How Do You Educate Your Employer About Bonus?

[Anonymous]

I work for a first time nanny employer. Last year I didn't get a bonus. I believe it's because my Bosses don't know about this common practice.

I know they can definitely afford to give one. And I know for certain they appreciate me, they praise the work I do with their LO daily. And they know I go way above my job discripriob.

I just believe they are oblivious to the end of year bonus practice.

How do I educate them? I don't want to ask for one .

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat as you, I really like my employers but they simply don't know the "norms" of nanny benefits. I was a little bummed about this because I didn't realize it till after I had been working for them for awhile. Unfortunately I can't think of a tactful way to bring it up and since bonuses are in no means required and really they shouldn't be expected[i], I've decided to just let it go. They are good employers and I enjoy working for them overall. I just don't want to rock the boat over something like that.

Also, we don't live in the DC area, we are in the jersey suburbs, in an area where nannies aren't nearly as common so I think that's why they haven't been as exposed / informed of the "norms" in employing a nanny. Not sure about where you live.

[Anonymous]

Same situation here and I'm not going to 'educate' her, since as pp stated, a bonus is not a requirement.

[Anonymous]

It's frustrating to not get a bonus when you know all your nanny peers get one. Especially when you know you work twice as hard. I work for $, it is so nice to work extra hard and get more $.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's frustrating to not get a bonus when you know all your nanny peers get one. Especially when you know you work twice as hard. I work for $, it is so nice to work extra hard and get more $.

Is this OP? Just remember... a lot of companies that MBs and DBs work for are not and have not given bonuses in awhile. I'm the first one who responded and this is what I reminded myself, it would be hard for the to justify giving me a bonus if they didn't get any themselves. They work very hard at both of their jobs as well, bonuses are really nice (especially when you see your nanny friends getting them) but not getting one doesn't mean that your boss doesn't appreciate your hard work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's frustrating to not get a bonus when you know all your nanny peers get one. Especially when you know you work twice as hard. I work for $, it is so nice to work extra hard and get more $.

Is this OP? Just remember... a lot of companies that MBs and DBs work for are not and have not given bonuses in awhile. I'm the first one who responded and this is what I reminded myself, it would be hard for the to justify giving me a bonus if they didn't get any themselves. They work very hard at both of their jobs as well, bonuses are really nice (especially when you see your nanny friends getting them) but not getting one doesn't mean that your boss doesn't appreciate your hard work!

+1

It was only the last year I was at my 5 year job that I received a bonus, but my former employers showed me in multiple ways how much they appreciated me (telling me, giving me many random days off, extra vacation weeks off, sports tix and other gifts.)

[Anonymous]

MB here. It's true, times are changing in the corporate world: I and my colleagues used to get a bonus every year but it has now dwindled to the point where last year we did not get anything. My husband has never received bonuses in his field. He is now a contractor with a transporation company. Even though he is available to work on Dec 24 and 31 he has been told the company doesn't need him on those days so they are not paying him. However, he can take the kids to the company Xmas party on Dec 24 if he pays $20 a child (we have two kids). Bah humbug!

However, we still do pay a bonus to and/or buy a gift for any childcare provider we are employing when the holidays roll around (cash + gift for nanny, gift only for daycare workers).

It is too bad when employers do not think about the nanny at holidays. Do they not even get you a small gift? I'm not sure how you can tactfully address this though, without seeming pushy/entitled. And you may think they can afford to give you one, but really unless they are seriously and obviously completely loaded, or you have access to their bank account details and/or a copy of their family budget, you can't know for sure. Or if they are really rich, maybe they got that way by saving money on things like nanny bonuses

[Anonymous]

No idea but I'm in the same boat. They have trouble getting the whole guaranteed hours thing so I wouldn't want to confuse the poor things. They're sweet people, they just have no idea how to employ a nanny. That's the consequence of working for middleclass families. Some of the "norms" get forgotten or dismissed.

[Anonymous]

I'm not going to say anything, but it makes it hard for me to know why exactly I didn't get one. Do they simply not know? Are they unsatisfied? Do they just not give a damn about me? Are they having money issues? Do I need to look for a new job?

I'm not going to quit because I don't get a bonus, but my relationship with a family has always gone downhill if they fail to recognize my performance in some way at the end of the year. It makes it difficult to look the other way when you show up late, leave a mess in the kitchen, ask me to take care of something that isn't my job, etc. when I know going above and beyond for your family will go unnoticed.

[Anonymous]

You can't, really.

Sucks though. Sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Make them a card with the kids help (get them to draw or do a hand or foot print) and give a small container of baked goods. Tell them you love your job and just wanted to give them something to show how much you appreciate them. This will at the very least prompt them to get you a gift of some kind and hopefully get them thinking about a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make them a card with the kids help (get them to draw or do a hand or foot print) and give a small container of baked goods. Tell them you love your job and just wanted to give them something to show how much you appreciate them. This will at the very least prompt them to get you a gift of some kind and hopefully get them thinking about a bonus.

Lol. Gifts should not be used to illicit gifts. Sorry OP, you just have to wait and see. There is no way to tactfully ask for a bonus, without having it spelled out in your contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make them a card with the kids help (get them to draw or do a hand or foot print) and give a small container of baked goods. Tell them you love your job and just wanted to give them something to show how much you appreciate them. This will at the very least prompt them to get you a gift of some kind and hopefully get them thinking about a bonus.

Lol. Gifts should not be used to illicit gifts. Sorry OP, you just have to wait and see. There is no way to tactfully ask for a bonus, without having it spelled out in your contract.

*elicit

[Anonymous]

I know the feeling OP. This is the first family that I have worked for I which I didn't receive a bonus, a gift or a card from them or the charges. I gave the charges a gift as I always do with whom I'm working for and still didn't receive so much as a thank you card. I am definitely feeling a little unappreciated at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Could always make a comment about how you were reading a really great article about being a great boss and how your boss has some of those qualities. You could offer to forward the link. There are several out there - google throws up a few.

Or look for an article about how to keep your nanny - I've read a few on the net and mention it and offer to forward link - obviously you will need to make sure the article you find mentions a bonus!