Nannies what have you done to earn a bonus? Examples, please.

[Anonymous]

I'm a firm believer in being upfront about job expectations. I don't fault my nanny for not doing things beyond what was negotiated. I'm also a firm believer that a bonus is earned not granted just for doing your basic job expectations. A gift is different. A small gift is more of a sign of appreciation and good will that you are close to the family.

I can't come up with anything that my nanny has done to warrant a bonus. What are some examples of what your nanny has done beyond her daily job to exceed and deserve a bonus? Nannies what are some things you have done?

[Anonymous]

My nanny has been very flexible about start/end times, and has cleaned up after our old, sick cats more often than I can count.

There are other things that were in her job description that she is not doing, but I don't see these as a "cancel each other out" thing. She'll have been with us for 6 months at Christmas, so she'll get a bonus and we'll talk about the other duties.

[Anonymous]

1) I am flexible about my start and end time. I come in early whenever needed, even if that means I'm waking up at 5am.

2) I'm also not a stickler about starting/leaving precisely at my end time. I arrive 10-15 minutes early every day, have been late (5 min.) one time in a year, and I say nothing about the 5-15 minutes late I leave each day. It adds up, and I am never paid for it, but I know they appreciate not feeling clocked.

3) My employers, being first time parents, didnt know what a typical nanny does beyond childcare so my contract does not include any duties beyond that. I took it upon myself to take care of the baby laundry, prepare baby food, maintain the nursery and play areas, and other things.

4) I try to be helpful where I can be; taking out the trash, emptying/loading the dishwasher, running errands, restocking things I see are needed, making dinner if I have time.

5) I keep myself healthy so even though my bosses and charges are constantly sick, I'm here every day with a smile.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny will, on occasion, go the market and restock basics like milk, eggs, cold cuts, etc... Sometimes she does this during the day - with the kids, other times she'll pick up something she knows we need when she's there on her own time.

Every once in a while we'll come home to dinner that she made for us.

She pretty routinely leaves the kitchen spotless - in a way that goes beyond just cleaning up kid related stuff.

Every once in a while she'll wash the dining room tablecloth, or some towels guests used, etc...

She once came in on a day off when I and my husband were terribly ill. She totally saved us that day - I don't know what we would have done otherwise.

She's great about the rare occasions when I'm 10 minutes late.

She puts up w/ a lot of grandparents visiting for days at a time (all live a plane or significant car ride away).

She adores our kids and takes incredibly loving, safe care of them.

[Anonymous]

She moves heaven and earth to provide us with flexibility. She is always timely and professional and has been willing to help with other tasks (petsitting when we are out of town, geocery shopping, making crafts with the kids for their grandparents, etc.) that just make our whole household run more smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Last year, I worked for half my pay when our share family suddenly left us. I didn't want to leave the other family screwed without childcare so they kept their half rate and I struggled for 6weeks until we found a replacement family. I made all the baby's baby food homemade, helped clean beyond my duties, flexible about being late, researched and went out of my way to find activities to take their daughter to. I also did most of the leg work finding our share family.

I thought for sure they would realize what I did for them and give me a bonus, just a weeks pay but I was sadly mistaken. I guess they assumed I stayed for me, which is crap because with my contacts I could had a new job in a week. I just liked them and didn't want to be a jerk. They gave me a nice sweater and 100 gift card but nothing else. The new share family gave me a full weeks bonus after only join a month prior. Kind of shows who has there priorities straight. I continued being somewhat flexible, cleaning up dog shit, cat puke, cleaning up extra (not as much as I did), offering to cook dinners etc. I could do more but after last year I figured out that what I do extra doesn't matter so I gave up a little. I could never be a lazy nanny but I'm not going to be taken advantage of again. Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

OP, your post rubs me the wrong way. If you get a bonus at work, I'm sure we'd love to hear about how you went above and beyond any job description to earn it.

[Anonymous]

I think its a legitimate question. We have all of these debates about how much or whether to give a nanny bonus, and whether or not its standard, but I don't think anyone has ever asked what a nanny can do to earn one. I know I have gone above and beyond the job description in every nanny job I've had, simply because its the nature of the job. Its impossible to fully anticipate your every need when crafting a job description, and if you have a good nanny in your home every day, she sees what you need and if you treat her well she does what she can for you.

So OP if you're happy with your nanny, and your life seems easier this year than last, she probably adds something to your home whether you realize what those specific things are or not

[Anonymous]

I also think that this question can be turned around: "In what ways has your nanny failed to live up to your expectations?" Bonuses are of course not required, but they are fairly "standard" in the nanny industry. Obviously, it is a nonstandardized industry, but when we talk about excellent nannies and what they can reasonably expect to receive, we should assume that this is what they may have been used to. If your complaint is that your nanny does her job and nothing more, then I fail to see the complaint. Because it is inherent in the basic nanny job duties that she arrived punctually do her job with a pleasant demeanor, bond with your child, place your child's well-being first at all times, and that she look for ways to make the household as a whole run more smoothly. If your nanny "only" does all of those things, then I would say she deserves a bonus.

As a nanny who has frequently received bonuses and frequently been told that I am the best thing to ever happen to a family, I don't always expect a bonus. But I do expect one of two things: either give me a bonus for doing my job well, or sit down with me and ask me to improve the things that make you unwilling to give me a bonus. If you cannot think of any room for improvement, then I deserve a bonus. If you can think of room for improvement, then I want to hear about it because I hold myself to high standards and I want to be the best nanny you've ever had.

[Anonymous]

I'm a live in nanny, 3 kids, work 60 hrs with no overtime. Numerous late nights at least 5 a month. Family laundry, sheets, clean/vacuum entire house, dust all while making sure homework is done, baths are given before bed sometimes even put them to bed so I'm basically the nanny/housekeeper . I know most of my nanny friends have a housekeeper come in once a week but I do all of that for them. While its not required they give me a bonus, its nice that they appreciate the extras I do. I think bonuses help with keeping workers motivated all across all jobs. A show of good will, appreciation. Even when I worked in retail I got bonuses and extra perks. If you felt your nanny was not doing that great then its best to give a performance review and see where it goes from there. Or if you can't give a bonus then work out some perks she could enjoy.

[Anonymous]

I agree OP. Many nannies just expect a bonus for showing up to work. They call that above and beyond. I have given my current nanny several small gifts because she's blah. Wont get into it. I've given a past nanny whom I loved and who cared for my children for several years wonderful bonuses. IT all depends on their attitudes and how they perform their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, your post rubs me the wrong way. If you get a bonus at work, I'm sure we'd love to hear about how you went above and beyond any job description to earn it.

That's irrelevant. Many professionals (like the ones who can afford to employ nannies) have careers, education and work hard. Many don't get paid extra if they're forced to work overtime. Nannying is different. If you're a shitty nanny don't expect a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a firm believer in being upfront about job expectations. I don't fault my nanny for not doing things beyond what was negotiated. I'm also a firm believer that a bonus is earned not granted just for doing your basic job expectations. A gift is different. A small gift is more of a sign of appreciation and good will that you are close to the family.

I can't come up with anything that my nanny has done to warrant a bonus. What are some examples of what your nanny has done beyond her daily job to exceed and deserve a bonus? Nannies what are some things you have done?

What things would have earned her a bonus?

Our nanny does little extras throughout the week. Nothing that's a big deal on it's own but over time it adds up. Even if she didn't, the way my kids are with her shows me that she is a great nanny even if she is just doing "basic expectations." That, to me, is worth a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a live in nanny, 3 kids, work 60 hrs with no overtime. Numerous late nights at least 5 a month. Family laundry, sheets, clean/vacuum entire house, dust all while making sure homework is done, baths are given before bed sometimes even put them to bed so I'm basically the nanny/housekeeper . I know most of my nanny friends have a housekeeper come in once a week but I do all of that for them. While its not required they give me a bonus, its nice that they appreciate the extras I do. I think bonuses help with keeping workers motivated all across all jobs. A show of good will, appreciation. Even when I worked in retail I got bonuses and extra perks. If you felt your nanny was not doing that great then its best to give a performance review and see where it goes from there. Or if you can't give a bonus then work out some perks she could enjoy.

That's illegal. Even if you agreed to it, the law supersedes your agreement. You're an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a live in nanny, 3 kids, work 60 hrs with no overtime. Numerous late nights at least 5 a month. Family laundry, sheets, clean/vacuum entire house, dust all while making sure homework is done, baths are given before bed sometimes even put them to bed so I'm basically the nanny/housekeeper . I know most of my nanny friends have a housekeeper come in once a week but I do all of that for them. While its not required they give me a bonus, its nice that they appreciate the extras I do. I think bonuses help with keeping workers motivated all across all jobs. A show of good will, appreciation. Even when I worked in retail I got bonuses and extra perks. If you felt your nanny was not doing that great then its best to give a performance review and see where it goes from there. Or if you can't give a bonus then work out some perks she could enjoy.

That's illegal. Even if you agreed to it, the law supersedes your agreement. You're an idiot.

She's a LIVE IN nanny, meaning she may or may not be entitled to OT depending on where she is located. Read carefully, and know what you're talking about before you go calling people idiots.