Advice on annual raise

[Anonymous]

At least a dollar an hour - any less is considered insulting. Trust me. We lost a wonderful nanny right after we gave her an hourly .50 cent raise. She had another excuse for leaving, of course. We heard months later from another MB whose nanny told her that we never appreciated our old nanny's work and contribution based on our raise which is the reason our nanny quit. First time parents - we had no clue. We lost the best nanny we have ever had in order to save twenty dollars a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our one year anniversary with our nanny is coming up. We would like to give her a raise. She currently makes $17/hr for 2 kids and has guaranteed hours. She gets 40 hrs regular pay and 10 hours overtime pay. She gets one week pay during the holidays, gets 2 weeks vacation and 3 sick days.

So...what is a decent raise that won't price us out of her/above the market? Our oldest is 2.5 and we plan to have a 3rd kid in the next year. I don't want to get to a point before the youngest is in school where we are priced out of her services because of annual raises, and I'd like to be market competitive.

The oldest will be in school 3 days a week next year, for half a day, if that matters.

Thanks.

My boss every year she's give me $25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least a dollar an hour - any less is considered insulting. Trust me. We lost a wonderful nanny right after we gave her an hourly .50 cent raise. She had another excuse for leaving, of course. We heard months later from another MB whose nanny told her that we never appreciated our old nanny's work and contribution based on our raise which is the reason our nanny quit. First time parents - we had no clue. We lost the best nanny we have ever had in order to save twenty dollars a week.

Nice try. You are not a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least a dollar an hour - any less is considered insulting. Trust me. We lost a wonderful nanny right after we gave her an hourly .50 cent raise. She had another excuse for leaving, of course. We heard months later from another MB whose nanny told her that we never appreciated our old nanny's work and contribution based on our raise which is the reason our nanny quit. First time parents - we had no clue. We lost the best nanny we have ever had in order to save twenty dollars a week.

Nice try. You are not a parent.

You are wrong. I am a mother of two and now looking for our third nanny in four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least a dollar an hour - any less is considered insulting. Trust me. We lost a wonderful nanny right after we gave her an hourly .50 cent raise. She had another excuse for leaving, of course. We heard months later from another MB whose nanny told her that we never appreciated our old nanny's work and contribution based on our raise which is the reason our nanny quit. First time parents - we had no clue. We lost the best nanny we have ever had in order to save twenty dollars a week.

Nice try. You are not a parent.

PP is right. We have no way of knowing our real "worth" to a family except in monetary terms. When you see the parents can afford expensive cars and trips and them offer you a 50 cent raise while telling you that they love you and you are doing a great job -- it is insulting.

[Anonymous]

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Do a percentage don't do a dollar amount because you will have no more room for future raises.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, a dollar an hour increase is standard. This is not the time to be cheap if you want to keep your nanny and continue a good working relationship with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, a dollar an hour increase is standard. This is not the time to be cheap if you want to keep your nanny and continue a good working relationship with her.

Thanks nanny

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous
Do a percentage don't do a dollar amount because you will have no more room for future raises."

This is what we do. $1/yr raises would have fast priced us out of a nanny. She has been with us 6 yrs so far so seems to be working ok.

[Anonymous]

I also don't do $1/hr raises but instead raised her overall salary (she has guaranteed hours, so it is basically a salary) by a particular percentage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also don't do $1/hr raises but instead raised her overall salary (she has guaranteed hours, so it is basically a salary) by a particular percentage.

I think percentages work when you're talking about a certain salary level. If you're making $100k+/year a 4% raise isn't a lot but its enough to feel it. If you're making $16/hour, these percentages you all throw out are really laughable. You're going to give her a $.64 raise? Maybe it works for some nannies, but if you offered me a $.64 raise, I'd be better off getting a new job. That doesn't really say "we appreciate your hard work" or "we value your contribution to our household", it just says "we're cheap".

[Anonymous]

^ or it says "we love you and hope to have you many years but bumping you up a dollar each yr is definitely not doable."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ or it says "we love you and hope to have you many years but bumping you up a dollar each yr is definitely not doable."

Why do you think that is a positive message? You like me and want me to continue working for you, but either cannot afford raises that will make an actual difference for me, or you are selfishly choosing not to in order to keep up the appearance that you can afford me. I do not want token raises. If it doesn't at least keep up with my rent/transportation cost increases, I would not be able to have the long term relationship you are penny pinching to preserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ or it says "we love you and hope to have you many years but bumping you up a dollar each yr is definitely not doable."

Why do you think that is a positive message? You like me and want me to continue working for you, but either cannot afford raises that will make an actual difference for me, or you are selfishly choosing not to in order to keep up the appearance that you can afford me. I do not want token raises. If it doesn't at
least keep up with my rent/transportation cost increases, I would not be able to have the long term relationship you are penny pinching to preserve.

Well said.