Holiday Bonus

[Anonymous]

Are bonuses really compensation though? Agreed you don’t want to reduce a bonus but this year has been unprecedented and has financially decimated a lot of families. I think you either offer an extra week of PTO and an explanation. It is what it is. I certainly don’t expect to get the same bonus each year at my company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are bonuses really compensation though? Agreed you don’t want to reduce a bonus but this year has been unprecedented and has financially decimated a lot of families. I think you either offer an extra week of PTO and an explanation. It is what it is. I certainly don’t expect to get the same bonus each year at my company.

I think nannies consider them compensation when they have met or exceeded expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are bonuses really compensation though? Agreed you don’t want to reduce a bonus but this year has been unprecedented and has financially decimated a lot of families. I think you either offer an extra week of PTO and an explanation. It is what it is. I certainly don’t expect to get the same bonus each year at my company.

A nanny position is much more personal that a company job. You really can’t compare the two.

[Anonymous]

Lucky your nanny! My former family used to give me one week's pay as a Christmas bonus and lots of expensive presents. My new family last year just gave me a $300 Christmas bonus. They both have great jobs, but they are SO cheap with everything. I know, bonuses are voluntary. Still, it was a drastic change for me to go from a VERY generous family to a "frugal" one.

[Anonymous]

You should be thankful you got anything at all . A bonus is exactly that , a bonus , NOT mandatory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be thankful you got anything at all . A bonus is exactly that , a bonus , NOT mandatory

A bonus also reflects the value the family sees in the role and the sentiment towards a particular nanny. If a family who throws around over $1k per week on their kids can’t get together at least a week’s pay for the nanny at the holidays, I know that either they don’t value my role or they don’t value me. Either way, I know to look for another position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk to her, not us.

Tough luck about your financial situation. Give up buying Christmas presents for each other. She takes care of your children. Stop screwing her with your cheapness. Obviously, you cannot afford a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny has been with us for 2.5 years and I have always given two weeks’ worth of pay as a bonus at Christmas time. Given our financial situation (husband’s business took a nosedive due to Covid) I just can’t swing it this year. At most I could probably scrape by with a weeks’ pay. I’m embarrassed but there’s nothing I can do. Would you offer an explanation? I know it’s at least two months away but I’m stressing out about it. She knows we are struggling - I have not cut her pay or hours, she still gets PTO, holidays, benefits etc. Not that it matters.

Can you give her an extra week off in Dec or Jan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should be thankful you got anything at all . A bonus is exactly that , a bonus , NOT mandatory

A bonus also reflects the value the family sees in the role and the sentiment towards a particular nanny. If a family who throws around over $1k per week on their kids can’t get together at least a week’s pay for the nanny at the holidays, I know that either they don’t value my role or they don’t value me. Either way, I know to look for another position.

They may value you but not be in a position to pay extra. My brother lost his job back in March, I am paying his mortgage right now plus some medical bills for a niece. My nanny probably thinks same as you, but I am bleeding money like crazy, bonuses are just not in the picture nor any extras for ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should be thankful you got anything at all . A bonus is exactly that , a bonus , NOT mandatory

A bonus also reflects the value the family sees in the role and the sentiment towards a particular nanny. If a family who throws around over $1k per week on their kids can’t get together at least a week’s pay for the nanny at the holidays, I know that either they don’t value my role or they don’t value me. Either way, I know to look for another position.

They may value you but not be in a position to pay extra. My brother lost his job back in March, I am paying his mortgage right now plus some medical bills for a niece. My nanny probably thinks same as you, but I am bleeding money like crazy, bonuses are just not in the picture nor any extras for ourselves.

Then what I said doesn’t apply to you. I specifically said that it only is obvious when a family says they can’t afford a bonus, yet I know exactly how much is spent on extras every week (because I’m scheduling and/or picking them).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Quick update: I pulled it together and gave our nanny two weeks pay as a bonus (in addition to her salary). After all she has done for us this year I just couldn’t imagine doing less than that and with her husband being recently laid off it felt like the right thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Quick update: I pulled it together and gave our nanny two weeks pay as a bonus (in addition to her salary). After all she has done for us this year I just couldn’t imagine doing less than that and with her husband being recently laid off it felt like the right thing to do.

Good for you, OP. Happy Holidays!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Quick update: I pulled it together and gave our nanny two weeks pay as a bonus (in addition to her salary). After all she has done for us this year I just couldn’t imagine doing less than that and with her husband being recently laid off it felt like the right thing to do.

Hats off to you and Happy Holidays. It's obvious you care and that really matters.