Year-end bonus and raise

[Anonymous]

Any advice on appropriate size of year-end bonus and raise for nanny we are happy with? Also, she's been with us only part of this year. Would raise be more appropriate on 1-year anniversary with us vs. year end? Appreciate any advice.

[Anonymous]

I have had families give me nothing up to a month of pay for a Christmas bonus. Typically, it has been two weeks. I did have one family increase my salary after a six month period, but that was something we had written into the contract. Generally, raises are given after a year with a family.

[Anonymous]

For a nanny you are happy with, a week's salary is what is most often quoted (I did not say standard, because it sends some crazy woman into a tizzy!). Her having been with you for less than a year, in wouldn't be inappropriate to prorate it, at the same time that you express your heartfelt appreciation (a small/no bonus can indicate unhappiness with performance). Yes, I'd recommend waiting for her one year to do the raise, unless you plan to do it at the holidays each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a nanny you are happy with, a week's salary is what is most often quoted (I did not say standard, because it sends some crazy woman into a tizzy!). Her having been with you for less than a year, in wouldn't be inappropriate to prorate it, at the same time that you express your heartfelt appreciation (a small/no bonus can indicate unhappiness with performance). Yes, I'd recommend waiting for her one year to do the raise, unless you plan to do it at the holidays each year.

agree. 1 week's pay. If you choose to prorate it, I think the standard is 1 day of pay for every month worked.

[Anonymous]

hi OP - we're in the same situation as you. Our nanny has been with us since May and we're planning on giving her a bonus. My concern with giving her what we would give her for a full year is that I think then that she might think it's the prorated amount and expect significantly more next year, and I don't want to disappoint her next year. So what we're thinking of doing is giving a little less than a week's pay for bonus and then give her the full week and maybe a little more next year.

Regarding the raise, we plan on raising her at the end of the full year, so May. I'm not sure though if I should mention that at bonus time/Christmas? Again, I don't really know what the expectation is. I'm hoping she wouldn't expect a raise after 7 months, but I'm not sure because I bet a lot of people give them at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

We used to do a raise in December plus a bonus, but now cycle the contract with the school year (so guaranteed/"stated in the contract" raise on September 1) and give a holiday bonus in December. The holiday bonus is generally $1,000, but in the first year we have done $500. We are on our ninth year with a nanny (second nanny) and this new arrangement seems to work well for our family and spreads out the financial burden a bit better.

[Anonymous]

I give my nanny around $200 and several gifts. It's up to you really. She'll appreciate any gesture.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone. Appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Our nanny started working for us in January, so for us, the bonus and raise are kind of back to back, but I think it's more common to do a holiday bonus and then a raise at the end/start of a new year. (We have a contract which in theory can be renegotiated annually as well--i.e. we gave her additional vacation time after a year, and updated some of the other terms.)

For a bonus, we honestly could not afford a full week's pay but gave her $250 and some gifts and she was very appreciative.

[Anonymous]

http://www.info.4nannytaxes.com/blog-0/bid/100133/Nanny-Holiday-Appreciation-Bonus-Paid-Time-Off

Good practical advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to do a raise in December plus a bonus, but now cycle the contract with the school year (so guaranteed/"stated in the contract" raise on September 1) and give a holiday bonus in December. The holiday bonus is generally $1,000, but in the first year we have done $500. We are on our ninth year with a nanny (second nanny) and this new arrangement seems to work well for our family and spreads out the financial burden a bit better.

Do you still give her 1,000 as the bonus nine years later or have you gone up? I think that's a great bonus, but I also feel like there's always pressure to increase every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Do you still give her 1,000 as the bonus nine years later or have you gone up? I think that's a great bonus, but I also feel like there's always pressure to increase every year.

We held steady at $1,000 for seven years. We also gave birthday, contract renewal and other small money gifts during each year that added up to $300-$500. Our nanny was extremely happy and only left because she was getting married. We are still friendly and see her every couple of months.