Christmas bonus

[Anonymous]

Hi I am an MB and we hired our nanny back in August. She came highly recommended and has done an outstanding job with the charges. They adore her completely and speak highly of her as well. In our agreement we gave her three weeks paid vacation in exchange for babysitting for us twice a month. Her first two weeks is during Christmas and New Years. My question is do we give her a Christmas bonus on top of the two weeks pay? We already have to give her a weeks pay for the week she worked and an additional two weeks because we wont see her. It just seems like a lot of money given all at once.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

[Anonymous]

Her vacation pay is not the same as a holiday bonus, even if she takes her vacation around the holidays, so you'll be paying her for the week she worked and two of her vacation weeks, per your contract.

If you want to give her a holiday bonus, it would go on top of her regular pay (and vacation pay is "regular pay"). That said, you are not obligated to give her a bonus, but it is a nice thing to do and great nannies are usually accustomed to receiving them. If you're feeling like it's too much financially to come up with all that money at once, you could give her a gift and a card instead.

[Anonymous]

Agree with everything the PP said, and would also like to point out that paid vacation in exchange for working extra hours is already a rather unusual and undesirable situation. If you do truly feel like your nanny is doing an excellent job, a nice Christmas bonus can go a long way to keep her happy.

If coming up with all the money at once is difficult, I know that I personally would not have a problem if my employer asked that I wait to deposit the checks on my regular pay day. Or if they asked to mail, direct deposit/pay pal, me the check I'd probably be fine with that too. You could even propose giving half on her last day of work and half on her first day back. Just whatever method you choose, make sure it's clear when she can expect to be paid, and STICK TO IT. Nothing worse than being shorted a pay check around the holidays.

[Anonymous]

I'd do it. Seems like a lot of money but that's just how it happened to work out.

[Anonymous]

I wonder why she's taking 2 weeks vacation instead of 1? Doesnt she have federal holidays off already? Is that being excluded from the 2 weeks?

[Anonymous]

no way. what in the world would it be a bonus for? she's just started w/ you - she hasn't earned anything. I would just pay her her normal amts each week since she is JUST starting w/ you. If it was even a month earlier, I'd consider prorating it but not if she only starts at xmas itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no way. what in the world would it be a bonus for? she's just started w/ you - she hasn't earned anything. I would just pay her her normal amts each week since she is JUST starting w/ you. If it was even a month earlier, I'd consider prorating it but not if she only starts at xmas itself.

OP said the nanny started in August, not just now. Four months is certainly enough time to do a prorated bonus of a days pay per month worked, especially since OP seems to think the nanny has been exceptional.

[Anonymous]

I don't really understand exactly how your arrangement works, but if she is treated as a regular employee taking paid vacation time at the xmas holidays, the only question is, should you give her a bonus? If you are happy with her work, yes you should. If cashflow really is an issue, I would do as previously suggested and split the payments up, but make it clear to her exactly what bonus you are giving her and when you will be paying her, or give her post-dated cheques. On the other hand, some companies actually pay employees early including any bonus prior to xmas so the staff will have money for the holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our agreement we gave her three weeks paid vacation in exchange for babysitting for us twice a month.

OP, if you are giving her PTO in exchange for babysitting for you, this is not money you are giving her. It is money she worked for and banked. This is a crappy way to setup a so-called benefit, and it truly is a benefit to yourself. If your nanny is outstanding as you said so yourself, do not take her vacation into account when deciding whether to give a bonus or not. It sounds like she has earned one. If you don't want to give a bonus, perhaps consider revising your contract and actually give her vacation time as true benefit.

[Anonymous]

yes to bonus and birthday bonus also happy nanny happy kids

[Anonymous]

2012 post.

do something else w/ your time 22:50 on 9/19/2015.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2012 post.

do something else w/ your time 22:50 on 9/19/2015.

You many leave her alone and go run along.
The same problems persist, year after year.