Handling Furlough

[Anonymous]

We have our first furlough day next week. We decided to give our nanny the day off with pay, but had a conversation with her that due to the reduction in our household income, we would not be able to adjust her hourly rate on her anniversary date in July as we had hoped. Explained that every day I am furloughed, which are scheduled in advance, she will have the day off with pay instead. She seemed happy and understanding ... but I am second guessing myself now. How are other families dealing with this?

We pay market rate ($16) and nanny usually works 35 - 40 hours a week, rarely more.

[Anonymous]

How many furlough days will there be?

What are the other choices you're thinking of doing?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like a good compromise in place of the anticipated raise. What exactly are you second guessing? Would you rather she come to work on those days? Since you already proposed the days off as in lieu of a raise, if you take them away you should be prepared to offer something else. If you simply go back on what you said and still give no raise or other benefit, your nanny will almost certainly begin looking for greener pastures.

[Anonymous]

Sounds more than generous and fair. Though couldn't she be helpful to you even on furloughed days?

If I were your nanny I would appreciate you being honest with me, and not reflecting your decreased income in my pay. Seems like I'd benefit w/ more vacation time - at least in the short run.

[Anonymous]

Sounds fair and even generous, OP. I'd be shocked if she is unhappy with the plan.

Annual increases are not an entitlement, so it's not as though you've taken away something that she was in a position to count on (unless you previously agreed to bump her rate up on some date certain). You could also have had her work as usual on your furlough days without feeling compelled to provide an annual rate increase.

The only thing I wouldn't consider fair in this situation is giving her the day off without pay if her contract with you calls for guaranteed hours.

[Anonymous]

That sounds reasonable. Its better for her to have a job with no raise than no job at all.

[Anonymous]

Extremely generous. Other families I know have the nanny work the furlough days but are not granting any pay raises due to the decrease in family income.

[Anonymous]

Very very very generous.

[Anonymous]

Extremely generous. Other families I know have the nanny work the furlough days but are not granting any pay raises due to the decrease in family income.

This.