sometimes we are having to find ways for me to fill the last couple of hours each week. She could easily give me that raise and just decrease my hours by 2-3 a week and it wouldn't affect her in any way.

I am now looking into other options, and will give her until the new year to change things (I will bring up a raise myself by then). If after 2 years and all this, she won't change, she won't have me anymore. Sad because her one kid really needs someone stable being here, not someone new every year, and he won't find that with the people she would get to replace me at the current rate she is paying.

I have tried to be patient and not be entitled with everything, but at a certain point you just have to look at those that show their appreciation in any kind of way and those that don't, you move on from. I had an MB previously that would come home almost everyday and tell me how lovely the house looked etc. This one, she doesn't do the dishes on the weekend (I do them during the week) and the kitchen is a mess, sink filled so you can't use it, and then makes comments like "Oh you didn't need to do the dishes, I was going to but I just didn't get a chance to yet (or was too tired)" etc. Like I could have just left them sitting there for days until she got around to it (even though it was my day to start doing them again). Also, from past experience, that pot that she tells me not to do and she will, just sits there for a full week until I finally go ahead and do it.

Sorry about this rant, I just don't feel appreciated anymore and something simple like a raise would mean so much at this point. Saving up to move out if needed and starting to keep my eye out on good places to live.

This is totally unrelated. Maybe you should start your own thread

You just don't like what she said. Too bad. People can say what they want without your approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Nannies tend to be much better informed than parents as to "competitive" rates. Logic has it that most parents are relatively new to the nanny world, compared to experienced nannies who've been in the field for many more years.

If you're not offering a respectable annual raise, make sure you have first trimmed your other luxury expenses. Otherwise you may be nanny searching again.

That is a funny post. It doesn't matter how an MB spends her money. It's none of the nanny's business. Nanny should get a raise if she earned it and can show above and beyond service.

Also, never trust the DCUM nannies for competitive rate quotes, although it may be worth a new family's time to ask real life nannies in their area about wages. Otherwise, there are plenty of resources on the web that can help inform a family about average market rates.

Not the PP you are responding to. I agree with your statement about how an MB spends her money is not a nanny's business. I also agree that raises are to be earned. That being said, if a nanny has evidently earned a raise and is given the excuse that "we can't afford it right now" you can't possibly expect her to turn a blind eye when she sees all the brand new purchases you make and the other luxuries you spend your money on. Yes it's of course your right, but if the reason you gave for forgoing a raise does not match up with reality (there's a difference between can't afford, and don't want to afford) you very well may lose your nanny over it. I would quit in such a circumstance, but I know better than to tell someone how to spend their money. I'd just find a family for whom awarding good performance is a priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Nannies tend to be much better informed than parents as to "competitive" rates. Logic has it that most parents are relatively new to the nanny world, compared to experienced nannies who've been in the field for many more years.

If you're not offering a respectable annual raise, make sure you have first trimmed your other luxury expenses. Otherwise you may be nanny searching again.

That is a funny post. It doesn't matter how an MB spends her money. It's none of the nanny's business. Nanny should get a raise if she earned it and can show above and beyond service.

Also, never trust the DCUM nannies for competitive rate quotes, although it may be worth a new family's time to ask real life nannies in their area about wages. Otherwise, there are plenty of resources on the web that can help inform a family about average market rates.

Not the PP you are responding to. I agree with your statement about how an MB spends her money is not a nanny's business. I also agree that raises are to be earned. That being said, if a nanny has evidently earned a raise and is given the excuse that "we can't afford it right now" you can't possibly expect her to turn a blind eye when she sees all the brand new purchases you make and the other luxuries you spend your money on. Yes it's of course your right, but if the reason you gave for forgoing a raise does not match up with reality (there's a difference between can't afford, and don't want to afford) you very well may lose your nanny over it. I would quit in such a circumstance, but I know better than to tell someone how to spend their money. I'd just find a family for whom awarding good performance is a priority.

I agree, however I'd take it one step further. I prefer to be helping families who choose to make their children (and their care), a high priority in a healthy way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been working with one family for just over 1.5 years now, and living with them for just over a year. The MB didn't really understand what is common to throw in when doing a work exchange (basic foods, slightly cheaper rent total) and things that were expected by what she had said when I was already working (kids going to bed at 8:30pm etc) have not been true at all. I love the family, and she is laid back in some ways that I really like, but kids going to bed at 10:30pm on a school night or midnight or later on weekends is not something I agreed to with the extra noise upstairs over my head.

I also was told of extra guests staying quite often which is fine with me, but not someone who is suddenly staying here rent free for like 2+ months (who doesn't help out with day to day stuff like taking the garbage out or doing her own dishes, and eats MY food) and I wasn't even talked to about it beforehand (I DO pay rent with my work).

My job duties have changed a lot, I have gained more experience in the past 1.5 yrs and I don't work anymore at the pay rate I do with her for anyone else. I had hoped that she would bring it up once I started doing more and taking care of more kids (both hers and sometimes a friend of theirs) but she hasn't. She also doesn't give any kind of bonus or gifts for standard things like Christmas and birthday, when all other live-in positions I have had did. I mean, I got a collapsable water bottle for Christmas ($7) when I spent more than that on her kids and lots of time working on a project and collecting items for her child. Not that it is all about the gifts, but my other VERY PT positions gave way more than her. She bought a $100 rock polisher for her son that never gets used, so she wasn't lacking in money either. No gift card for $25 even. For my birthday the kids relative gave me that, but she didn't even give me a card. I could earn much more working the same hours with another family than I could staying with her.

Sad part is that her giving me a raise wouldn't even cost her anything since it is just hours that I am working and sometimes we are having to find ways for me to fill the last couple of hours each week. She could easily give me that raise and just decrease my hours by 2-3 a week and it wouldn't affect her in any way.

I am now looking into other options, and will give her until the new year to change things (I will bring up a raise myself by then). If after 2 years and all this, she won't change, she won't have me anymore. Sad because her one kid really needs someone stable being here, not someone new every year, and he won't find that with the people she would get to replace me at the current rate she is paying.

I have tried to be patient and not be entitled with everything, but at a certain point you just have to look at those that show their appreciation in any kind of way and those that don't, you move on from. I had an MB previously that would come home almost everyday and tell me how lovely the house looked etc. This one, she doesn't do the dishes on the weekend (I do them during the week) and the kitchen is a mess, sink filled so you can't use it, and then makes comments like "Oh you didn't need to do the dishes, I was going to but I just didn't get a chance to yet (or was too tired)" etc. Like I could have just left them sitting there for days until she got around to it (even though it was my day to start doing them again). Also, from past experience, that pot that she tells me not to do and she will, just sits there for a full week until I finally go ahead and do it.

Sorry about this rant, I just don't feel appreciated anymore and something simple like a raise would mean so much at this point. Saving up to move out if needed and starting to keep my eye out on good places to live.

This is totally unrelated. Maybe you should start your own thread

I posted it and thought it was definitely related. Yes, more of my own rant, but if I had been given a raise for my PT position after a year, then I wouldn't feel like this now. Just letting those that think a raise might not mean much or be necessary for a PT position know that it could mean their nanny staying with them and being loyal, or leaving them for something else.

[Anonymous]

If your nanny is doing a great job, why not give her a raise?

How can one even put a price tag on the luxury of being able to walk out of the house knowing their child is in great loving hands every day?!