Question about pay/benefits for part time Nanny

[Anonymous]

We currently have a girl helping us care for our 11 month old 2 days a week. She is here for about 7 hours each day. She has a 1.5 year old that she brings with her.

My question - what sort of benefits are you all offering a part-time nanny?

We were not anticipating paying any holidays/paid time off/sick time since she is here less than 15 hours a week. Additionally, one of the "perks" is she is allowed to bring her child with her to our home. Is it normal for PART TIME nannies to have paid time off, especially if they are caring for their own child during this time? I do understand that full time nannies are offered a myriad of benefits, and some part time nannies as well, but many of these are not also providing care for their own child at the same time.

Let me note that during the 7hr/day she is here, I am spending about 3 hrs/day caring for my LO anyways (feeding him, getting him down for naps, etc).

Thanks in advance!!

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and have a part-time nanny. She gets full benefits, same as a FT nanny, but at a lower pay-out rate, of course, because her weekly pay is less. The fact your nanny brings her child should factor into her pay rate, not her benefits UNLESS you are paying her the going rate without her child taken into account. Then, I think you can make the argument that bringing her child is her perk and not pay benefits. Having said that, I think the first way, i.e., discounted pay with full benefits, makes more sense. Also, I don't understand why your nanny is there for seven hours but you're taking care of your LO for three of those hours? What does she do during that time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and have a part-time nanny. She gets full benefits, same as a FT nanny, but at a lower pay-out rate, of course, because her weekly pay is less. The fact your nanny brings her child should factor into her pay rate, not her benefits UNLESS you are paying her the going rate without her child taken into account. Then, I think you can make the argument that bringing her child is her perk and not pay benefits. Having said that, I think the first way, i.e., discounted pay with full benefits, makes more sense. Also, I don't understand why your nanny is there for seven hours but you're taking care of your LO for three of those hours? What does she do during that time?

+1. During periods when we were PT, we just pro-rated the benefits, vacation, sick, holidays, etc. Also agree that bringing her child should affect pay rate rather than benefits--basically, it's a share, except you are sharing with the nanny. If you're paying more than the local share rate, you can establish that you're doing that in lieu of benefits, but I'd just be transparent about it. You count the hours the same whether you are actively caring for your child during that time or not, if you've asked her to be there, just as you would if your child were napping. (Same question as PP, though--is there a reason you have her there during the hours you're home with your LO?) Whatever you decide to do, put it into writing so that you're both on the same page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and have a part-time nanny. She gets full benefits, same as a FT nanny, but at a lower pay-out rate, of course, because her weekly pay is less. The fact your nanny brings her child should factor into her pay rate, not her benefits UNLESS you are paying her the going rate without her child taken into account. Then, I think you can make the argument that bringing her child is her perk and not pay benefits. Having said that, I think the first way, i.e., discounted pay with full benefits, makes more sense. Also, I don't understand why your nanny is there for seven hours but you're taking care of your LO for three of those hours? What does she do during that time?

She gets the regular going rate. During that time, she is often with her LO feeding him, putting him down for a nap, playing with him, etc. I feel sometimes she doesn't keep an eye on my LO much because her LO is there as well. We really like her, she's great with our kid, but we are on an extremely tight budget and unable to pay more than what we currently pay (which she negotiated at a higher rate than we were initially budgeting for). I don't want to sound cheap or ungrateful but this is our first go-around with a nanny and we're having a hard time wrapping our head around payment for days where she is not providing the service.

Thanks for your reply, it is super helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and have a part-time nanny. She gets full benefits, same as a FT nanny, but at a lower pay-out rate, of course, because her weekly pay is less. The fact your nanny brings her child should factor into her pay rate, not her benefits UNLESS you are paying her the going rate without her child taken into account. Then, I think you can make the argument that bringing her child is her perk and not pay benefits. Having said that, I think the first way, i.e., discounted pay with full benefits, makes more sense. Also, I don't understand why your nanny is there for seven hours but you're taking care of your LO for three of those hours? What does she do during that time?

She gets the regular going rate. During that time, she is often with her LO feeding him, putting him down for a nap, playing with him, etc. I feel sometimes she doesn't keep an eye on my LO much because her LO is there as well. We really like her, she's great with our kid, but we are on an extremely tight budget and unable to pay more than what we currently pay (which she negotiated at a higher rate than we were initially budgeting for). I don't want to sound cheap or ungrateful but this is our first go-around with a nanny and we're having a hard time wrapping our head around payment for days where she is not providing the service.

Thanks for your reply, it is super helpful!

The thing is, it's a job and you are the employers. She's counting on the job to pay her bills. Be the kind of employers you would want to work for. You don't have to give her the moon, but be fair.

It's a short season in your life. You already chose the budget-busting childcare option. Do the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Part-time positions usually do not come with benefits. 14 hrs a week is very part-time. However, you can decide to add whatever benefits you want to a particular employee. I give any paid holidays that fall on their work days and a holiday bonus.

[Anonymous]

12:34 PP. I also give paid sick days because I do not want a sick nanny working since my husband and children have asthma. That is why having a nanny bring her child would not work for me since that would mean she would need to bring her sick child to work, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and have a part-time nanny. She gets full benefits, same as a FT nanny, but at a lower pay-out rate, of course, because her weekly pay is less. The fact your nanny brings her child should factor into her pay rate, not her benefits UNLESS you are paying her the going rate without her child taken into account. Then, I think you can make the argument that bringing her child is her perk and not pay benefits. Having said that, I think the first way, i.e., discounted pay with full benefits, makes more sense. Also, I don't understand why your nanny is there for seven hours but you're taking care of your LO for three of those hours? What does she do during that time?

She gets the regular going rate. During that time, she is often with her LO feeding him, putting him down for a nap, playing with him, etc. I feel sometimes she doesn't keep an eye on my LO much because her LO is there as well. We really like her, she's great with our kid, but we are on an extremely tight budget and unable to pay more than what we currently pay (which she negotiated at a higher rate than we were initially budgeting for). I don't want to sound cheap or ungrateful but this is our first go-around with a nanny and we're having a hard time wrapping our head around payment for days where she is not providing the service.

Thanks for your reply, it is super helpful!

Why the heck are you paying the going rate for one child when you should be paying a lower nanny share rate? And perhaps less than the going share rate because she is bringing her kid and naturally will be more attentive to hers than to yours. It would be cheaper for you to pay a share rate + benefits versus a non-share rate + no benefits.

[Anonymous]

How come you need a nanny if you're home ?

[Anonymous]

It doesn't sound like a situation where your Nanny should get extra benefits.

Reason being is she isn't even working a full twenty hours plus she gets a huge perk already...Bringing along her own child.