Family Moving from DC to NOVA, resulting in 2 1/2 times increase in transportation expenses

[Anonymous]

I have been with a family for two years and will maybe be with them for another two years, just had a 6 week old baby, along with their 2 plus old toddler.
The family is moving from DC which is a short bus ride from where I reside.
The trip to NOVA will increase my transportation from about twenty (20.00) a week to close to fifty(50.00) a week.
Should I ask about some form of contribution towards my increase in transportation expenses?

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't hurt to ask them, but they may decline.

My personal opinion is if they truly love you and think you are priceless, they will accommodate you and offer to help you pay the add'l cost of transportation. It would be a nice gesture of goodwill on their part.

If they do not agree, then it will be ultimately up to you to decide if you want to continue working for them and if they are worth the extra $30 you will be forking out a month in transportation cost.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

$30 additional per week and a much longer commute warrant a conversation. I would let them know how much money and time you are investing, print out the summary from the trip planner on wmata's website and give them a copy. Suggest they cover the transportation cost. Avoid doing a pay increase because that might impair your chances of getting your next raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$30 additional per week and a much longer commute warrant a conversation. I would let them know how much money and time you are investing, print out the summary from the trip planner on wmata's website and give them a copy. Suggest they cover the transportation cost. Avoid doing a pay increase because that might impair your chances of getting your next raise.

This is excellent advice. If you are willing to invest the extra time to accommodate their faraway move, the least they can do is cover your transportation costs.

I imagine they'd do whatever they can,
to provide caregiver stability for their toddler, no?

[Anonymous]

7:09
It would actually be an extra $120. 00 a month, which is a lot of extra money for me since my monthly transportation will increase from about $80.00 monthly to about $200.00.
Not taken into account the increase in commute time.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised THEY haven't yet brought it up. Hopefully, they'll be gracious and apologize.

Do you think they're financially overextended,
or can they afford to compensate you properly?

[Anonymous]

MB here. I would be happy to cover our nanny's additional travel costs because I would be so relieved to have continuity in childcare after a move. My guess is with the move a new baby they aren't thinking straight so I would raise it with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I would be happy to cover our nanny's additional travel costs because I would be so relieved to have continuity in childcare after a move. My guess is with the move a new baby they aren't thinking straight so I would raise it with them.

Thank you for sharing your kindness here,
and for being such a thoughtful Mother to your child.
We appreciate you.

[Anonymous]

OP, it's really petty to ask for them to pay your transportation. You are an adult.

To the other nannies, if you want the nanny profession to be as respected as any other profession then you need to stop asking for and whining about things that real professionals don't. If you work for a company in your hometown and then they close down and you need to commute to HQ an hour away they won't pay you more. You can quit and find a new job or take the transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's really petty to ask for them to pay your transportation. You are an adult.

To the other nannies, if you want the nanny profession to be as respected as any other profession then you need to stop asking for and whining about things that real professionals don't. If you work for a company in your hometown and then they close down and you need to commute to HQ an hour away they won't pay you more. You can quit and find a new job or take the transfer.

You are the only one whining on this forum. Again. Stop trying to shut down smart nannies who care about maintaining stability for their young charges. Perhaps you can broaden your focus a bit, and think win-win. Your portfolio will be fine. And your child will be better off. I promise you.

[Anonymous]

Well, if you are talking about professional world, let's see: very often when a company is moving significant number of jobs into another location, you are right that it is "take it or leave it", BUT a lot of these moves are because a company wants to layoff so many employees, and moving job location is making certain percent of people quit so they can avoid costs associated with layoffs. In Europe, where layoffs are harder than in the US, that's actually how many people are forced to quit. Also, if your company is doing this, and you are a star performer and they don't want to lose you, it is very likely that you get something if you stay (a relo package, a bonus, or allowing to work from home more is not out of question). My company just moved a lot of jobs around in MD, and you can easily see that top performers got perks, and many low performers were forced to quit.

OP, how much do you like your NF and how much do you think they value you? Depending where in NOVA they moved to, general nanny rates could be lower than in DC. If you think you are a great nanny, then I'd ask for transportation subsidy. Also, is moving to NOVA yourself out of question for you?

From MB's perspective, move and the baby already causes stress in the family, I wouldn't want risk changing the nanny too, if I liked her and thought she was excellent. However, new house and baby usually stretches family finances, so if I thought the nanny was just OK, and she asked for more money, I'd say yes, but then would try to find replacement in a few months... Also, I'd look at time it takes nanny to commute: a long commute both might already tire the nanny out before she gets to my house, and won't be ideal.

OP: did they already bump your salary for 2 kids? Then they might consider that is a way to partially pay for transportation.

[Anonymous]

I would ask. Its reasonable given the move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, if you are talking about professional world, let's see: very often when a company is moving significant number of jobs into another location, you are right that it is "take it or leave it", BUT a lot of these moves are because a company wants to layoff so many employees, and moving job location is making certain percent of people quit so they can avoid costs associated with layoffs. In Europe, where layoffs are harder than in the US, that's actually how many people are forced to quit. Also, if your company is doing this, and you are a star performer and they don't want to lose you, it is very likely that you get something if you stay (a relo package, a bonus, or allowing to work from home more is not out of question). My company just moved a lot of jobs around in MD, and you can easily see that top performers got perks, and many low performers were forced to quit.

OP, how much do you like your NF and how much do you think they value you? Depending where in NOVA they moved to, general nanny rates could be lower than in DC. If you think you are a great nanny, then I'd ask for transportation subsidy. Also, is moving to NOVA yourself out of question for you?

From MB's perspective, move and the baby already causes stress in the family, I wouldn't want risk changing the nanny too, if I liked her and thought she was excellent. However, new house and baby usually stretches family finances, so if I thought the nanny was just OK, and she asked for more money, I'd say yes, but then would try to find replacement in a few months... Also, I'd look at time it takes nanny to commute: a long commute both might already tire the nanny out before she gets to my house, and won't be ideal.

OP: did they already bump your salary for 2 kids? Then they might consider that is a way to partially pay for transportation.

The extra financial costs of a house and new baby are not the nanny's problem. They should have thought about that when they choose to do both. They should foot the cost. My husband had a job that moved and the cost was significant in gas and tolls. He asked and his employer gave him some extra for the expenses (not the time).

[Anonymous]

I agree that other industries would not cover the expense. I disagree that that is a poor reflection on nannies. We do all sorts of things a daycare wouldn't. Watch older siblings during breaks, deal with contagious illness, travel with our employers, allow them to direct what their child learns and when potty training happens. Those are some of the reasons parents choose a nanny. On the flip side, I get to work in yoga pants, I don't have to deal with a boss looking over my shoulder all day, my days are spent outdoors and at fun places, I make more then a teacher but still get to work with kids, and my MB would cover the $120 increase in transportation expenses if they moved far away. The flexibility and closeness of a nanny-employer relationship is a bonus when handled with its due respect.

[Anonymous]

Lots of other industries would, indeed, cover the cost differential if they wanted to retain the employee. Especially in this area where commuting costs are substantial. I think it's absolutly worth raising with the family and concur with making it a seperate conversation from the salary discussion. If there's already a good, professional relationship there, then raising the issue can't hurt.