Severance Question

[Anonymous]

We are changing nannies. When we let our current nanny go we want to soften the blow as much as possible. (She has done nothing egregious wrong - it just isn't a good fit anymore with older and much more active kids.)

We want, and plan, to be generous with both notice and severance. But we also want to make the severance contingent upon her completing her time with our family graciously and without distressing the children.

Does anyone have suggested language for framing this?

(In an effort to preempt what I'm sure is coming, we will be giving her a month's notice and somewhere in the neighborhood of 10% of her annual salary as severance. It will amount to paying her bills fully for at least 10 weeks, without even drawing on unemployment possibilities. And we plan to help her find her next position as I can give her a glowing reference for working with babies. I have zero guilt about the package we'll give her, I just want suggestions on wording.)

[Anonymous]

instead of giving a large severance try splitting it up. For example, you pay one month of severance and a bonus for staying through the notice period. Make sure she knows what you are planning so she will not be so worried about finding another position right away. In your reference letter state that she was committed to staying with you until the end. Any job she applies for will be alerted that she is not free to leave any sooner then your end date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:instead of giving a large severance try splitting it up. For example, you pay one month of severance and a bonus for staying through the notice period. Make sure she knows what you are planning so she will not be so worried about finding another position right away. In your reference letter state that she was committed to staying with you until the end. Any job she applies for will be alerted that she is not free to leave any sooner then your end date.

You are clearly not a business woman.

[Anonymous]

10% of annual salary is $4k. That is a very, very generous severance package, since the norm is 1-2 weeks salary.

Just make it a balloon payment for her last day, and hope the quality of care or her attitude doesn't suffer in the interim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10% of annual salary is $4k. That is a very, very generous severance package, since the norm is 1-2 weeks salary.

Just make it a balloon payment for her last day, and hope the quality of care or her attitude doesn't suffer in the interim.

Yes, that's in the ballpark of what we're thinking. But I'm struggling w/ how to word this in a termination letter. (I want to put everything in writing as I expect she will be emotional and need something written down to grasp the big picture.)

[Anonymous]

Jane, We have enjoyed working with you these past years. The kids have loved you and have thrived in your care as they transitioned from infants to preschoolers (or whatever their ages.) The time has come for us to make a change to care that better matches their current stage of development. We will be making the change effective May 1, 2015. We plan to give you a glowing reference and are prepared to offer severance pay of $4,000 payable on April 30, 2015 provided you continue employment with us through that date and continue to offer the same love and care you've provided during your tenure with us.

Sincerely,
Bob and Ellen Smith

I'm a nanny and this is more or less what I would want to see. Make sure she knows the amount you're offering. I once had a family promise a bonus if I stayed to the end and it ended up being $200. I turned down other work for a lousy $200.I felt burned and taken advantage of. Another family told me up front they were offering a months severance and I did whatever I could to help them transition during their move to another state. They also gave me a VERY nice written note and gift. I remember them fondly and they'll always be the bar I measure other families against.

Communication is key and and make sure she knows it isn't something she did but the kids are growing and changing and ready for a change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jane, We have enjoyed working with you these past years. The kids have loved you and have thrived in your care as they transitioned from infants to preschoolers (or whatever their ages.) The time has come for us to make a change to care that better matches their current stage of development. We will be making the change effective May 1, 2015. We plan to give you a glowing reference and are prepared to offer severance pay of $4,000 payable on April 30, 2015 provided you continue employment with us through that date and continue to offer the same love and care you've provided during your tenure with us.

Sincerely,
Bob and Ellen Smith

I'm a nanny and this is more or less what I would want to see. Make sure she knows the amount you're offering. I once had a family promise a bonus if I stayed to the end and it ended up being $200. I turned down other work for a lousy $200.I felt burned and taken advantage of. Another family told me up front they were offering a months severance and I did whatever I could to help them transition during their move to another state. They also gave me a VERY nice written note and gift. I remember them fondly and they'll always be the bar I measure other families against.

Communication is key and and make sure she knows it isn't something she did but the kids are growing and changing and ready for a change.

And come April 30 they will say "we notice you started to neglect the kids and not show them the love you had before so we have decided to cut your severance down to 1 weeks salary. Thanks for hanging in there with us and we wish you luck."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jane, We have enjoyed working with you these past years. The kids have loved you and have thrived in your care as they transitioned from infants to preschoolers (or whatever their ages.) The time has come for us to make a change to care that better matches their current stage of development. We will be making the change effective May 1, 2015. We plan to give you a glowing reference and are prepared to offer severance pay of $4,000 payable on April 30, 2015 provided you continue employment with us through that date and continue to offer the same love and care you've provided during your tenure with us.

Sincerely,
Bob and Ellen Smith

I'm a nanny and this is more or less what I would want to see. Make sure she knows the amount you're offering. I once had a family promise a bonus if I stayed to the end and it ended up being $200. I turned down other work for a lousy $200.I felt burned and taken advantage of. Another family told me up front they were offering a months severance and I did whatever I could to help them transition during their move to another state. They also gave me a VERY nice written note and gift. I remember them fondly and they'll always be the bar I measure other families against.

Communication is key and and make sure she knows it isn't something she did but the kids are growing and changing and ready for a change.

Thank you! This language is exactly along the lines of what I was struggling to work through - very helpful.

[Anonymous]

How long has she been with you? Have you found a replacement yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long has she been with you? Have you found a replacement yet?

A little over 3 years and yes.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Why? Because you're dishing out $4,000 like it's peanuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? Because you're dishing out $4,000 like it's peanuts!

It won't actually be 4k, probably more like 3, and it's hardly peanuts to us. But it will, hopefully, be appreciated by her and will soften the blow of us letting her go.

She is a terrible money manager, which isn't our problem per se, but we care for her and don't want her in any hardship so we're hoping it will be enough to really buy her some calm time to find her next position.

[Anonymous]

She's been with you for 3 years, are you sure you can't work it out? The grass isn't always greener and if she's trusteorthy and reliable, I would be hesitant to let her go. When do you plan to tell her? Are the kids old enough that she can still visit them and be in their lives or do you want a clean break?

[Anonymous]

How do you know she's terrible with money? Is she live in?

[Anonymous]

If you have someone new lined up, why not just give Her the severance and have her not come back? It's always better that way.