Please critique this offer package

[Anonymous]

This is similar to a previous post, but since some of the details are different I would appreciate your thoughts. I'm going to hire a nanny to watch my 21-month-old and 4-month-old boys 3 days/wk, guaranteeing 30 hours. The only housekeeping required would be kids' laundry once per week, washing the kids' dishes/bottles, and keeping their play area reasonably tidy. I'm planning to pay $18/hr, compensate for any federal holidays that fall on work days, and offer 10 days PTO to include vacation and sick days. I will pay for any of her work days that coincide with family vacations, though that will probably happen only once per year.

I want to hire someone who speaks good English, can drive (no need to drive my kids around now, but if the nanny works out long-term, there might be some pre-school drop-offs, play dates, etc. in a year or so), is loving, trustworthy and has a lot of energy to keep my little ones happy and entertained. A few years' experience would be fine.

As mentioned above, in an ideal world the nanny would work with us for the next few years, so I'm trying to start at an hourly rate that would still allow for a decent raise every year.

Would this package attract the type of candidate I'm looking for? I live in Bethesda.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Sounds great. You will get plenty of qualified applicants.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is a generous package. Especially since it's not full time. Just make sure your contract is clear if you will ever need the nanny to work the other two days. She will most likely work with another family those days.

[Anonymous]

That's a good package. The only trouble will be finding someone who a) doesn't need full time or b) has another job the other two days.

[Anonymous]

Sounds great!

[Anonymous]

where are you located?

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, it sounds good to me. I'd also include when (or if) the nanny will be given a raise (a job review/raise after a year?).

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for the advice.

07:20 - you are correct that it's difficult to find someone who is interested in the 3 day/wk schedule. I have tried all of the usual methods - friends, neighborhood listservs, care.com, and I only have a couple applicants that are promising. Given that, should I consider upping the hourly rate? I'm torn because I feel like more than $18 is overpaying unless the person has 10+ years experience, lots of education, etc., which I don't need. And I don't have an unlimited budget! On the other hand, I need to hire someone soon.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks a lot for the advice.

07:20 - you are correct that it's difficult to find someone who is interested in the 3 day/wk schedule. I have tried all of the usual methods - friends, neighborhood listservs, care.com, and I only have a couple applicants that are promising. Given that, should I consider upping the hourly rate? I'm torn because I feel like more than $18 is overpaying unless the person has 10+ years experience, lots of education, etc., which I don't need. And I don't have an unlimited budget! On the other hand, I need to hire someone soon.

Thoughts?

Have you tried an agency? I used Metro Parent Relief to find someone for my 3 day/week schedule. I didn't have a TON of candidates but found several good ones for 2 children for $18/hr.

[Anonymous]

I want to hire someone who speaks good English

,


If you want strong English speaking skills, you might wan to brush up on your own. "speaks good English?" Try "speaks English well"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I want to hire someone who speaks good English

,


If you want strong English speaking skills, you might wan to brush up on your own. "speaks good English?" Try "speaks English well"

Really? A six month old thread to insult one sentence of someone's grammar? You are really reaching today...go outside, or better yet, WORK!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I want to hire someone who speaks good English

,


If you want strong English speaking skills, you might wan to brush up on your own. "speaks good English?" Try "speaks English well"

Actually, you're wrong. The phrase "speaks good English" has good as an adjective to describe the English spoken. So she's requesting some one who speaks the variety of English that is good, rather than some one speaks a bad version of English. That is a legitimate request.

The phrase you suggested uses well, an adverb, to describe the speaking. So, you would like some one who speaks English and speaks it well - fluently, perhaps? You're not looking for some one who speaks English poorly. Fair enough.

Both are fine and convey the same point. OP's original phrasing is not incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks a lot for the advice.

07:20 - you are correct that it's difficult to find someone who is interested in the 3 day/wk schedule. I have tried all of the usual methods - friends, neighborhood listservs, care.com, and I only have a couple applicants that are promising. Given that, should I consider upping the hourly rate? I'm torn because I feel like more than $18 is overpaying unless the person has 10+ years experience, lots of education, etc., which I don't need. And I don't have an unlimited budget! On the other hand, I need to hire someone soon.

Thoughts?

$18 an hour is not overpaying and your children ALWAYS need educated caregivers, OP.

If you cannot find someone at 18 for two children, yes - you may need to up your rate or hours.

[Anonymous]

You could easily go down to $15/hour and still get a ton of qualified applicants!