Nanny Holiday Bonus - Ordinary and Customary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did 3 weeks last year. But this year we had a new nanny start in September. If you’ve only had a nanny for part of the year what is the protocol there? Still 1-2 weeks? Or is 1 week ok if they’ve only been working a few months?

Prorate the bonus so 1/3 of 3 weeks or 1 week is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did 3 weeks last year. But this year we had a new nanny start in September. If you’ve only had a nanny for part of the year what is the protocol there? Still 1-2 weeks? Or is 1 week ok if they’ve only been working a few months?

Prorate the bonus so 1/3 of 3 weeks or 1 week is correct.

Oh can others confirm agreement with this?

I have a new nanny who also started in September, but she's very experienced, so I feel like she will have expectations from working with other families previously - but I'm not sure what those expectations would be. I have been debating between 1 or 2 weeks based on being new.

To be honest, all of this is a big financial stretch for us (daycare was the pre-covid plan), but I want to be in line with what's expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did 3 weeks last year. But this year we had a new nanny start in September. If you’ve only had a nanny for part of the year what is the protocol there? Still 1-2 weeks? Or is 1 week ok if they’ve only been working a few months?

Prorate the bonus so 1/3 of 3 weeks or 1 week is correct.

Oh can others confirm agreement with this?

I have a new nanny who also started in September, but she's very experienced, so I feel like she will have expectations from working with other families previously - but I'm not sure what those expectations would be. I have been debating between 1 or 2 weeks based on being new.

To be honest, all of this is a big financial stretch for us (daycare was the pre-covid plan), but I want to be in line with what's expected.

Prorating is suggested here: https://www.care.com/homepay/9-tips-for-hiring-a-caregiver-at-the-end-of-the-year-1312131624

[Anonymous]

Another rule of thumb for new nanny bonuses is one day per month of employment.

https://www.care.com/c/stories/3657/a-holiday-bonus-guide-for-your-caregivers/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another rule of thumb for new nanny bonuses is one day per month of employment.

https://www.care.com/c/stories/3657/a-holiday-bonus-guide-for-your-caregivers/

Rounded to the next week up. Don’t skimp and do 4 days

[Anonymous]

We usually do one week bonus but are doing two this year since she has trusted us through this and never stopped coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here-

I’ll be super sad and disappointed if I don’t receive a good bonus this year. I’ve been working all through the pandemic and took on A LOT of extra work now that the housekeeper doesn’t come anymore. Now I’m a chef for the parents and the kids, do all the laundry, clean kitchen dishes constantly etc. I work really hard and spend hours researching recipes now that apparently it’s my job to feed the parents. If I don’t get a bonus, then I’ll be making tacos and pasta from now on. I’m not spending hours chopping onions and marinating and making sauces if my effort isn’t recognized. I took on a lot of extra unpaid work and I won’t continue doing it if I don’t receive a bonus.

You really should have gotten a bump up in salary for taking on all of these extra duties. Unless your bonus is sizeable enough to compensate for the lack of increase, you should negotiate an increase for next year

[Anonymous]

One week is more than generous OP. Been working all sorts of jobs since I was 16 and I have never gotten a holiday bonus.

[Anonymous]

NP. My nanny has burned through all her leave already this year. In addition, we’ve let her work reduced hours almost every week and we gave her additional days off when we were working from home. All of this was paid at her full weekly rate. Giving her a week of additional paid leave at Christmas is the same thing as a week’s pay bonus, right?

[Anonymous]

The paid time off during Covid was your choice, not theirs. They need that money to pay bills and rent and buy food. A bonus is completely different from paid time not working during Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The paid time off during Covid was your choice, not theirs. They need that money to pay bills and rent and buy food. A bonus is completely different from paid time not working during Covid.

I get that. I asked “giving her an additional week of paid leave at Christmas is the same thing as a week’s pay bonus, right?” Or are you suggesting I should give her a week of paid leave AND a bonus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The paid time off during Covid was your choice, not theirs. They need that money to pay bills and rent and buy food. A bonus is completely different from paid time not working during Covid.

I get that. I asked “giving her an additional week of paid leave at Christmas is the same thing as a week’s pay bonus, right?” Or are you suggesting I should give her a week of paid leave AND a bonus?

No, it’s not the same thing. One is extra money and one is PTO. But a nanny isn’t entitled to any bonus anyway, so do what you want. Some nannies rather have cash, some rather have PTO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. My nanny has burned through all her leave already this year. In addition, we’ve let her work reduced hours almost every week and we gave her additional days off when we were working from home. All of this was paid at her full weekly rate. Giving her a week of additional paid leave at Christmas is the same thing as a week’s pay bonus, right?

How strapped is your nanny right now? Our nanny needs money more than time off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We always did $500. It's a good round number.

This year I paid for 4 months of not coming to work and I don't know what to do at Christmas.

You made the choice for her not to come in and if you want to keep her, pay $500!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. My nanny has burned through all her leave already this year. In addition, we’ve let her work reduced hours almost every week and we gave her additional days off when we were working from home. All of this was paid at her full weekly rate. Giving her a week of additional paid leave at Christmas is the same thing as a week’s pay bonus, right?

Yes and no. Did she request the reduced hours each week? Did she request days off when you were home? Did she request the week at Christmas?

Yes, she’s used her vacation, but many nannies have done that during covid. Have you discussed with her at all?