Would you be willing to take a pay cut for the right family?

[Anonymous]

The "broke NF" thread had be thinking about my own situation. I've been with my NF for a few years and they are amazing, honestly in every way. I love working with them, the parents and nice, thoughtful, reliable, and considerate. The kids are amazing, fun, and low key. I know that recently the family has been tighter on money with job changes and other things. I don't know exactly the extent or what might happen down the road, but I'm considering offering a pay cut since my rate has been well above market. Would anyone else here consider taking a pay cut to stick with a family you know and love and enjoy working for vs. chasing higher pay with an unknown family?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't offer it unless they mention not being able to afford it.
To answer the question, it would depend on how big the pay cut was and if it was a permanent or temporary cut.

[Anonymous]

MB here. You are thoughtful but wait until they bring it up. They may ask you to forego a raise, reduce hours or need to give you a smaller bonus at some point.

[Anonymous]

I wholeheartedly agree w/the other posters responses so far.

Do not mention yet, take a wait + see approach and see if they approach you first.
Then you can take it from there.

You sound just as awesome as the family that employs you!

[Anonymous]

Never go down on your pay!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would for my current employers. They are both amazing and generous people and I truly love their little girl. Yes, if they needed me to, I would take a pay cut for them.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the others that I would do it but I would wait until they bring up money and I would expect something else (more time off, or more flexible schedule etc) in return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. You are thoughtful but wait until they bring it up. They may ask you to forego a raise, reduce hours or need to give you a smaller bonus at some point.

Having worked in the past for families I did not enjoy and for much less pay I feel right now I am very blessed getting all the pros and none of the cons, I would feel really bad if they let me go to pursue something else that is overall cheaper (not just a different nanny as like you suggest I assume they would ask me first to make it work.) That is what I was getting at with my post. I'm not sure if they would come to me and ask me to take a small pay cut to save them some money when the overall package of something else might be significantly lower, but if I offered it first and was not costing as much then when they sit down to look at other options the spread isn't as bad and they may choose to stick with me for the benefit of the kids.


I don't know, just my over-thinking maybe =/

[Anonymous]

Don't offer lower pay. It actually might be kind of insulting to them. You don't know all the details of their financials.

[Anonymous]

Another MB here and I agree with not offering to discount your rate. That is a lovely mindset but don't offer that.

If you are coming up on a work anniversary you could perhaps proactively say something like "You know, as I am coming up on my third year with you all, I just want to say that I consider myself very lucky to have great employers, and to be paid well also. I also want you to know that I'm aware there are ceilings on things so I wouldn't be expected a raise on the anniversary of employment. I would far rather have another few years with you all than worry about $1 more an hour or something."

If you were my nanny that kind of outreach would be huge (and probably financially rewarded if I could swing it but certainly would create a lot more loyalty and attachment."

You could also say that you'd like to know a bit about their long term plans as you'd love to stay with them but you understand the finite nature of nannying sometimes. That would open the conversation a slightly different way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another MB here and I agree with not offering to discount your rate. That is a lovely mindset but don't offer that.

If you are coming up on a work anniversary you could perhaps proactively say something like "You know, as I am coming up on my third year with you all, I just want to say that I consider myself very lucky to have great employers, and to be paid well also. I also want you to know that I'm aware there are ceilings on things so I wouldn't be expected a raise on the anniversary of employment. I would far rather have another few years with you all than worry about $1 more an hour or something."

If you were my nanny that kind of outreach would be huge (and probably financially rewarded if I could swing it but certainly would create a lot more loyalty and attachment."

You could also say that you'd like to know a bit about their long term plans as you'd love to stay with them but you understand the finite nature of nannying sometimes. That would open the conversation a slightly different way.

Thank you for your insight. To add a few details some of these things have happened over the last few months, we were coming up on the next year and I asked if they wanted to keep going and MB ecstatically said yes as long as I am willing. The job change in the family was a year ago so it's not brand new but recently they have asked for a few things that save them money (of course they don't say that but money is the only legitimate factor sometimes), such as since they pay guaranteed hours they have asked to use those paid hours at other times I don't work them such as a date night or something. I am more than happy to do that but my goal here was simply to skip the "band aid" solution and just make things stable for everyone. For them with knowledge they won't be stretching and for me knowing I won't get a pay cut later or be asked to make up a bunch of hours after a vacation PLUS my own knowledge of long term stability with a family that set the bar so high for me that any replacement NF would have trouble matching them.

[Anonymous]

I would wait, but if most/all the kids are now in 3-7 hours of school each day, they will likely ask you to change your hours, role or weekly salary since there is simple less work to do.

They need to lead this conversation. Certainly if you sense they are going to cut out childcare entirely, get in front of it. You don't want to be blindsided when they come to you and say they signed up for before and after care at the school.