Trying to figure out appropriate pay rate for nanny share

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I'm in a share with 3 children. When family A had their second child I recieved a $4 raise. My situation is slightly different as none of the children are in school, but I can honestly say that raise wasn't enough. Managing three children 3 and under is physically and mentally draining. What makes it more difficult is the fact that I have two families to please and the family with one child is always disappointed that our plans get altered due the baby's nap schedule. I already told them this will be my final year because the position is becoming too stressful and exhausting. Your position sounds sound less stressful since the children will be in school.
I would at minimum give $3 raise, $2 for the added the child that the other family pays and $1 for her yearly raise that you split. Given that she is barely at an average rate for a nanny share, the added yearly raise should keep her happy longer. But personally if I were her, I'd just look for a two child share that pays $20.

The OP feels she isn't underpaying at under $18.


NP here. That's fine for OP to feel that way, but why would any nanny, including hers, take on all this work for the same rate they could easily get in a normal 2 kid share? Market rates do exist, and just as paying above market isn't advised, paying below market is inadvisable if you value stable and quality care for your kids. If I were OPs nanny, I'd be interviewing for an easier position at the same rate. It won't take long for her to realize that she's getting a raw deal.

But OP's nanny isn't taking on all this extra work. Her workload is actually decreasing. Two of the three children will be in preschool, one for the majority of the day. She will, with a $2/hr raise, be making almost $20/hr for a share that has one child for half a day, two children for half a day and a third for a few hours. It's not a raw deal.

But the exhausted PP with the $4/hr raise brings up a good point. Some nannies are not cut out for shares because they can't handle three small children at once. She, and nannies like her, probably should only seek families with one child. More money isn't going to make her better at her job or less exhausted. She needs a new job.

Pp,
I've actually worked with multiples and three young children my entire 10 year career but working for one family with three children is completely different than working for two sets of employers. Expectations are different and no one is ever completely satisfied. You have clearly never actually worked in share with three children under 3.
Her nanny will still have 3 children during all school vacations, sick days and summers. There is also no mention that she has recieved a raise since she started.

We were going to give her a $1 raise after a year regardless which will be on April 1.

I too have concerns about days when she would have all 3 kids together at once and if that's even feasible/desirable for her. We are next door neighbors and have the same model house and they're definitely not big so that's an issue as well. My first step was going to be to talk to the other family first about an appropriate rate and salary increase should we decide to continue and then present to our nanny and see if she's even interested. She may not be and that's totally fine but it made more sense to get my ducks in a row before we had the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I'm in a share with 3 children. When family A had their second child I recieved a $4 raise. My situation is slightly different as none of the children are in school, but I can honestly say that raise wasn't enough. Managing three children 3 and under is physically and mentally draining. What makes it more difficult is the fact that I have two families to please and the family with one child is always disappointed that our plans get altered due the baby's nap schedule. I already told them this will be my final year because the position is becoming too stressful and exhausting. Your position sounds sound less stressful since the children will be in school.
I would at minimum give $3 raise, $2 for the added the child that the other family pays and $1 for her yearly raise that you split. Given that she is barely at an average rate for a nanny share, the added yearly raise should keep her happy longer. But personally if I were her, I'd just look for a two child share that pays $20.

The OP feels she isn't underpaying at under $18.


NP here. That's fine for OP to feel that way, but why would any nanny, including hers, take on all this work for the same rate they could easily get in a normal 2 kid share? Market rates do exist, and just as paying above market isn't advised, paying below market is inadvisable if you value stable and quality care for your kids. If I were OPs nanny, I'd be interviewing for an easier position at the same rate. It won't take long for her to realize that she's getting a raw deal.

But OP's nanny isn't taking on all this extra work. Her workload is actually decreasing. Two of the three children will be in preschool, one for the majority of the day. She will, with a $2/hr raise, be making almost $20/hr for a share that has one child for half a day, two children for half a day and a third for a few hours. It's not a raw deal.

But the exhausted PP with the $4/hr raise brings up a good point. Some nannies are not cut out for shares because they can't handle three small children at once. She, and nannies like her, probably should only seek families with one child. More money isn't going to make her better at her job or less exhausted. She needs a new job.

Pp,
I've actually worked with multiples and three young children my entire 10 year career but working for one family with three children is completely different than working for two sets of employers. Expectations are different and no one is ever completely satisfied. You have clearly never actually worked in share with three children under 3.
Her nanny will still have 3 children during all school vacations, sick days and summers. There is also no mention that she has recieved a raise since she started.

We were going to give her a $1 raise after a year regardless which will be on April 1.

I too have concerns about days when she would have all 3 kids together at once and if that's even feasible/desirable for her. We are next door neighbors and have the same model house and they're definitely not big so that's an issue as well. My first step was going to be to talk to the other family first about an appropriate rate and salary increase should we decide to continue and then present to our nanny and see if she's even interested. She may not be and that's totally fine but it made more sense to get my ducks in a row before we had the conversation.

I'm the pp in the share with 3. I mentioned $2 raise for the child since both kids will be in preschool and a $1 merit raise. Here's what needs to happen for this share to be successful, a great schedule, strong sick day policy for the children, and lots of open communication. Your nanny is going to have to put the baby on a schedule that works with drop off and pick. If the toddlers still nap, the baby has to be able to nap at the same time. There should be a a room just for the baby to nap when the boys are home. 2-3 year olds are loud. Transportation to and from preschool needs to reasonable. She should be able to fit three car seats in her car. You need to put in place a strong sick day policy, the family with 2 children are twice as likely to get sick and will have two children who are likely to be sick at the same time. They also have a baby they probably don't want to get sick from all the germs preschoolers bring home. You need to adjust petty cash to accommodate the third child. You have to realize a baby comes with more things so you will need space in your house for those items.

She should have a game plan on how to keep the children entertained during vacations. Remember because of the age difference some children classes would be a pain to bring a baby to (so ask for active involvement for the caregiver). The classes the baby will enjoy, a preschooler might be bored with. You need to accept that the babies needs will probably come before your sons on occasion. For example, baby needs to be soothed to sleep but your son wants her to play with him. Understand this is no longer 1:2 ratio, it's 1:3 which is less time spent with just your child. Because the age difference there will be different needs. If you can accept that than you will probably be okay with the share.