Cant give the same bonus this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I think you need to dig deep this year and come up with at least the same bonus as last year. Bonuses mean a lot to nannies and other personal helpers because it represents your opinion of their work for the year. Are you sure you cannot defer an expense, skip a purchase or donation, etc., to come up with the difference? Do you really want your nanny to be watching your consumption for the next year and making her own judgments on whether they were necessary? That is another reason I consider raises, bonuses and perks very carefully before giving them: they are hard to rescind. A decrease in overall compensation always affects morale.

We got our nanny three years ago from the family down the road outgrew her. The references I called went back 3-4 families over 15 years.
When we gave her a bonus she was shocked. She did not expect it, was totally surprised and v grateful. She sends most of her paycheck to her kids' college tuitions and flights.
So not every nanny is sitting around on dcum or pining for her cash bonus or else. Most are happily working and looking forward to the holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I think you need to dig deep this year and come up with at least the same bonus as last year. Bonuses mean a lot to nannies and other personal helpers because it represents your opinion of their work for the year. Are you sure you cannot defer an expense, skip a purchase or donation, etc., to come up with the difference? Do you really want your nanny to be watching your consumption for the next year and making her own judgments on whether they were necessary? That is another reason I consider raises, bonuses and perks very carefully before giving them: they are hard to rescind. A decrease in overall compensation always affects morale.

We got our nanny three years ago from the family down the road outgrew her. The references I called went back 3-4 families over 15 years.
When we gave her a bonus she was shocked. She did not expect it, was totally surprised and v grateful. She sends most of her paycheck to her kids' college tuitions and flights.
So not every nanny is sitting around on dcum or pining for her cash bonus or else. Most are happily working and looking forward to the holidays.

My advice to OP was based on the fact that her nanny had received a bonus from them previously. Obviously, a nanny who has never received a bonus is not going to expect one.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here: It's called a "bonus" for a reason. No set amount. If you feel very strongly about it, maybe give her a surprise bonus or maybe a raise.

[Anonymous]

I think if you really cant afford it ( and if i was your nanny I would be judging what you spent on other stuff) you should give extra time off instead. Tell her you wanted to give her time this year instead and some money instead of just money.