Christmas Gift for Nanny

[Anonymous]

Does she know she’s getting x bonus in Jan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had nannies for 8 plus years, as have all of our friends. We always do 2 weeks pay in cash as a holiday/year end bonus, and then a small token gift along with it - sometimes it’s a framed photo of our kids, sometimes it’s a $50 gift card. This year our nanny mentioned there was a candle she loved that is $30. All of our friends do the same (we have all discussed it many times). Hands down the nannies all prefer cash so if you’re going to give more than $100 in a gift card I would change it to cash. Sure she can spend it on $200 in coffee, but I bet she would rather have $200 in cash.

Is there any way you can move the bonus pay up to December instead of next month just to make it easier? I understand that your bonuses won’t be paid until next month but you would just be borrowing from that pot you know is coming. Our bonuses don’t get paid until Feb/Mar but we budget to pay our nanny’s bonus in December every year. Maybe that isn’t feasible for you, but if you can swing it that’s what I would do. If not, maybe explain to your nanny that you will do New Year bonuses instead once your bonus is paid, in which case a $100 gift seems fine to me.

Thanks! This was good to read. Part of the issue is also that the contract stipulates the bonus in Jan at the anniversary of when she started. Sounds like we should see what we can pull together and when she would prefer the bonus. Either way, my take away is that cash is king unless we can think something thoughtful to add in as week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she know she’s getting x bonus in Jan?

It was in the contract that she could receive up to X amount in late Jan. We plan on paying her the full amount but she doesn’t know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had nannies for 8 plus years, as have all of our friends. We always do 2 weeks pay in cash as a holiday/year end bonus, and then a small token gift along with it - sometimes it’s a framed photo of our kids, sometimes it’s a $50 gift card. This year our nanny mentioned there was a candle she loved that is $30. All of our friends do the same (we have all discussed it many times). Hands down the nannies all prefer cash so if you’re going to give more than $100 in a gift card I would change it to cash. Sure she can spend it on $200 in coffee, but I bet she would rather have $200 in cash.

Is there any way you can move the bonus pay up to December instead of next month just to make it easier? I understand that your bonuses won’t be paid until next month but you would just be borrowing from that pot you know is coming. Our bonuses don’t get paid until Feb/Mar but we budget to pay our nanny’s bonus in December every year. Maybe that isn’t feasible for you, but if you can swing it that’s what I would do. If not, maybe explain to your nanny that you will do New Year bonuses instead once your bonus is paid, in which case a $100 gift seems fine to me.

Yes we do similar. Ours is actually an aide for our special needs son who has a lot of medical and physical needs. She has been a godsend for our family (she will watch our other son too if we want a date night). We also give her a gift she can open. This year I got her a scarf, a lavender body scrub, a candle and some candy. We usually give her a gift card for her birthday too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were going to give our nanny a Christmas gift that is separate from her annual bonus (that is paid in Jan). We were thinking of a $100 gift card to a local coffee chain she likes. It has a location by us and her house so she could use it while walking with the kids or at home/on the weekend. She is getting above the 2 weeks pay as a bonus and extra paid days off for Christmas since she already used all her vacation days.

Do you think $100 is enough?

A $100 gift card to a coffee shop is absolutely ridiculous! It is also ridiculous to give annual bonus in January.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have had nannies for 8 plus years, as have all of our friends. We always do 2 weeks pay in cash as a holiday/year end bonus, and then a small token gift along with it - sometimes it’s a framed photo of our kids, sometimes it’s a $50 gift card. This year our nanny mentioned there was a candle she loved that is $30. All of our friends do the same (we have all discussed it many times). Hands down the nannies all prefer cash so if you’re going to give more than $100 in a gift card I would change it to cash. Sure she can spend it on $200 in coffee, but I bet she would rather have $200 in cash.

Is there any way you can move the bonus pay up to December instead of next month just to make it easier? I understand that your bonuses won’t be paid until next month but you would just be borrowing from that pot you know is coming. Our bonuses don’t get paid until Feb/Mar but we budget to pay our nanny’s bonus in December every year. Maybe that isn’t feasible for you, but if you can swing it that’s what I would do. If not, maybe explain to your nanny that you will do New Year bonuses instead once your bonus is paid, in which case a $100 gift seems fine to me.

Yes we do similar. Ours is actually an aide for our special needs son who has a lot of medical and physical needs. She has been a godsend for our family (she will watch our other son too if we want a date night). We also give her a gift she can open. This year I got her a scarf, a lavender body scrub, a candle and some candy. We usually give her a gift card for her birthday too.

I am sure these were all lovely if they were for you but most of us do not want, or need
another perfumed candle. Perfumed body scrub, a of which would be regifted to someone else who will probably regift them. When are you people going to learn that you give cash so the nanny can buy whatever SHE wants.

[Anonymous]

^^ PP WITH Special Needs Child- Did you actually read what I posted? Obviously not. I said we give her a bonus of two weeks salary PLUS a gift. And I happen to know she likes these things because we’ve gotten to know her so well - she’s like another member of the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ PP WITH Special Needs Child- Did you actually read what I posted? Obviously not. I said we give her a bonus of two weeks salary PLUS a gift. And I happen to know she likes these things because we’ve gotten to know her so well - she’s like another member of the family.

There is clearly a troll here trying to rile up parents. Usually you find them in the nanny and childcare forums. Please ignore her.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s kind of mean to give a bonus in January. Hopefully you’re telling her the amount? A lot of people buy all their Christmas gifts with a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Card with $100 bill. I used to get that in addition to a bonus at an office job I once had, and it was a nice add-on. Way better than a coffee gift card, though she could certainly spend it there if she wanted! Or give her a $100 bill and a $20 gift card for coffee if you must. Employees like cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s kind of mean to give a bonus in January. Hopefully you’re telling her the amount? A lot of people buy all their Christmas gifts with a bonus.

+1. Or shop end-of-year sales to get clothes for next year.

I’m surprised you can’t float 2-3 weeks pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s kind of mean to give a bonus in January. Hopefully you’re telling her the amount? A lot of people buy all their Christmas gifts with a bonus.

+1, doing the bonus in January rather than before the holidays is pretty crappy.