I underestimated my inital pay rate - now what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is a big increase. I've never asked for a raise personally. I'm either given it or I'm not. I make 10 per hr in the dc suburbs and have been with this family for 2 years. Still no raise. My bosses have mentioned how they are so happy they found me as they can't afford to pay anymore.

You're being taken for a ride. Please don't advise others to do the same. If they can't afford to pay more, they have no business hiring a nanny. Only a stupid unqualified nanny would accept such a position, and at that point nanny care is more about convenience to the parents than quality care for the kids.

I provide excellent quality care. I've been a nanny for over 10 years. I have an associates degree in ECE. I am white, American I have never been late or taken a sick day with this family. They have 4 young children and can't afford to pay more. I accepted the job and love having it. These rates everyone talk about seem so outrageous to me as someone in the business for many years.

You list this among your accomplishments? I got news for you, Becky, your skin tone isn't why these people love you. Its because you're cheap. They don't give a shit about your degree either. You're cheap and reliable, and they would have taken the first reliable schmuck they could get. It just happened to be you.

Oh stop! Just because you wouldn't work for that rate doesn't mean you need to put this nanny down. Maybe she works because she wants to and doesn't have to and doesn't need the money. You have no idea what her accomplishments are. She said she is American because otherwise you are someone else like you would have tried to say English probably isn't her first language so that's why she's charging less. FWIW, I think $10/hr is very low also but if she is happy why do you care? If you are a good nanny you should easily be able to find a job that pays much more so what is your problem then? Is she too nice for you because she actually likes the family she works for and is doing something helpful to them?

I have no problem if an individual nanny wants to foolishly sell herself short. What I take issue with is her coming on this thread to advise the OP and to act as if she shouldn't seek a more acceptable rate. Its discouraging to other nannies who will see this thread, and its misleading to future parents. They will get it in their heads that its possible to find an educated and experienced nanny for $10/hour. Sure its possible, just as its "possible" for a nanny to make $30/hour. It is not, however, a realistic expectation. This nanny has decided to run a charity service. That's fine, but she shouldn't comment on rate threads.

Ok, I see your point and I agree that she shouldn't advise the OP based on her charity. But then just say that. Don't tell her the family only likes her because she's cheap. That's unnecessary when you don't know her at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why you think $18/hr is charity, OP. That's a fine rate and you are not underpaid. Of course, you are fine to want more and to negotiate any raise you want.

That said, unless you could prove in concrete ways why you feel you earned such a large raise, I would not likely grant such a large raise if i employed you. Your qualifications are pretty average for a nanny.

No one said $18/hour was charity, its simply below market for her area and a rate that is difficult for her to afford. What was said, is that the poster with a degree and 10 years of experience, working for $10/hour watching 4 children, and no raise in multiple years, is in fact treating her work like charity. I'm a nice person, and I'd really like a multimillion dollar home. That doesn't mean someone should give me one for the cost of my condo, and I'd feel terrible asking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another whiny nanny who thinks she is worth more than she really is and wants to screw her employer because her friend makes more than she does.

I don't believe you have any idea what she's worth. If you continue with these troll posts, we will have to start reporting you.
Please stop. Thank you.

Not a troll, but it gets tiresome hearing from these nannies who agreed to a rate and then all of a sudden realize they should be getting so much more an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another whiny nanny who thinks she is worth more than she really is and wants to screw her employer because her friend makes more than she does.

I don't believe you have any idea what she's worth. If you continue with these troll posts, we will have to start reporting you.
Please stop. Thank you.

Not a troll, but it gets tiresome hearing from these nannies who agreed to a rate and then all of a sudden realize they should be getting so much more an hour.

Do you also tire of parents who agree to a job, then desire to change the schedule, duties, or compensation? Or do you believe a nanny's purpose is to serve parents without regard to her own needs? OP is coming up on her one year mark. Is that not an appropriate time to reasses and renegotiate?

[Anonymous]

To the nanny only making $10/hr,

I have to say as a MB in Arlington, I am very surprised how little you are paid. We have a newborn and toddler and we just increased our nanny's salary so she makes about $18.75/hr. When she started w/ us and DC#1 we paid her $16 something (DH does the taxes/paperwork for her, etc.) an hr which works out to $15/hr after taxes. I can't believe you are responsible for 4 kids and accept only $15. I think that most babysitters make more than you. I know that even when our own nanny has baby sat for us on the rare occasion (w/ just one kid), we've paid her $20/hr just b/c of her time traveling to and from for 2 or 3 hrs of work. And it's not like we're well off either. We really love our nanny and know she turned down even more lucrative offers to work with us. We are making sacrifices to ensure that we have someone that our kids love and who we feel very happy with.

Please tell me that you at least get paid overtime and that the $10 is the rate you net after taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the nanny only making $10/hr,

I have to say as a MB in Arlington, I am very surprised how little you are paid. We have a newborn and toddler and we just increased our nanny's salary so she makes about $18.75/hr. When she started w/ us and DC#1 we paid her $16 something (DH does the taxes/paperwork for her, etc.) an hr which works out to $15/hr after taxes. I can't believe you are responsible for 4 kids and accept only $15. I think that most babysitters make more than you. I know that even when our own nanny has baby sat for us on the rare occasion (w/ just one kid), we've paid her $20/hr just b/c of her time traveling to and from for 2 or 3 hrs of work. And it's not like we're well off either. We really love our nanny and know she turned down even more lucrative offers to work with us. We are making sacrifices to ensure that we have someone that our kids love and who we feel very happy with.

Please tell me that you at least get paid overtime and that the $10 is the rate you net after taxes.

PP here--meant to write --"I can believe you ...accept only $10."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the nanny only making $10/hr,

I have to say as a MB in Arlington, I am very surprised how little you are paid. We have a newborn and toddler and we just increased our nanny's salary so she makes about $18.75/hr. When she started w/ us and DC#1 we paid her $16 something (DH does the taxes/paperwork for her, etc.) an hr which works out to $15/hr after taxes. I can't believe you are responsible for 4 kids and accept only $15. I think that most babysitters make more than you. I know that even when our own nanny has baby sat for us on the rare occasion (w/ just one kid), we've paid her $20/hr just b/c of her time traveling to and from for 2 or 3 hrs of work. And it's not like we're well off either. We really love our nanny and know she turned down even more lucrative offers to work with us. We are making sacrifices to ensure that we have someone that our kids love and who we feel very happy with.

Please tell me that you at least get paid overtime and that the $10 is the rate you net after taxes.

I work 40 hrs a week making 10 per hr before taxes are taken out. I don't consider my job a charity case. I do more for this family then any other I've ever worked for. For example their washing machine is broken so I do all of their laundry at my house, usually 1 load per night. I also have a huge garden at my house and I bring over a lot of fresh fruit and veggies in the summer and fall. My parents have a farm and I give them fresh eggs. I also mow their grass a few times a month because they don't have a lawn mower.
The dad does not work and the family only has one car so I let the dad use my car when he needs to go places during the day.

Yes I probably get taken advantage of but I just like to help out where I can. I feel that it's my job if something needs to be done I do it like the mowing and baking stuff to bring over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the nanny only making $10/hr,

I have to say as a MB in Arlington, I am very surprised how little you are paid. We have a newborn and toddler and we just increased our nanny's salary so she makes about $18.75/hr. When she started w/ us and DC#1 we paid her $16 something (DH does the taxes/paperwork for her, etc.) an hr which works out to $15/hr after taxes. I can't believe you are responsible for 4 kids and accept only $15. I think that most babysitters make more than you. I know that even when our own nanny has baby sat for us on the rare occasion (w/ just one kid), we've paid her $20/hr just b/c of her time traveling to and from for 2 or 3 hrs of work. And it's not like we're well off either. We really love our nanny and know she turned down even more lucrative offers to work with us. We are making sacrifices to ensure that we have someone that our kids love and who we feel very happy with.

Please tell me that you at least get paid overtime and that the $10 is the rate you net after taxes.

I work 40 hrs a week making 10 per hr before taxes are taken out. I don't consider my job a charity case. I do more for this family then any other I've ever worked for. For example their washing machine is broken so I do all of their laundry at my house, usually 1 load per night. I also have a huge garden at my house and I bring over a lot of fresh fruit and veggies in the summer and fall. My parents have a farm and I give them fresh eggs. I also mow their grass a few times a month because they don't have a lawn mower.
The dad does not work and the family only has one car so I let the dad use my car when he needs to go places during the day.

Yes I probably get taken advantage of but I just like to help out where I can. I feel that it's my job if something needs to be done I do it like the mowing and baking stuff to bring over.

You sounds like a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the nanny only making $10/hr,

I have to say as a MB in Arlington, I am very surprised how little you are paid. We have a newborn and toddler and we just increased our nanny's salary so she makes about $18.75/hr. When she started w/ us and DC#1 we paid her $16 something (DH does the taxes/paperwork for her, etc.) an hr which works out to $15/hr after taxes. I can't believe you are responsible for 4 kids and accept only $15. I think that most babysitters make more than you. I know that even when our own nanny has baby sat for us on the rare occasion (w/ just one kid), we've paid her $20/hr just b/c of her time traveling to and from for 2 or 3 hrs of work. And it's not like we're well off either. We really love our nanny and know she turned down even more lucrative offers to work with us. We are making sacrifices to ensure that we have someone that our kids love and who we feel very happy with.

Please tell me that you at least get paid overtime and that the $10 is the rate you net after taxes.

I work 40 hrs a week making 10 per hr before taxes are taken out. I don't consider my job a charity case. I do more for this family then any other I've ever worked for. For example their washing machine is broken so I do all of their laundry at my house, usually 1 load per night. I also have a huge garden at my house and I bring over a lot of fresh fruit and veggies in the summer and fall. My parents have a farm and I give them fresh eggs. I also mow their grass a few times a month because they don't have a lawn mower.
The dad does not work and the family only has one car so I let the dad use my car when he needs to go places during the day.

Yes I probably get taken advantage of but I just like to help out where I can. I feel that it's my job if something needs to be done I do it like the mowing and baking stuff to bring over.

I was right. You're stupid as f#%*

[Anonymous]

Are they poor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another whiny nanny who thinks she is worth more than she really is and wants to screw her employer because her friend makes more than she does.

I don't believe you have any idea what she's worth. If you continue with these troll posts, we will have to start reporting you.
Please stop. Thank you.

Not a troll, but it gets tiresome hearing from these nannies who agreed to a rate and then all of a sudden realize they should be getting so much more an hour.

Do you also tire of parents who agree to a job, then desire to change the schedule, duties, or compensation? Or do you believe a nanny's purpose is to serve parents without regard to her own needs? OP is coming up on her one year mark. Is that not an appropriate time to reasses and renegotiate?

A lot of this happens because things aren't clearly spelled out up front in the contract. My boss tried to get me to work on a couple of days I wasn't supposed to and I was able to go back to our contract and let her know I wouldn't be working. No issues. Some parents will try to add things, but you have to stand your ground upfront. But yes, I do believe a nanny's role is to serve the family, but not be a doorstep. And when I say serve, I mean be a help to the family, not bring her drama to her job, think she knows better than a parent what is best for the child, our job is to make their life easier and to work with and for them, not against them.
Sure OP can try to renegotiate her contract and that is fine, but she shouldn't be doing it because she thinks that is what the other nannies are getting, but because she has gone above and beyond the call of duty and not just do the bare minimum, like so many other people do.

[Anonymous]

The servant of a family is called a butler, not a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another whiny nanny who thinks she is worth more than she really is and wants to screw her employer because her friend makes more than she does.

I don't believe you have any idea what she's worth. If you continue with these troll posts, we will have to start reporting you.
Please stop. Thank you.

Not a troll, but it gets tiresome hearing from these nannies who agreed to a rate and then all of a sudden realize they should be getting so much more an hour.

Do you also tire of parents who agree to a job, then desire to change the schedule, duties, or compensation? Or do you believe a nanny's purpose is to serve parents without regard to her own needs? OP is coming up on her one year mark. Is that not an appropriate time to reasses and renegotiate?

A lot of this happens because things aren't clearly spelled out up front in the contract. My boss tried to get me to work on a couple of days I wasn't supposed to and I was able to go back to our contract and let her know I wouldn't be working. No issues. Some parents will try to add things, but you have to stand your ground upfront. But yes, I do believe a nanny's role is to serve the family, but not be a doorstep. And when I say serve, I mean be a help to the family, not bring her drama to her job, think she knows better than a parent what is best for the child, our job is to make their life easier and to work with and for them, not against them.
Sure OP can try to renegotiate her contract and that is fine, but she shouldn't be doing it because she thinks that is what the other nannies are getting, but because she has gone above and beyond the call of duty and not just do the bare minimum, like so many other people do.

You have no experience in a traditional job setting obviously. Of course salary negotiations are based on what other people are making. If OP does a good job, she should be making what most other similarly qualified nannies are making. The same goes for moderately qualified nannies that think they should make above market hourly rates because they are hard working, nice people. The market determines rates, and if OP is being paid under market, that is a completely legitimate reason to request a raise, just as it is a perfectly good reason to refuse a raise request from a nanny being paid at or above market.

As for the rest of your post, not sure why parents get a pass for constantly trying to change an agreement, but OP gets crap from you for asking for advice on a raise request at a perfectly normal time to do so. Methinks you're a buttkiss who likes to feel superior by ragging on other nannies, and giving parents a pass for anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The servant of a family is called a butler, not a nanny.

In every job, there is some form of serving going on, if you really think about it. Unless you are working for yourself, anyone working for anyone is really is just a servant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it $18 after taxes or before taxes? Because it it's before taxes that is really low. People who aren't even legal in LA are making over $15/hr.

OP here - it is before taxes. And I know nannies getting paid under the table who make 20 and hour as well.

I am going to ask for the $2 an hour raise at my year mark - thanks for responding!