Rate check

[Anonymous]

We live in Bethesda/Chevy Chase, one toddler, 50 hours M-F, no housekeeping other than cleanup related to child, $650/week before taxes guaranteed. 2 weeks vacation and all federal holidays paid, use of credit card for gas and incidentals. Is this fair?

[Anonymous]

That works out to about $12/hr base rate.
Seems on the low end, but if you don't mind someone with less experience you can probably find someone.

I wouldn't consider credit card use for gas an incidentals a perk. You should be paying for the nanny's gas if she drives your child, and when your child eats out you should be paying for those meals too.

2 weeks vacation and paid federal holidays are standard. What about sick days? Do you offer any of those?

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm an MB in Kensington. Fair is a judgment call, and also a perception issue - so you'll need to test the market and see if the package you're offering is getting you the candidates you want.

We started our nanny at a very comparable level to what you're describing, and are aware that we are getting above average care for a below average rate (but at a level that has allowed us to be generous with annual raises and bonuses.)

So, you can find someone for the job at that rate, but you need to hire and retain someone you like at that level. It is likely to be a little trickier and require some compromise (in our case the compromise is English skills).

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm an MB in Kensington. Fair is a judgment call, and also a perception issue - so you'll need to test the market and see if the package you're offering is getting you the candidates you want.

We started our nanny at a very comparable level to what you're describing, and are aware that we are getting above average care for a below average rate (but at a level that has allowed us to be generous with annual raises and bonuses.)

So, you can find someone for the job at that rate, but you need to hire and retain someone you like at that level. It is likely to be a little trickier and require some compromise (in our case the compromise is English skills).

Good luck.

Thanks for this insight. We actually want a Spanish speaking nanny and less than fluent English skills are acceptable to us. Could you share what you currently pay your nanny and after how many years? Is it still just one child? If we started at this rate and then added another child, what would you suggest for the increase? I appreciate your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to hire a non-US resident and pay her under the table, OP?

Your pay scale is very, very low and that is not calculating overtime (legally mandated after 40 hours a week). Calculating overtime for ten hours you are actually paying around 11.50 an hour. I honestly don't know anyone who would work for that - legal or illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm an MB in Kensington. Fair is a judgment call, and also a perception issue - so you'll need to test the market and see if the package you're offering is getting you the candidates you want.

We started our nanny at a very comparable level to what you're describing, and are aware that we are getting above average care for a below average rate (but at a level that has allowed us to be generous with annual raises and bonuses.)

So, you can find someone for the job at that rate, but you need to hire and retain someone you like at that level. It is likely to be a little trickier and require some compromise (in our case the compromise is English skills).

Good luck.

Thanks for this insight. We actually want a Spanish speaking nanny and less than fluent English skills are acceptable to us. Could you share what you currently pay your nanny and after how many years? Is it still just one child? If we started at this rate and then added another child, what would you suggest for the increase? I appreciate your thoughts.

I'd rather not share the specific rates (I have been flamed too often on these boards) but we started our nanny in a very similar hourly ballpark to where you are now, and we had infant twins (who are now toddlers). We have given her annual raises ranging from $1 to $1.75 per hour in base rate, plus added significant health insurance reimbursement and an annual bonus. (One year the bonus was a plane ticket home to South America for the holidays, another it was cash.) We give 10 days vacation, 5 days sick, 10 paid holidays, and often an extra couple of days off with holidays/vacations/etc... We compensate for mileage and any out of pocket costs, we have had her stay with our kids when we've gone away, etc... We occasionally pay her under the table for small amounts of overtime (an extra hour on a long day kind of thing).

Re the language issue. Our nanny is predominantly spanish speaking though her english is more than passable. But in a pinch, when she is stressed, or over the phone, or in any kind of emergency, communication does get trickier in a way I didn't anticipate when we hired her. Just something to keep in mind if no one in your house is fluent in Spanish.

Also, we found our nanny through a neighborhood family referral. We certainly could never have gotten someone as great as her, for that price, through an agency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to hire a non-US resident and pay her under the table, OP?

Your pay scale is very, very low and that is not calculating overtime (legally mandated after 40 hours a week). Calculating overtime for ten hours you are actually paying around 11.50 an hour. I honestly don't know anyone who would work for that - legal or illegal.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to hire a non-US resident and pay her under the table, OP?

Your pay scale is very, very low and that is not calculating overtime (legally mandated after 40 hours a week). Calculating overtime for ten hours you are actually paying around 11.50 an hour. I honestly don't know anyone who would work for that - legal or illegal.

+1

Technically, an illegal nanny doesn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to legally mandated overtime, now does she?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to hire a non-US resident and pay her under the table, OP?

Your pay scale is very, very low and that is not calculating overtime (legally mandated after 40 hours a week). Calculating overtime for ten hours you are actually paying around 11.50 an hour. I honestly don't know anyone who would work for that - legal or illegal.

+1

Technically, an illegal nanny doesn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to legally mandated overtime, now does she?

You'd still be wrong for taking advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to hire a non-US resident and pay her under the table, OP?

Your pay scale is very, very low and that is not calculating overtime (legally mandated after 40 hours a week). Calculating overtime for ten hours you are actually paying around 11.50 an hour. I honestly don't know anyone who would work for that - legal or illegal.

+1

Technically, an illegal nanny doesn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to legally mandated overtime, now does she?

You'd still be wrong for taking advantage.

+2

Much too low. Taking advantage either way you're paying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to hire a non-US resident and pay her under the table, OP?

Your pay scale is very, very low and that is not calculating overtime (legally mandated after 40 hours a week). Calculating overtime for ten hours you are actually paying around 11.50 an hour. I honestly don't know anyone who would work for that - legal or illegal.

+1

Technically, an illegal nanny doesn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to legally mandated overtime, now does she?

It's your legs you need to worry about. Honey.

[Anonymous]

I find it really interesting that the families that claim to be looking for a Spanish speaking nanny "for the language exposure" are also the ones looking to pay the least. If speaking Spanish is a plus for you, that candidate should be worth more to you. I think Spanish speaking nanny is code for illegal immigrant that we can under pay.

-signed Spanish speaking nanny, with Spanish last name, who shocks parents looking to low ball me all the time, with my fluent English, degrees, and knowledge of market rates.