What to do? At the limit!

[Anonymous]

We have the best nanny in the world (literally) and want to keep her for one more year and I know she wants to stay. Problem is -- we have given her a raise every year and we pay health insurance -- we are at our limited, literally on what we can pay. I don't to be unfair to her but is there anything else we can offer? Obviously, I understand that no raise may mean she will leave but want to try to be creative. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Could you swing 2-3 extra PTO days, or see if she wants to shift hours earlier or later (if you could accommodate the shift)? If she's been with you for a while, and you approach the discussion from the standpoint of wanting to be fair to her while retaining her, and you ask if she has any ideas, you might be surprised, and she might not ask for anything else.

[Anonymous]

Are there any perks that you can offer that won't cost you financially? Increase her PTO, or let her off early on Friday afternoons if you can swing it. Offer a bonus instead of a raise to save yourself a bit of money. Offer to pay for a professional development class or workshop since she'll be in the job market next year. If you only have one child consider doing a share/part time share with a friend in need of childcare. Saves you some money, and allows your nanny to earn more money.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much. These are great ideas. I know she wants to get a GED and we can pay for a course and perhaps a bonus. I will talk to her and get her ideas. I want to be fair. She truly is a great person and nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much. These are great ideas. I know she wants to get a GED and we can pay for a course and perhaps a bonus. I will talk to her and get her ideas. I want to be fair. She truly is a great person and nanny.

Given this OP, I think you are ok to sit down with her and just be honest. Say you are at the end of the line financially but you love her and want to keep her on. Ask her if she can think of any other incentives that might make it worth her while to remain with you. She may very well be priced out at her max too. A nanny without a high school diploma isn't going to demand a high salary, so if you've been given her raises every year, she may stay just because she won't get a better paying job elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much. These are great ideas. I know she wants to get a GED and we can pay for a course and perhaps a bonus. I will talk to her and get her ideas. I want to be fair. She truly is a great person and nanny.

Given this OP, I think you are ok to sit down with her and just be honest. Say you are at the end of the line financially but you love her and want to keep her on. Ask her if she can think of any other incentives that might make it worth her while to remain with you. She may very well be priced out at her max too. A nanny without a high school diploma isn't going to demand a high salary, so if you've been given her raises every year, she may stay just because she won't get a better paying job elsewhere.

OP seems very happy with her nanny and her performance. She shouldn't be banking on the idea that a fantastic nanny won't be able to find an easier/better paying job. She can help her nanny become more marketable while also incentivizing having her stay until they are ready to part ways. See how being a good person works out for everyone?

[Anonymous]

OP here, yes I want to help her be more marketable. She is very smart and from South America so that is why getting a GED would help her here. Thanks again all!

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. About four months ago, I told my DB that in lieu of a raise I would rather have better working conditions. I wanted saran wrap (they prefer aluminum foil to cover the leftovers. I prefer saran wrap), dixie cups (they are great for things like putting the kids orange slices in, or an ice cube for a boo-boo), a wooden spoon (how in the heck can you stir a pot of pasta without a wooden spoon?), the kids drinking glasses on the bottom shelf (I'm short, they are not).

My employers seemed very surprised but were happy to comply. And I am much happier in my new working environment where I can do things more efficiently for my style of getting things done. I have been wishing I had asked for a few other things as well the last few months though.

Anyway, my point was that perhaps you could ask her if she has any preferences for a smoother work environment. To most people, that would not be as appealing as dollar bills, but if you don't have dollar bills to hand out, a roll of saran wrap and a wooden spoon just might be all you need to keep your nanny happy for another year.

[Anonymous]

I call bs as long as she's worked for you if she wanted a ged she would have it by now. That's something she should want to do in her own for self and already have and not have op foot the bill

[Anonymous]

Perhaps letting her eat your own food for her lunch and snacks.

Or letting her use your washer & dryer to do her own clothes?

I live in an apartment and work full-time. It would be awesome not having to spend one of my days off at the laundromat!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much. These are great ideas. I know she wants to get a GED and we can pay for a course and perhaps a bonus. I will talk to her and get her ideas. I want to be fair. She truly is a great person and nanny.

You truly cannot afford a $1.00 an hour raise? She has been with you for a long resredgiven you reliable and trusted childcare and you cannot give her a token raise. Cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. About four months ago, I told my DB that in lieu of a raise I would rather have better working conditions. I wanted saran wrap (they prefer aluminum foil to cover the leftovers. I prefer saran wrap), dixie cups (they are great for things like putting the kids orange slices in, or an ice cube for a boo-boo), a wooden spoon (how in the heck can you stir a pot of pasta without a wooden spoon?), the kids drinking glasses on the bottom shelf (I'm short, they are not).

My employers seemed very surprised but were happy to comply. And I am much happier in my new working environment where I can do things more efficiently for my style of getting things done. I have been wishing I had asked for a few other things as well the last few months though.

Anyway, my point was that perhaps you could ask her if she has any preferences for a smoother work environment. To most people, that would not be as appealing as dollar bills, but if you don't have dollar bills to hand out, a roll of saran wrap and a wooden spoon just might be all you need to keep your nanny happy for another year.

Thesecarevthings they should have provided all along. You should find a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here. About four months ago, I told my DB that in lieu of a raise I would rather have better working conditions. I wanted saran wrap (they prefer aluminum foil to cover the leftovers. I prefer saran wrap), dixie cups (they are great for things like putting the kids orange slices in, or an ice cube for a boo-boo), a wooden spoon (how in the heck can you stir a pot of pasta without a wooden spoon?), the kids drinking glasses on the bottom shelf (I'm short, they are not).

My employers seemed very surprised but were happy to comply. And I am much happier in my new working environment where I can do things more efficiently for my style of getting things done. I have been wishing I had asked for a few other things as well the last few months though.

Anyway, my point was that perhaps you could ask her if she has any preferences for a smoother work environment. To most people, that would not be as appealing as dollar bills, but if you don't have dollar bills to hand out, a roll of saran wrap and a wooden spoon just might be all you need to keep your nanny happy for another year.

Thesecarevthings they should have provided all along. You should find a new job.

Not if they didn't know it was important to the nanny. I'm sure they had no idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much. These are great ideas. I know she wants to get a GED and we can pay for a course and perhaps a bonus. I will talk to her and get her ideas. I want to be fair. She truly is a great person and nanny.

Given this OP, I think you are ok to sit down with her and just be honest. Say you are at the end of the line financially but you love her and want to keep her on. Ask her if she can think of any other incentives that might make it worth her while to remain with you. She may very well be priced out at her max too. A nanny without a high school diploma isn't going to demand a high salary, so if you've been given her raises every year, she may stay just because she won't get a better paying job elsewhere.

OP seems very happy with her nanny and her performance. She shouldn't be banking on the idea that a fantastic nanny won't be able to find an easier/better paying job. She can help her nanny become more marketable while also incentivizing having her stay until they are ready to part ways. See how being a good person works out for everyone?

OP may love nanny but she doesn't even have a high school education (she wants to get a GED) so don't think that she will be able to find anyone else so easily. Sounds like OP and nanny are meant for each other.

OP I doubt your nanny will leave if you don't give a raise, that really applies to legal, educated, trained nannies with lots of opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you so much. These are great ideas. I know she wants to get a GED and we can pay for a course and perhaps a bonus. I will talk to her and get her ideas. I want to be fair. She truly is a great person and nanny.

You truly cannot afford a $1.00 an hour raise? She has been with you for a long resredgiven you reliable and trusted childcare and you cannot give her a token raise. Cheap.

OP can't afford $1 an hour, but she can send her nanny to college lol. Good story.