Is my nanny being unreasonable regarding pay commute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you folks living under a rock. there are nannies who get metro benefits and get paid for gas and mileage whenever their vehicle is used to transport the kids. Some of you employers are so cheap, you want excellent care for your kids and you want to pay pennies on the dollar for it. It's time you recognize the value of your nannies and show them more appreciation, that includes paying them well, because they have families to feed too. After all it's only for a few years until your child starts school, if you're paying your nanny at the rate she's happy with, everything else will go smoothly and stress free.

PP, first of all you have no idea what OP pays her nanny. She may compensate her very well, or pay minimum wage, we just don't know. Good news is, that's completely irrelevant!

Yes, we have all agreed that the nanny is entitled to be reimbursed for driving with the kids. What OPs nanny is asking for is to be paid for her time while she drives to work. That is nonsense, and if you happen to know someone who receives that perk they are extremely lucky because it is not common.

[Anonymous]

No OP, you ARE not missing anything here. Your nanny is being completely unreasonable. No one should ask to be compensated for the commute to and from work. That is up to the employee. As you stated, any commuting on-the-job should be fairly compensated, but that is all.

Since she is just now bringing this subject up, my hunch is that your nanny has talked to someone, perhaps another nanny who is being compensated for her commute to and from work. Some families DO compensate for this, but if they do, it is a HUGE perk and not a given.

Sounds to me like your nanny is trying to suck what she can out of you.
This may be a red flag that she is only in this profession to make a quick and easy buck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you folks living under a rock. there are nannies who get metro benefits and get paid for gas and mileage whenever their vehicle is used to transport the kids.

The OP was talking about her nanny wanting to get reimbursed for her commute TO work, NOT while with the kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nanny who is fairly new (has been with us for 6 months) had recently brought up the topic of paid commute. We have a contract and she never once raised the topic until now. I told her I wouldn't be able to pay for her commute to WORK. I, of course, offer compensation for any activities during her work day that involve transportation but I'm fairly certain that paying for her to get back and fourth to work isn't common. Well, ever since I told her no she has appeared kinda irritated in a passive-aggressive manner. Am I missing something or is she being completely unreasonable?

I echo anyone and everyone who has said NO, don't pay her for her commute. I used to commute 1.5 hours via subway when I lived in NYC, and the only thing my bosses paid for was a taxi to take me home if ever I worked past 9pm (my regular hours were until 6). You are NOT being unreasonable. I can't think of other professions that pay people for their commute, unless the job is sending them someplace (which would be the equivalent of you paying for her to transport your kids somewhere and back).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you everybody for confirming what I already believed. My nanny lives approximately 10 minutes away and although I like her, she's not extra extraordinary or over-the-top good so if she chooses to leave over this then so be it.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what I could say to her if the passive aggressive attitude continues? I want to somehow show her that this isn't a common perk for not only nannies but most jobs. It just kind've tweaks me that she assumes it is and is acting unprofessional.

TEN MINUTES AWAY?! That's it?! And she wants compensation? Geez, I thought you were going to say it was an hour drive each way or something. That's just petty. Find someone else!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am paying this perk for my nanny. She asked me for it when starting to work for us. It was my first experience hiring a nanny ever and i agreed. now, I am paying her commute which adds up to about 3K per year. She takes metro and bus every day. I do not like that I am paying for this but whatever. Few more months and my child goes to preschool and I can happily say good bye to nanny

Wow. Tell us how you REALLY feel about your nanny. I bet your nanny is just as happy to be getting rid of you.

Well, I am not so sure of that There will not be many people paying that perk to her If she were happy to leave she would have left already