Should I pay a bonus even with tons of paid time off?

[Anonymous]

My family will be going back to our home state soon and will be gone for a minimum of 2 weeks and possibly the first week of January. I plan on paying my nanny for all of the time that we will be away and only ask that she gets our mail and water a couple of plants when she is around. I don't expect her to come out of her way but she stays 5 miles from us and often comes this direction to go into the city. We have really been trying to cut back on expenses this year and I know she didn't choose to be off but should I still give her an extra weeks pay as a bonus like I've done with other nannies in the past? Or will the up front paid time off suffice? I hate that I'm feeling so conflicted about this. She works hard and never calls in, but at the same time she is pretty much on a paid vacation for at least half a month.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

You certainly should give her something. It was
your choice to go away, not hers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You certainly should give her something. It was
your choice to go away, not hers.

Thanks, I understand. Are you a parent or nanny?

[Anonymous]

If she had the option of really being off and going away herself I would say no, You could have given the vacation time in lieu of a bonus.
However, If she needs to come in every other day and bring your mail in, then I think she should still get a bonus, she still has to think about and be responsible for your house.

[Anonymous]

MB here - I would give her a small gift and maybe a little cash. I took 3 weeks off last year and paid our nanny. I gave her a few things plus $300 cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family will be going back to our home state soon and will be gone for a minimum of 2 weeks and possibly the first week of January. I plan on paying my nanny for all of the time that we will be away and only ask that she gets our mail and water a couple of plants when she is around. I don't expect her to come out of her way but she stays 5 miles from us and often comes this direction to go into the city. We have really been trying to cut back on expenses this year and I know she didn't choose to be off but should I still give her an extra weeks pay as a bonus like I've done with other nannies in the past? Or will the up front paid time off suffice? I hate that I'm feeling so conflicted about this. She works hard and never calls in, but at the same time she is pretty much on a paid vacation for at least half a month.

Thoughts?

If she were on vacation, she could go elsewhere. However, you want her to check on your house, fetch the mail, water the plants, etc. That means that you are *not* allowing the nanny to be on vacation, you are simply giving her a short list of tasks which she should be able to accomplish in about 5-10 minutes per day. So, since you are electing to have her work, albeit very short shifts, yes, a bonus would be appropriate.

[Anonymous]

You could have your mail held at the post office and buy those drip release watering things for plants. Then she would have true two week vacation herself. As it stands she couldn't go away if she wanted for more than three days.

We are going to Europe for two weeks. The nanny will get paid plus a holiday bonus. One has nothing to do with the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could have your mail held at the post office and buy those drip release watering things for plants. Then she would have true two week vacation herself. As it stands she couldn't go away if she wanted for more than three days.

We are going to Europe for two weeks. The nanny will get paid plus a holiday bonus. One has nothing to do with the other.

Thank you for responding i definitely be adding in her bonus. She may be expecting one anyway and I don't want to disappoint her

[Anonymous]

Above should say: that I definitely will be adding

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny, and have been with my current family for almost 4 years.
Every year I get around 2 weeks off in December, and a nice holiday bonus.
One should not influence the other. If you took your vacation in June would you still give a bonus?

[Anonymous]

You don't have to give a huge bonus, but I'd give some kind of gift. That is not paid time off. Paid time off is when she chooses or mutually agreed upon. You are going on vacation, do not need her. So while it is technically paid time off, it isn't in terms of her needs. It is your need.

[Anonymous]

Mine doesn't get a holiday bonus. But I give her one on her hire anniversary. She does get very nice presents. And lots of time off (extra time) for which she is paid anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine doesn't get a holiday bonus. But I give her one on her hire anniversary. She does get very nice presents. And lots of time off (extra time) for which she is paid anyway.

You don't give a holiday bonus? You're a mean one Mrs. Grinch.