Nanny holiday

[ehenke]

We are currently discussing our nanny's pay, and I'm wondering how vacation figures in. As a teacher, I have off for most holidays and since our family is out of town, we travel out of DC. Thus, we end up being gone about six weeks a year. Because it is our schedule/our choice, we pay our nanny full time for these days. Should it figure or play a role in how we negotiate? We have two kids, one of whom is in school half day and the other starting half day in February. Im just curious what a post-taxes, take home pay ballpark should be. And then what if we have a third? Is there a standard increase per hour?
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We are also away almost that amount of time. In addition nanny's two weeks' vacation and sick days and federal holidays, we asked our nanny up front to do other tasks those weeks for full pay obviously - she cleans, takes care of our pets, wates plants etc. It's way easier and less hours than a normal week but is helpful to us and she agreed during negotiations.

Since my kids are also in school, she does some of these tasks while they are in school too. (with appropriate breaks etc).

[Anonymous]

How could we possibly figure out what your nanny's take home pay will be without knowing her deductions?! Or how much you should offer as an hourly wage without knowing the education and experience you are requiring?

Your being gone might be attractive to some candidates and not attractive to others. It is what it is. You, of course, pay her when you chose to take the children out of town and do not ask her to do any other "chores" to make up for your choice. Would you like to go to work on school holidays and wash your principal's car or mow the lawn?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about a 3rd child at this point if you aren't pregnant already; you'll have nearly a year's lead-time even if you started TTC tomorrow. Change the agreement when that happens.

Right now, you have two kids, one in school half day, both in school half day in 6 months, and a teacher's schedule.

Do you really always travel on breaks? How does your spouse get all of that time off? What about summers?

In any case, you are looking for someone who values time off more than money, rather than someone looking for the most pay. Then, you negotiate for a slightly lower rate (like $1-$2 lower, not $5 lower) than you might offer if there weren't so many breaks, still pay the guaranteed hours when you're away, and guarantee her those six weeks off every year.

If you think there's any chance that you're going to end up needing/wanting her to work some or all of any of those breaks, then your schedule ceases to be a benefit, even for the time-over-money person.

Or, you can advertise as a teacher if you won't need her in the summer. Some nannies will do this, since plenty of families need full time care in the summer.