Raise for Second Child?

[Anonymous]

What a weird line of argument today - on this thread and another - that having an older kid out of the house all day does not lighten the load dramatically. As I posted on the other thread - it is so much easier to take care of just my little guy on the 1 day I have off of work compared to on weekends. No comparison!

[Anonymous]

The debate is about reduced pay, not which child you personally feel is easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The debate is about reduced pay, not which child you personally feel is easier.

The argument is being made that reducing pay is inappropriate because the workload remains the same whether the older child is in the house or not. Several posters made an argument that the workload does in fact decrease substantially when an older child is out of the house. If want to argue that reducing the nanny's compensation is unwise because it will destroy all goodwill, go ahead, and you'd make a solid point. But arguing that pay should not be decreased because the workload doesn't is bollocks, because the workload does indeed decrease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I happen to know of some husbands/fathers who would disagree.

You're being facetious. You know that these aren't comparable situations.

So say you.

Marry your boss and procreate with them, then say it's comparable. Until then, it's not.

[Anonymous]

"The debate is about reduced pay, not which child you personally feel is easier. "

no, that's not right. it's about whether you still need to give a raise when the workload decreases by 1 child going off to school FT. I don't recall seeing anyone recently ask if it was ok to dock the nanny's pay. Normally when that question is asked, it is almost universally met with "no - your nanny will hate you for that" which is reasonable in my view.

The current argument seems to be that a nanny STILL deserves normal raises even if she's going to be working less hard due to moving to 1 kid most of the time. People justifying that seem to be saying that it's reasonable because the laundry and lunch packing and school holidays mean that you are still basically taking care of 2 kids. I just think that's nuts to suggest that it's not way easier to have 1 school age kid and 1 preschooler vs. 2 still at home. That doesn't match my parenting experience at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"The debate is about reduced pay, not which child you personally feel is easier. "

no, that's not right. it's about whether you still need to give a raise when the workload decreases by 1 child going off to school FT. I don't recall seeing anyone recently ask if it was ok to dock the nanny's pay. Normally when that question is asked, it is almost universally met with "no - your nanny will hate you for that" which is reasonable in my view.

The current argument seems to be that a nanny STILL deserves normal raises even if she's going to be working less hard due to moving to 1 kid most of the time. People justifying that seem to be saying that it's reasonable because the laundry and lunch packing and school holidays mean that you are still basically taking care of 2 kids. I just think that's nuts to suggest that it's not way easier to have 1 school age kid and 1 preschooler vs. 2 still at home. That doesn't match my parenting experience at all.

In terms of pay, what's your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"The debate is about reduced pay, not which child you personally feel is easier. "

no, that's not right. it's about whether you still need to give a raise when the workload decreases by 1 child going off to school FT. I don't recall seeing anyone recently ask if it was ok to dock the nanny's pay. Normally when that question is asked, it is almost universally met with "no - your nanny will hate you for that" which is reasonable in my view.

The current argument seems to be that a nanny STILL deserves normal raises even if she's going to be working less hard due to moving to 1 kid most of the time. People justifying that seem to be saying that it's reasonable because the laundry and lunch packing and school holidays mean that you are still basically taking care of 2 kids. I just think that's nuts to suggest that it's not way easier to have 1 school age kid and 1 preschooler vs. 2 still at home. That doesn't match my parenting experience at all.

In terms of pay, what's your point?

I don't have one. It's not my business to dictate what arrangements willing and able adults select for their employer/employee relationship.

But when you say that the caregiver's workload doesn't go down when the older child is out of the house, I'll be here to say: "bollocks."

[Anonymous]

The workload definitely decreases when one child is out of the house a significant part of the day.

That's a fact.

While I would not think it wise to decrease a nanny's rate of pay to compensate for her lighter workload, it is totally reasonable to forgo rate increases for less work.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of the same increase of $20 for two kids (closer in age, so she would be taking care of both for at least a year).

I'm sending one to daycare at age 2 (for socialization), but would want to keep other with nanny until they turn 2. Do I increase salary to $20, knowing I am about to get hit with a daycare expense? I won't be able to lower it once it has increased. However I need to give some sort of raise because she will be taking care of two kids for one full year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of the same increase of $20 for two kids (closer in age, so she would be taking care of both for at least a year).

I'm sending one to daycare at age 2 (for socialization), but would want to keep other with nanny until they turn 2. Do I increase salary to $20, knowing I am about to get hit with a daycare expense? I won't be able to lower it once it has increased. However I need to give some sort of raise because she will be taking care of two kids for one full year.

Nanny here. I can understand putting a child into preschool, I can understand half-day daycare a couple times a week for fun and socialization. But most parents over-exaggerate a toddler's need for socialization. It's more to the child's benefit to do classes/activities with the nanny (and younger child) and have naptime in their own bed.

[Anonymous]

Mb here. We raised to 2.50 after 2nd arrived. Oldest was in pt preschool 3 days a week. This year goes 5 days. We plan in giving her small raise this year. Previously gave her bonus instead of a raise (this was on top of the one we give in cash at xmas time)This will bring her to about 19. We had to plan for these raises incrementally.

[Anonymous]

Mb here. We raised to 2.50 after 2nd arrived. Oldest was in pt preschool 3 days a week. This year goes 5 days. We plan in giving her small raise this year. Previously gave her bonus instead of a raise (this was on top of the one we give in cash at xmas time)This will bring her to about 19. We had to plan for these raises incrementally.

[Anonymous]

My last NF hired me for their toddler, and kept me on for eight years at the same weekly pay, and VERY reduced hours while child was in school. Dream job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would bump her up $1 more per hour. Your offer is generous, but you would be paying too much.

Workload increased 100% and you think $1.00/hr is sufficient? You are crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would bump her up $1 more per hour. Your offer is generous, but you would be paying too much.

Workload increased 100% and you think $1.00/hr is sufficient? You are crazy.

Exactly.