Annoyed at Nanny Asking for Raise

[Anonymous]

Our nanny makes $26/hr in Bethesda for one child. After one year she asked me for a raise ($2/hr plus a few hundred a month to her health insurance). Her justification was, inflation and the fact she had been with us for one year. I would never ask my boss for more pay with that justification. Not even when I worked an hourly rate in retail would that request have gotten me more money. Is this just the way it is in the nanny world? Raises expected annually for no reason other than retention?

[Anonymous]

Yes, like the government

[Anonymous]

This is completely reasonable. If you like her and want to keep her, then do it. Otherwise, good luck finding someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny makes $26/hr in Bethesda for one child. After one year she asked me for a raise ($2/hr plus a few hundred a month to her health insurance). Her justification was, inflation and the fact she had been with us for one year. I would never ask my boss for more pay with that justification. Not even when I worked an hourly rate in retail would that request have gotten me more money. Is this just the way it is in the nanny world? Raises expected annually for no reason other than retention?

Your nanny's request is reasonable. Comparing the person who cares for your child to a retail employee is unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

That's not reasonable for one child. A small raise, ok, but $2 an hour is at over $300 a month, could be as high as $400, plus a few hundred for health insurance, so that easily could be $700 or so a month. I'd do .25 or .50 an hour raise if you can afford it. Tell her no. Worst case she leaves. You are paying her a good salary.

[Anonymous]

A cost of living adjustment of 5% would put her at $27.30 hour.

Ask her how she calculated that inflation adjustment.

[Anonymous]

Seems reasonable to me.

[Anonymous]

26/hour for one child is very high id interview some others in secret to get the feel of the market at 18-21

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny makes $26/hr in Bethesda for one child. After one year she asked me for a raise ($2/hr plus a few hundred a month to her health insurance). Her justification was, inflation and the fact she had been with us for one year. I would never ask my boss for more pay with that justification. Not even when I worked an hourly rate in retail would that request have gotten me more money. Is this just the way it is in the nanny world? Raises expected annually for no reason other than retention?

Did you get a raise this year?
Did the nanny exceed expectations?
Has market rate for nannies changed in your area?
What is it worth to you to keep this nanny for the next year?
Just because the nanny did not articulate her justification the same way you would have does not mean it is not reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Well I work in the corporate world and I was pretty insulted that I didn’t get even a 3% raise this year. Annual raises are pretty standard most places. Did you not get a raise this year, op?

[Anonymous]

Does your kid deserve high quality care, OP?

[Anonymous]

Offer to negotiate increased responsibilities to increase her work value -- cooking or cleaning as your kid is older and easier to manage.

[Anonymous]

You would never ask for an inflation raise adjustment? Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny makes $26/hr in Bethesda for one child. After one year she asked me for a raise ($2/hr plus a few hundred a month to her health insurance). Her justification was, inflation and the fact she had been with us for one year. I would never ask my boss for more pay with that justification. Not even when I worked an hourly rate in retail would that request have gotten me more money. Is this just the way it is in the nanny world? Raises expected annually for no reason other than retention?

Your nanny's request is reasonable. Comparing the person who cares for your child to a retail employee is unreasonable.

Most retail employees make minimum wage. OP is paying way above that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I work in the corporate world and I was pretty insulted that I didn’t get even a 3% raise this year. Annual raises are pretty standard most places. Did you not get a raise this year, op?

My spouse never gets a raise and his income goes up and down every year in the corporate world.