Anonymous wrote:We just hired a new nanny who started 2 weeks ago. When we hired her we agreed on $20/hour but it seems like we had a miscommunication about exactly what that meant. To us, we thought it meant we would pay $20 per hour and deduct taxes from that. However, my nanny thought she would net $20/hour after the taxes are deducted and is asking us to increase her pay to that.
Clearly a rookie mistake on our part for not clarifying, but is it actually standard to pay taxes on top of the agreed upon hourly rate (she says that is what is typical among her friends).
Adding the taxes on top is definitely more than we are comfortable spending right now, especially since we want to grow with this nanny and keep her for several years if possible.
Not a rookie mistake. In the US everyone, and I mean every business quotes gross pay before taxes. This is NOT a mistake on your part. She is trying to scam you.
Hold your ground.
If she applies to 20 other places all 20 places will quote gross pay as that is what we do in the US when folks are paid legally.