Christmas Bonus

[Anonymous]

First, talk to her about expectations. You can also mention small things along the way... "Can you be sure Larlo's toys are picked up before you leave, please?" "Could you go through Larlo's cloths and remove the ones that are too small when you have time, please?" "Could you clean the humidifier once a week, please?" Etc.

As for bonus, I'd say $500- one week's pay. If you are wealthy and she goes above and beyond (clearly she doesn't) he. You could bump it up. If she does so poorly that you feel $500 is not deserved, then you need a more qualified nanny.

[Anonymous]

Nannies should not be cleaning out humidifiers nor going through their charge's closets weeding out any outgrown items.

This is just ridiculous in my opinion.

These are a parent's duties.
Why should a Nanny do all this....??!

[Anonymous]

Nothing. She is Muslim. But even if she were Christian, why the heck do employees expect Christmas gifts? I as an employee get nothing from my employer. I work in an office. I don't get bonus either. I don't expect a Christmas gift either. Christmas gift giving culture in the US has gotten out of hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. She is Muslim. But even if she were Christian, why the heck do employees expect Christmas gifts? I as an employee get nothing from my employer. I work in an office. I don't get bonus either. I don't expect a Christmas gift either. Christmas gift giving culture in the US has gotten out of hand.

You may call it "annual bonus" if you prefer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. She is Muslim. But even if she were Christian, why the heck do employees expect Christmas gifts? I as an employee get nothing from my employer. I work in an office. I don't get bonus either. I don't expect a Christmas gift either. Christmas gift giving culture in the US has gotten out of hand.

Every industry differs. It is standard practice in some industries to give performance or year end bonuses. Maybe it's not a common practice in your profession, but it is in nannying. Additionally, most nannies spend their own money on presents for their charges, that should be taken into account as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nannies should not be cleaning out humidifiers nor going through their charge's closets weeding out any outgrown items.

This is just ridiculous in my opinion.

These are a parent's duties.
Why should a Nanny do all this....??!

Are you a full time nanny? A career nanny? That is one of the big differences between nannies and babysitters. I work 45 hours a week and tend to all child related chores. That is standard practice in this profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nannies should not be cleaning out humidifiers nor going through their charge's closets weeding out any outgrown items.

This is just ridiculous in my opinion.

These are a parent's duties.
Why should a Nanny do all this....??!

I am a nanny and I agree with this poster.
There is no way I would clean out the humidifier or go through the closets.

[Anonymous]

MB here. We give one week pay as a bonus plus a physical gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies should not be cleaning out humidifiers nor going through their charge's closets weeding out any outgrown items.

This is just ridiculous in my opinion.

These are a parent's duties.
Why should a Nanny do all this....??!

I am a nanny and I agree with this poster.
There is no way I would clean out the humidifier or go through the closets.

I don't see a big difference between cleaning out a humidifier and washing baby laundry, or between preparing children's meals and organizing a closet. One could argue that all of these are parent responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies should not be cleaning out humidifiers nor going through their charge's closets weeding out any outgrown items.

This is just ridiculous in my opinion.

These are a parent's duties.
Why should a Nanny do all this....??!

Are you a full time nanny? A career nanny? That is one of the big differences between nannies and babysitters. I work 45 hours a week and tend to all child related chores. That is standard practice in this profession.

I am a nanny and I agree. I routinely go through my charge's clothes and weed out the ones she has outgrown and have always cleaned out the humidifier before I put it away after she has had a cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. She is Muslim. But even if she were Christian, why the heck do employees expect Christmas gifts? I as an employee get nothing from my employer. I work in an office. I don't get bonus either. I don't expect a Christmas gift either. Christmas gift giving culture in the US has gotten out of hand.

Every industry differs. It is standard practice in some industries to give performance or year end bonuses. Maybe it's not a common practice in your profession, but it is in nannying. Additionally, most nannies spend their own money on presents for their charges, that should be taken into account as well.

We are Jewish and our nanny is Muslim - and we give our nanny a year end bonus every year that is equivalent to two weeks pay. I get nothing from my employer either but with a nanny and others working in the home, it is standard practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Less than $100 feels like you are sending a message. Between $100-500 is fine but nothing to write home about. $500-$1000 is excellent. Over $1000 indicates that they really feel you are spectacular.

(This said, I make ~$1000 per week before taxes)

If you need to be on the lower end, don't sweat it. I don't know any nanny who would quit an otherwise well-paying and satisfying job over a small bonus. It's the jobs that are either already overworking or underpaying or just generally not appreciative/considerate--if there's already issues it can exacerbate.

If you know you can't afford a generous bonus, you could compensate by throwing in extra PTO days around the holidays if your family is in town and can take the kids. You should also be VERY mindful of not pushing extra work onto the nanny during the holiday chaos if you know her bonus will be small. If she spends mid-November-Christmas helping to clean the house for guests, pack for holiday travel, take the kids to get photos done, make cards for teachers, wrap presents for Aunt Edna, etc. etc. on top of her normal workload and THEN is given a small bonus...it definitely makes you look bad. Even if she offers to do XYZ to help out, be mindful of accepting since she won't think, "I am sure they planned to only give me this gift card since last August and that's why they accepted all my help without bumping up my bonus.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Last year I got 10000 was so good ...

[Anonymous]

I typically get $500 from a family and I'm happy with that. One year I got $1000 and was shocked. Plus usually a card or a photo of me and the children. It's nice. The lowest I've ever received was $250 cash and a restaurant gift card of $100 but I had only been at the position 3 months and felt it was generous all things considered!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'll get "one week pay" from everyone here OP.

I'm an MB and I've never known any other employer to actually pay that much.

We typically give anywhere from $200-500 in cash as a holiday bonus. The $200 went to a nanny who had just started with us in October, and the $500 went to a nanny who had been with us for 3 years.

We do it under the table. So, for some nannies perhaps $500 is the equivalent of a week's NET pay, but that isn't the measure we use for the decision.

You do what you can, if performance merits a bonus and you are able to give one. As an employee I think a raise matters more than the size of the bonus so if you're going to budget for anything put more towards an hourly rate increase.

$500 for a nanny who has taken care of your children for three years? Wow! Ladies and Gentlemen, THE LAST OF THE BIG TIME SPENDERS!