Thinking about leaving for summer, what to do about nanny pay

Anonymous
With the prospect of no camp this summer we are really going to need a change of scenery and are thinking strongly about leaving DC from mid-May possibly until school starts again. My parents live a few hours away and have an amazing house with a pool and would be really helpful with the kids while DH and I are trying to work. We have a very small townhouse with a tiny backyard and if things remain as they are not sure we can all remain so cooped up.

So here is the dilemma... we love our nanny and have been paying her in full to stay home for 6 weeks now. While she would happily come back to work anytime, she lives with her husband and son who are still working so we don’t feel comfortable having her come right now. If we leave town in a couple weeks and are gone for at least 3 months, do we just keep paying her in full? We are so torn because we want to help her and know she needs money, but at the same time it is a lot to keep paying for so long. While DH and I are still getting paid (and also still working FT, just from home), we make a significant part of our salaries in year end bonuses and have been told they may not be paid out at all this year.

Just curious what others would do in this situation. Do we have a conversation with her and try to work out a lower rate? Do we just keep paying to ensure she waits around for us to come back? Anyone else thinking about the same or have any advice on how to broach?
Anonymous
If you want her back in the fall, you have to pay her. If you don't, you give her a nice severance check and part ways.
Anonymous
It depends if you want her to be your kids nanny in the fall. If you stop paying her, she still needs an income for her family.

If your company stopped paying you for a few months, wouldn’t you look for a different job?
Anonymous
You could try negotiating for a lower rate over the summer but you run the risk that she will take another job and then not come back in the fall.
Anonymous
Can you try to arrange a summer job for her? If not, if you want her back in the fall then you’ll have to pay her.
Anonymous
Pay her half
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If you want her back in the fall, you have to pay her. If you don't, you give her a nice severance check and part ways.


+1. I have a nanny and exact same situation. You can always try to rehire her in the fall of you do this but I think many more people are interested in nannies now. That said your nanny may want to come and work for you and realistically you need to figure out good things for your kids right now. If you could afford to go where you want to go and pay the nanny that is the best course. If not do your best. No judgement from me at least - this situation has tested us all in ways we could not have anticipated.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Pay her half


There is a very good chance she wouldn’t go for that. Maybe she would be happy with half and pick up something else just for the summer, but there is a good chance she would just find something else new that would mean she wouldn’t be back in the fall.
Anonymous
Was there a contract?
Anonymous
This is a tricky situation. You could talk to the nanny and see how she wants to proceed. Just know that if you guys can’t come to an agreement, she may end up finding more than a summer job and not be available for your family when you return.
Anonymous
I think you negotiate a smaller pay with contract to return in fall and help her find a summer gig
Anonymous
Do you pay her on the books? If she can get unemployment, it's pretty generous right now with the federal boost.
Anonymous
Severance pay is a good idea. How old are your kids?
Anonymous
Ask her if she thinks she could get a summer job and if she did if she’d want to come back. Maybe tell her if the summer job pays slightly less you’ll make up the difference up to a cap.

Of course maybe she will hate the idea, but maybe she won’t.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Ask her if she thinks she could get a summer job and if she did if she’d want to come back. Maybe tell her if the summer job pays slightly less you’ll make up the difference up to a cap.

Of course maybe she will hate the idea, but maybe she won’t.



Ooooh, that is a good idea!
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