Here Is The Situation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A wonderful nanny - never late, never in a bad mood and never texts or makes personal calls when she is working (we have nanny cams and I know that she carries an inexpensive flip-phone just for DH and I to call her). I was the only employer who posted that they could answer "yes" to the three questions posed last week.

She is a college graduate with graduate school credits in ECD and years of experience. She is truly great with our baby and the baby loves her. She has handles all child related chores including making his baby food and doing his laundry (at her home on her off hours without pay as she has a washer/dryer in her apartment and we don't - she said it was easier for her to do this rather than haul a baby to the basement). The baby has been learning and thriving in her care. Further we have no worries about his health or safety.

She has been at $18 an hour for 34 hours with no other benefits other than guaranteed hours for this last full year.

She has asked for either a $2 an hour raise or a $1 an hour raise with 2 additional hours added to her schedule. Further, she has asked to be paid for any vacation weeks we take off and the option to make up any hours she loses on federal holidays.

Further wrinkle - I am still in graduate school and DH works full time. We have been using a small part of our savings just to have a nanny and would definitely have to dip about $300 into our savings a month to meet her requests.

What would you do?

I'd quit your job and go work for someone who appreciated me.

Since you asked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A wonderful nanny - never late, never in a bad mood and never texts or makes personal calls when she is working (we have nanny cams and I know that she carries an inexpensive flip-phone just for DH and I to call her). I was the only employer who posted that they could answer "yes" to the three questions posed last week.

She is a college graduate with graduate school credits in ECD and years of experience. She is truly great with our baby and the baby loves her. She has handles all child related chores including making his baby food and doing his laundry (at her home on her off hours without pay as she has a washer/dryer in her apartment and we don't - she said it was easier for her to do this rather than haul a baby to the basement). The baby has been learning and thriving in her care. Further we have no worries about his health or safety.

She has been at $18 an hour for 34 hours with no other benefits other than guaranteed hours for this last full year.

She has asked for either a $2 an hour raise or a $1 an hour raise with 2 additional hours added to her schedule. Further, she has asked to be paid for any vacation weeks we take off and the option to make up any hours she loses on federal holidays.

Further wrinkle - I am still in graduate school and DH works full time. We have been using a small part of our savings just to have a nanny and would definitely have to dip about $300 into our savings a month to meet her requests.

What would you do?

I'd quit your job and go work for someone who appreciated me.

Since you asked

+1000

[Anonymous]

Honestly, OP, you have a good deal even with the dollar an hour increase and extra two hours a week. You have had it unbelievably good - don't mess up your entire life for a "foolish economy".

[Anonymous]

You know right now, OP, that you are not going to find anyone better than this nanny. You know that. Now the question is - is she asking for too much? No. She started out lower than she could have and certainly should have been given benefits the first year.

Don't over-think this. You have a great nanny who is asking to be paid what she is worth.

[Anonymous]

Yes, let your child's nanny leave for a job that will pay her what she is worth.

Everyone should learn a lesson the hard way once. You will be a better person for the struggles you are about to endure, OP. You will be a much better mother and MB having suffered with a string of disappointing nannies (no one is going to measure up to this woman - she does your baby's laundry at home!) and you'll never be back here asking a question with a so very obvious answer.

[Anonymous]

Do you need one more person to tell you that you should meet your nanny's current demands? Okay - here I am. You know she could easily get a another job with benefits at 20 an hour- hell, I'd hire her based on the no texting/personal phone calls and never being late alone! She doesn't even have to do my kids' laundry at her house anymore.

Use your savings.