bonus vs. PTO days of employer choice

[Anonymous]

I have a part-time nanny (1 day/week). She is a good employee and last year I gave her a $200 Christmas bonus. This year, I would like to give the same amount, but I just got back from vacation and I gave her the day off, paid. Is it OK to reduce my bonus to $100 because of this?

[Anonymous]

Why should you reduce it because YOU went on vacation?

She was available to work for you, you went away, so you paid her availability.

You did the right thing by giving her a paid day off. However, it's unfair to take away from her Christmas bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why should you reduce it because YOU went on vacation?

She was available to work for you, you went away, so you paid her availability.

You did the right thing by giving her a paid day off. However, it's unfair to take away from her Christmas bonus.

MB here - I agree.

[Anonymous]

I think it's ok to reduce your bonus but she nor anyone else is going to look at it like she got the same amount as last year because she got one paid day off. A bonus is a gift, after all.

Are you ok with her thinking that maybe this year was not a good year for you financially or you are not as happy with her this year?

[Anonymous]

I have a part-time nanny (1 day/week). She is a good employee and last year I gave her a $200 Christmas bonus. This year, I would like to give the same amount, but I just got back from vacation and I gave her the day off, paid. Is it OK to reduce my bonus to $100 because of this?

This is a difficult question to answer without more detail. If you have a contract that guarantees hours and you were on vacation during her day of work, then, no, you can't reduce her bonus fairly. But, if you don't guarantee hours (and it is somewhat rare for a 1 day a week nanny to have that in the contract) and you just gave her a bonus non-contracted day off paid, then sure, why not? The day off has value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why should you reduce it because YOU went on vacation?

She was available to work for you, you went away, so you paid her availability.

You did the right thing by giving her a paid day off. However, it's unfair to take away from her Christmas bonus.

Bravo! She's beeing really cheesy. I guess she wants to make the paid-time a gift, but she's looking to see if there are people who will support her. Ugh!

[Anonymous]

For a 1 day/week nanny I think it should be just fine, OP.

[Anonymous]

Depends. Do you want to keep her? If so, I'd give her the $200.00.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends. Do you want to keep her? If so, I'd give her the $200.00.

+1