help me figure out appropriate bonus for departing nanny?
![[Post New]](/nanny-forum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Hi folks -- I wonder if anyone can offer thoughts on the appropriate bonus for our departing nanny.
Our nanny has worked for us for 5 1/2 years. She started out full-time, then after a year went to 25 hours/week when our kids both started elementary school. Since then she has worked about 25 hours a week and we have been in a nanny share with another family. Our kids are going to start going to their school's aftercare program, though, so we have helped her find a position with another family, which begins in a few weeks. We are very fond of her and she will continue to do some occasional evening babysitting for us, but this is the end of the "regular" daily care period. We are taking her and her family out to dinner and will give her some personal gifts (notes and pictures from the kids, that kind of thing). We are not rich-- this is part of the reason we need to cut back on child care expenses-- but we also want to give her a nice going away bonus. What do you think would be appropriate in this situation? We pay her $450/week pre tax, provide lots of paid vacation (6 weeks/year, since we go away most summers) and also give her annual Xmas bonuses of $1000. I was thinking of a "departure bonus" of about $1500 -- does that seem reasonable? Too little? Too much? thanks for any feedback! |
Anonymous
| Oh my god, WAY too much! I think $450 would be plenty. |
Anonymous
| I think any bonus you decide to give will be generous and appreciated OP. After 5 1/2 years, $1500 as a parting gift sounds appropriate. I've heard the 1 week of pay per year of service, but for longer term nannies that can get exorbitant. |
Anonymous
| OP, how refreshing that you care about your nanny. Kudos to you. I hope you are able to stay in touch with her for many years. |
Anonymous
| One week per year of service would be around $2500. But that does seem high, especially since she has another job. |
Anonymous
| Our nanny of 8 years is leaving next month and we're planning to give her $2K. $1,500 sounds about right. |
Anonymous
|
With one family, after two years I received some personal gifts and a week's pay.
For another, after two years I received a purse, which may have been re-gifted to me. What you're thinking is very generous. Even "only" 1k would be fantastic. |
Anonymous
*First family was after three years, sorry! |
Anonymous
| OP, I think what you're doing is lovely and more than sufficient. |
Anonymous
| There's no norm here, OP. I think it would be sad to see a long-term nanny off without some sort of gift or bonus, but even an extra week or two of pay would be generous, especially if you are feeling financially squeezed right now. $1500 would be exceptionally nice, and your nanny will probably be exceptionally thrilled. |
Anonymous
+1 Agree with all of this, including your bonus being spot on as a week's pay per year of service can really add up over time. So glad you had a great relationship with your nanny and are ending the daily care period on good terms for everyone 
|
Anonymous
| Given that you have helped her find a job, are taking her and her family out to dinner, and giving her personal gifts, any bonus on top of that is extremely generous. She will be ecstatic! |
Anonymous
+1. I agree with this. I'm leaving my job after 4 years and I would be blown away by a gift of $1500. That's incredibly generous. |
Anonymous
|
"Given that you have helped her find a job, are taking her and her family out to dinner, and giving her personal gifts, any bonus on top of that is extremely generous. She will be ecstatic! "
agree. nice job, OP. |
Anonymous
|
I think $1500 is high, especially since you helped her find a new job, and are giving her gifts and dinner for her family.
Two weeks pay bonus sounds more reasonable-$900. |