Nannies/Parents Would You?

[Anonymous]

Be okay with/offer the following agreement. We have a 3-month old and I’m going back to work 4 days ( 36 hours) a week for 3 months, then full-time ( 45 hours). To keep a nanny, we were thinking of paying full-time salary at the start. Our concern is we have a nanny leave for more hours/pay. We don’t want to pay this now, and the annny think she will get more money once I go back to work full-time. We also don’t want to pay a higher rate, and then the nanny be upset when we lower it for 45 hours. To us, it seems paying for 45 hours a week will be easiest on both parties - we keep the same pay, and the nanny gets full-time pay.

[Anonymous]

I think if you hire a grown-up, she'll appreciate the extra money for the "easy" weeks, and understand that it will get harder/longer in a few months.

However, it is very hard to tell when you're hiring who you really get, and A LOT of nannies will get used to the 36-hour week and grumble and be resentful when their job goes to 45 hours but the pay stays the same.

36 hours is also considered full time, though under the typical 40. I suggest you just pay the 36, but write into your contract the guarantee that it will go to 45 hours/wk in x# of weeks. And you will pay overtime for all the hours over 40, of course.

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny who knows about twenty other nannies - and this is not a good idea, OP. Don’t give “something for nothing” upfront. It will not be appreciated. Hire for 36 hours, with the understanding that it will go to 45 hours a week with overtime if things work out in the first three months.

[Anonymous]

You could offer for the new nanny to take on some errands, light cleaning, etc. for the day that she isn’t needed if she wants all 45 hours up front.

[Anonymous]

We wanted our nanny but only needed her part-time in the beginning. Because she couldn't live on a part-time salary, we paid her for full-time (her guaranteed hours) from the start even though we didn't use her as much. It was worth it to us because otherwise she would have surely gone somewhere else. If you find a nanny that you really like, then it may be worth it. However, you may also find a nanny who can accept a part-time position for a few months.

[Anonymous]

I would just pay the new Nanny for thirty-five hours of work now, then once you return to full-time hours, pay her more of course.

Because if you pay her for forty-five hours & she only works thirty-five, she may start to complain when her hours increase.

It may be a little tougher to find a Nanny who will agree to this set-up, but I am sure there is SOMEONE out there who would be willing to accept this sort of job.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I’m a nanny and IMO you should just pay her for the hours she actually works. Just be clear and upfront about how long she’ll need to work 35 hours and when 45 hours will start. Try finding a nanny who has worked 45 + hours; that way she’ll be used to working long hours

[Anonymous]

Agreed, pay for the hours worked, but explain that you expect the schedule to bump up to 45 at x point (so that whomever you hire is willing to do that).

45 pushes you into overtime which is 1.5x the hourly rate, so I wouldn't start in paying that before you need the hours. But if you're talking about adding a fifth day to a four-day week, you need to be really upfront with the job candidates about that plan since some may only consider the job knowing it will eventually be five days, and others may not be willing to take it if it's five days.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here.

Agree with most posters above. Just pay the 36 hours and then increase later.
Otherwise you'll feel resentful if you ask for something extra and that the nanny says no ... She will also feel she has to accept anything extra if you ask, just because she's paid more. This kind of relationship never works out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be okay with/offer the following agreement. We have a 3-month old and I’m going back to work 4 days ( 36 hours) a week for 3 months, then full-time ( 45 hours). To keep a nanny, we were thinking of paying full-time salary at the start. Our concern is we have a nanny leave for more hours/pay. We don’t want to pay this now, and the annny think she will get more money once I go back to work full-time. We also don’t want to pay a higher rate, and then the nanny be upset when we lower it for 45 hours. To us, it seems paying for 45 hours a week will be easiest on both parties - we keep the same pay, and the nanny gets full-time pay.

This is tough. Many nannies complain anytime anything changes. WHich is silly because your two jobs or mtgs may change and the kids are growing so always changing their needs and activities. Find a nanny with a good attitude and might work. Or guarantee 36 hours and mention how summer will be those hours and the other 9 mos 45 hours. Pay the hourly rate period.

[Anonymous]

OP here. My biggest concern with only 36 hours is losing a good nanny before I go back full-time. We don’t want to hire someone part-time now, then full-time later. We want the same nanny to be with us from the start. We are now thinking of doing the 45 hour pay for 36 hours, but have the nanny work every other Friday while I run errands and get some stuff done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My biggest concern with only 36 hours is losing a good nanny before I go back full-time. We don’t want to hire someone part-time now, then full-time later. We want the same nanny to be with us from the start. We are now thinking of doing the 45 hour pay for 36 hours, but have the nanny work every other Friday while I run errands and get some stuff done.

That’s a good idea. If you can afford it, go for it. You will find nannies who are okay with this arrangement but me upfront and give full details so there are no surprises.

[Anonymous]

Another suggestion: pay for 40 hours. Use her for a half day every Friday or full Friday every other week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My biggest concern with only 36 hours is losing a good nanny before I go back full-time. We don’t want to hire someone part-time now, then full-time later. We want the same nanny to be with us from the start. We are now thinking of doing the 45 hour pay for 36 hours, but have the nanny work every other Friday while I run errands and get some stuff done.

You're talking about a 9-hour difference. Just have her work the 45 hours, and use the extra time for errands, appointments, etc., and let her go home early some Fridays while you can.

Everyone here is talking from experience. What you see as a way to keep a good nanny will turn into her feeling unappreciated and underpaid and possibly leaving later (or demanding a raise, which you will resent) after a couple of weeks with the longer hours at the same pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My biggest concern with only 36 hours is losing a good nanny before I go back full-time. We don’t want to hire someone part-time now, then full-time later. We want the same nanny to be with us from the start. We are now thinking of doing the 45 hour pay for 36 hours, but have the nanny work every other Friday while I run errands and get some stuff done.

You're talking about a 9-hour difference. Just have her work the 45 hours, and use the extra time for errands, appointments, etc., and let her go home early some Fridays while you can.

Everyone here is talking from experience. What you see as a way to keep a good nanny will turn into her feeling unappreciated and underpaid and possibly leaving later (or demanding a raise, which you will resent) after a couple of weeks with the longer hours at the same pay.

+1 Yes, good idea. Surely you can find a good way to use the extra time, if you plan to pay her for it.