She may have missed typed what she meant. What you are doing is already very generous and I’m sure she realizes that.

We gave our longest-term, high quality, dedicated nanny (8.5 years when she left) $5,000 on her last day. We, like you, had given her six months notice. She was thrilled and we are still in touch many years later. I think anything beyond an amount like this would be absurd.

Why hasn't she found another job already? You have given her 4 months notice basically. Nannies are in high demand! Severance is supposed to support and cover the time you need to find another job - not as a bonus or a freebie.

Say you can't afford to let her go then.

Her response would have sat so badly with me that I probably would not have reacted well to it. You owe her nothing. Your offer of insurance through June is very generous. As for severance, you have already been very generous. I doubt I would do more than two weeks.

You are very generous OP. You told her in August so she has had time to find a new job. AND paid her full time to work 2 hours a day. I do not think you need to give any severance personally and I used to be a Nanny.

Anonymous wrote:You are too kind. I would have sent her 2-week pay and never to come near my home again after such an e-mail.

I think that's a big harsh, but this note certainly wouldn't make me feel more generous towards her.

You essentially have given her severance by telling her 4 months ago and allowing her a ton of time to job search. That's actually how my company does it. No pay check at the end, but you get a long ramp to get yourself sorted out.

I'd give her a month's salary and a thank you.

You are too kind. I would have sent her 2-week pay and never to come near my home again after such an e-mail.

Maybe she meant 2-4 weeks per year worked and not months? Even so, that’s a lot, and you’re already thinking 3 months, which is WAY more generous than most jobs, nanny or not.

PP here - admittedly I'm not a nanny, however, when I googled "Nanny severance pay", nearly every link I clicked said 2 weeks salary. A couple links did say for long-terms nannies "1 weeks pay per year worked", so take your pick. But nothing I read said "2-4 months pay per year worked".

That’s sort of hilarious. 4 months is 1/3 of the year, so an entire year every 3 years? Ha, ha.

Ridiculous. My corporation gives one week for ever year worked.

Wow! At that point I would ask her to stay on for the two hours a day and pay just for the two hours and gradually reduce hours until she quit.

Two weeks severance pay is standard. If you really thought she did an amazing job, give her a month. Certainly not "2-4 months pay for every year worked". You're already going above and beyond with the insurance. You've also kept her at full salary when you could've reduced pay.

we are after many years, letting our nanny go. we let her know in august. she has been working very light hours since then- about 2 hours a day? picking up one of the kids and getting her home for dinner at 5. but out of respect and loyalty i have kept her salary at full. even through pandemic when she wasn't working. Our daughter is 8 and our son is almost 5.


she will stop working end of year. i have offered to pay her insurance through june and was going to offer 3 months salary as severance. She just emailed me and said “I do know that severance is 2 to 4 months for every year worked.” Which in her case would be over $100,000. I don’t have that kind of money and it seems like a lot to me.

Is this what you give your nannies?