Net vs gross pay

[Anonymous]

We interviewed a nanny candidate today who I really liked. When we were talking about compensation I gave her the hourly rate we are offering and told her what her weekly guaranteed gross pay would be. She said her previous employers always talked about it in terms of take-home/net pay and wants me to email her with the details of what her net pay would be. I have no idea how to figure that out because doesn't that depend on her exemptions and how she files (jointly with her husband vs separately) etc? I found some calculators online but I don't know that they are accurate. We've interviewed a lot of candidates and she is the first who I really liked and would consider, however, I'm not sure how to figure this out. Has anyone else done this?

[Anonymous]

You clearly cannot figure out what her take home would be with knowing her exemptions and filing status. I would guess that this poor nanny has clearly been paid under the table until now and didn't want to admit it.

[Anonymous]

This is something that she could figure out for herself. If she ever does figure out what the net amount will be, she us going to ask you for more money.
The agree that she has probably been paid under the table in the past. Anytime I have ever interviewed, salary has always been in terms of gross, not net pay.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I also asked her if she had a bottom line, i.e. how much she wanted in take home pay so I'd know if we are way off or close. She didn't have an answer for me so I'm not sure what to do. Like I said, she is the first candidate I've wanted to consider and we have interviewed a lot. She has only had 2 previous nanny jobs but they were both VERY long term (as in 10+ years) so she has a lot of experience but I guess it's possible she was paid under the table but she seemed like she really wanted us to do it over the table (as do we).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I also asked her if she had a bottom line, i.e. how much she wanted in take home pay so I'd know if we are way off or close. She didn't have an answer for me so I'm not sure what to do. Like I said, she is the first candidate I've wanted to consider and we have interviewed a lot. She has only had 2 previous nanny jobs but they were both VERY long term (as in 10+ years) so she has a lot of experience but I guess it's possible she was paid under the table but she seemed like she really wanted us to do it over the table (as do we).

I'm sure she wants to be paid legally now - it just doesn't seem like she has been before. Which doesn't matter to you anyway. She has to decide based on your gross salary offer. It certainly isn't up to you to tell her how many deductions she should take!

[Anonymous]

Why not suggest she walkin into an H & R place, and ask them to help her figure out her net. She probably needs help to fill in your tax forms, anyway. They'd probably help her for free.

[Anonymous]

I would just reiterate what the hourly rate is that you're offering and what her gross weekly pay would be, then let her know that you cannot calculate her net pay because you aren't aware of her filing status, exemptions, etc.

[Anonymous]

Send her the calculator links you found, reiterate what her weekly gross would be, and let her put the numbers in. Be sure you send her links that calculate out her regular and OT rates - nanny tax services do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send her the calculator links you found, reiterate what her weekly gross would be, and let her put the numbers in. Be sure you send her links that calculate out her regular and OT rates - nanny tax services do that.

That's a good idea, thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would send her a link to an online payroll calculator. Let her know what your offer is, and she can plug in all the info including her personal exemptions, etc.

Alternatively, you can use a calculator to give her examples to print out and show her.

NEVER speak about wages in net terms. Even if your nanny has been used to that in the past, nicely explain to her that that is not how job negotiations work, and help her learn the right way to do things.