Do you pay the same bonus at Christmas every year?

[Anonymous]

Our nanny started mid year last year, but we still gave her a bonus that's more than a week's pay. We like her a lot. This year, we've had another child, and she's been with us a full year. We plan on giving the same bonus as last year though, which was more than a week's pay. Is she going to be expecting more? This is all we can afford and it is generous, but I'm worried we gave her too much this year and set the expectation too high. Any thoughts about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny started mid year last year, but we still gave her a bonus that's more than a week's pay. We like her a lot. This year, we've had another child, and she's been with us a full year. We plan on giving the same bonus as last year though, which was more than a week's pay. Is she going to be expecting more? This is all we can afford and it is generous, but I'm worried we gave her too much this year and set the expectation too high. Any thoughts about this?

This should say - "worried we gave her too much LAST year"

[Anonymous]

Our manny started in March so we gave a week's salary and told him flat out that after working almost the whole year we were confident we wanted to have a long, working relationship with him and that's why we gave what we did. He gets a yearly raise, so since he gets a week's salary the amount goes up year to year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our manny started in March so we gave a week's salary and told him flat out that after working almost the whole year we were confident we wanted to have a long, working relationship with him and that's why we gave what we did. He gets a yearly raise, so since he gets a week's salary the amount goes up year to year.

Why did you hire a manny? Don't you worry about your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our manny started in March so we gave a week's salary and told him flat out that after working almost the whole year we were confident we wanted to have a long, working relationship with him and that's why we gave what we did. He gets a yearly raise, so since he gets a week's salary the amount goes up year to year.

Why did you hire a manny? Don't you worry about your kids?

We hired the person who we thought would do best with our family after interviewing seven or eight people and having working interviews with three. It's been almost three years, and we've been consistently more than satisfied. I actually DON'T worry about my kids when they're with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our manny started in March so we gave a week's salary and told him flat out that after working almost the whole year we were confident we wanted to have a long, working relationship with him and that's why we gave what we did. He gets a yearly raise, so since he gets a week's salary the amount goes up year to year.

Why did you hire a manny? Don't you worry about your kids?

Do you worry that your father, DH, or son might molest girls and women? Geez, you're ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Add a small gift. If someone is upset about a substantial amount of free money, then maybe she isn't such a gem. Hopefully she'll get that she lucked out last year rather than being resentful this year.

[Anonymous]

If a family has previously given a week's salary as my bonus, that is what I would expect, certainly not more. Of course, as my pay increases, a week's salary also increases, but I'm not going to throw a fit if they kept the bonus at my starting week salary.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Her bonus last year was about 1.5 weeks salary. Keeping it the same this year would mean it's about 1.25 weeks salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny started mid year last year, but we still gave her a bonus that's more than a week's pay. We like her a lot. This year, we've had another child, and she's been with us a full year. We plan on giving the same bonus as last year though, which was more than a week's pay. Is she going to be expecting more? This is all we can afford and it is generous, but I'm worried we gave her too much this year and set the expectation too high. Any thoughts about this?

Give what you think is fair.

[Anonymous]

That's very generous, OP. Don't worry.

[Anonymous]

I think you are more than fine. I have been with my NF for four years and while I get raises each year, my bonus is one week's salary (the current year's salary, not my starting weekly salary). If I got more than one week my first year, I would be okay receiving that initial amount for the remainder of my time. If I personally get the same bonus I got last year, ie a little less than what I make each week this year, I won't be upset. I'll be grateful I got a bonus, not everybody does

[Anonymous]

I struggle w/ bonus issues also. We were quite generous with our nanny last year (and in prior years). This year we gave her an additional paid 4 weeks of leave for a family emergency - so I don't really feel that a large cash bonus at christmas is in order. I think we were already really generous (to the tune of a few thousand dollars).

She didn't really say or do anything to express appreciation for being paid (and having her job held) for all of that time so it's left kind of a feeling on our side.

But I also don't want to be penny-wise/pound-foolish so I'm not sure what we're going to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I struggle w/ bonus issues also. We were quite generous with our nanny last year (and in prior years). This year we gave her an additional paid 4 weeks of leave for a family emergency - so I don't really feel that a large cash bonus at christmas is in order. I think we were already really generous (to the tune of a few thousand dollars).

She didn't really say or do anything to express appreciation for being paid (and having her job held) for all of that time so it's left kind of a feeling on our side.

But I also don't want to be penny-wise/pound-foolish so I'm not sure what we're going to do.

As long as you do something to show that not giving a bonus is not a statement about her performance, I would say you'd be fine not giving one. A small gift and a thank you letter would be sufficient. If she doesn't realize what you've already done for her, that isn't your problem.

[Anonymous]

we have a nanny and I struggle with this because neither my husband or myself receives a bonus, nor do we really receive raises (federal employees). So at the end of the year, it's not like we've got a bunch of extra cash.

We're giving her what we can afford and a gift. I hope she'll be OK with it, because a weeks salary is just a LOT of money to us. She's stretching us at it is, but we love her and try to give her lots of free time off ect.