Fair rate?

[Anonymous]

For those who want to be honest, you ALWAYS refer to GROSS wages.

On the other hand, if you want to indulge in creative double-speak, the nanny will play that game to. Your child will be the ultimate looser, but who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's much more contentoious! Personally, I talk about average rate and in my experience most people do as well. Otherwise, you'd have an odd situation where a 40 hour/week job would have a much lower average than a 50 hr/wk one. When, the opposite tends to be true (fewer hours offered means hourly average tends to be more)

But, there are some respondents that get very emotional about this and any mention of an "average rate" leads to cries of deception and cheating.

My opinion... It's all just math. Unlike gross and net, as long as you are clear, it doesn't really matter.

It may all be math, but the issue many nannies take with this whole average rate business is that some MBs will try to work the math so that a 50-60 hour job with the same requirements costs them little more than the same 40 hour job. That, in my opinion, is wrong. Yes OT is expensive, but its expensive for a reason! With this finagling of the rates what would otherwise be a $15/hour job is now 12-13 because of the obscene amount of hours and the MB trying to save a buck. Then this MB runs her mouth about how she found a great nanny for $12/hour and no one should pay more than that. But if the person taking her advice is only offering 30 hours, we are now comparing apples to oranges. It is near impossible to reach any consensus on "market rates" in this industry, and it should really just be a matter of what you can/are willing to pay and if it matches up with what your desired nanny needs/wants to make. If it does, great, if not move on, but anecdotal evidence from nannies and MBs alike means very little.

[Anonymous]

PP bull shit. Every single NANNY that we talked to reported her average rate when asked what she made at her previous job. By your logic those nannies were being manipulative and trying to cheat us into thinking that they made $15 base rather than average. The only manipulation is you trying to scam first time parents coming on this board for advice on budgeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP bull shit. Every single NANNY that we talked to reported her average rate when asked what she made at her previous job. By your logic those nannies were being manipulative and trying to cheat us into thinking that they made $15 base rather than average. The only manipulation is you trying to scam first time parents coming on this board for advice on budgeting.

BS PP here. 1) Did your nanny candidates actually say average rate? because that was not a term that I had heard prior to this site. In any other industry there's no such thing as a BS average rate. There's your rate, and then you get time and a half for OT. 2) You assume that the rate a nanny quotes you has anything to do with her previous rate. It doesn't have to. I ask for a higher rate for each new position that I take, and my contracts have a mutual confidentiality clause specifying that my employers are not to discuss with future employers private financial information including my wages. And finally, 3) I'm not trying to manipulate anyone. How does that benefit me? I was simply responding to a PP who mentioned the contention between some nannies and MBs over quoting average rates. Please don't try to act as if "average rates" benefits anyone other than MBs trying to skimp on OT pay by paying a lower hourly rate to compensate. Who is manipulating who? The likely more educated, financially savvy, experienced negotiator MB, or the nanny? Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

OP, be sure to ask whether the nanny is seeking guaranteed hours and paid federal holidays. As a practical matter, if you plan to take four weeks vacation with the children and assume 10 federal holidays, this can push the nanny's paid time off to 6-7 weeks. You may want to lower the hourly rate to reflect this form of compensation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, be sure to ask whether the nanny is seeking guaranteed hours and paid federal holidays. As a practical matter, if you plan to take four weeks vacation with the children and assume 10 federal holidays, this can push the nanny's paid time off to 6-7 weeks. You may want to lower the hourly rate to reflect this form of compensation.

I'm not sure it quite works that way. Lower her rate because YOU take a lot of vacation? If the nanny still only gets 1 week at her discretion, unless you are giving ample notice, those extra weeks just leave her twiddling her thumbs at home. Yes vacation is a form of compensation, but not necessarily a desirable one for someone who can't afford week long vacations all year. I would and have worked for families that take lots of time off, but I'm 23 and can't afford to do much with the time off and my fiancé and friends are working. I wouldn't accept a lower rate for this "benefit" and I'm sure many nannies are in similar circumstances.

[Anonymous]

OP, be sure to ask whether the nanny is seeking guaranteed hours and paid federal holidays. As a practical matter, if you plan to take four weeks vacation with the children and assume 10 federal holidays, this can push the nanny's paid time off to 6-7 weeks. You may want to lower the hourly rate to reflect this form of compensation.

+1

[Anonymous]

what is a good rate? when you become a Mom over night? i really dont know, we love, teach, clean, drive, so we are you so what is fair ??we cook, we do every thing we look for play mates for your child so is 10 or 20 or 30 fair?

[Anonymous]

When it's the mom doing "everything", it's worth at least $100/hr. If it's you doing it, be happy with your 17 and shut up.

[Anonymous]

I am original poster. Thank you for feedback. I got the sense here and in neighborhood that expanded scope, including many household jobs, pushes up into the mid twenties per hour. Well beyond just child care rates.

[Anonymous]

I don't know any professional nanny who wants to become your housekeeper to. If she's warm-body type, she may do anything you want.

[Anonymous]

No, OP, you don't need to go into the mid 20s. $20/hr is just fine for this position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, OP, you don't need to go into the mid 20s. $20/hr is just fine for this position.

Lol. What makes you think that your assessment is the end all be all? OP took a temperature on here and in her neighborhood and that is the response she got. Yet you claim she should ignore them and listen to you? The egos on this site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, OP, you don't need to go into the mid 20s. $20/hr is just fine for this position.

Lol. What makes you think that your assessment is the end all be all? OP took a temperature on here and in her neighborhood and that is the response she got. Yet you claim she should ignore them and listen to you? The egos on this site

Yeah, it's the crazy woman who thinks she's the forum dictator, lol.

[Anonymous]

It would be convenient for you to think there's only one MB who advocates for reasonable market rates. Then you can call her crazy. Problem is, there are many MBs who know far more about market rates than you do.

lol.