Long-distance move with live-in nanny, any tips?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone had experience with this, good or bad?
What are the pros/cons to keeping same nanny vs. starting over in new city?
How much notice should we give?
She has already expressed that she wants to stay with us for a while. It's been 2 years so far and we plan on having at least 2 more kids. We are covering the relocation expenses.

[Anonymous]

Ask her asap. Draft a proposal agreement to present to her during your sit down talk. Your family needs the consistency, if you can get her to move with you.

[Anonymous]

OP here...Great advice.
Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Seems like a terrific thing for everyone if you can make it work.

Give her as much notice as possible. Consider her needs when you're buying a new place. Realize that she might be a bit more dependent on/enmeshed with you all in a new location than she is right now (won't have any social networks, etc...) Think of ways to help her adapt to the new location - hobby groups, church connections, etc...

Write a new contract inclusive of the move, minimum expectations, etc... For instance - she might agree to commit to a minimum of a year continued employment, otherwise she is required to reimburse you for the relo expenses. Or you can amortize that - if she leaves in the first year she owes you 100% of the relo costs, if she leaves in year 2 she owes you 35%. (We do this with new hires and it is VERY effective for retention.) If you put that kind of clause in your contract it gives you huge peace of mind. I would also give her a moving bonus (which helps offset the sting of the relo payback clauses.) I'd give her a 5 or 10k bonus - not reimbursable, just a pure bonus - upon arrival in the new city. I'd also give her some flexibility for time off to explore the new area.

I might also include her in an advance trip to see the house, the area, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a terrific thing for everyone if you can make it work.

Give her as much notice as possible. Consider her needs when you're buying a new place. Realize that she might be a bit more dependent on/enmeshed with you all in a new location than she is right now (won't have any social networks, etc...) Think of ways to help her adapt to the new location - hobby groups, church connections, etc...

Write a new contract inclusive of the move, minimum expectations, etc... For instance - she might agree to commit to a minimum of a year continued employment, otherwise she is required to reimburse you for the relo expenses. Or you can amortize that - if she leaves in the first year she owes you 100% of the relo costs, if she leaves in year 2 she owes you 35%. (We do this with new hires and it is VERY effective for retention.) If you put that kind of clause in your contract it gives you huge peace of mind. I would also give her a moving bonus (which helps offset the sting of the relo payback clauses.) I'd give her a 5 or 10k bonus - not reimbursable, just a pure bonus - upon arrival in the new city. I'd also give her some flexibility for time off to explore the new area.

I might also include her in an advance trip to see the house, the area, etc...

Only a fool would sign such an agreement .

[Anonymous]

Some parents really want their child to have the benefit of stable care. Kudos to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a terrific thing for everyone if you can make it work.

Give her as much notice as possible. Consider her needs when you're buying a new place. Realize that she might be a bit more dependent on/enmeshed with you all in a new location than she is right now (won't have any social networks, etc...) Think of ways to help her adapt to the new location - hobby groups, church connections, etc...

Write a new contract inclusive of the move, minimum expectations, etc... For instance - she might agree to commit to a minimum of a year continued employment, otherwise she is required to reimburse you for the relo expenses. Or you can amortize that - if she leaves in the first year she owes you 100% of the relo costs, if she leaves in year 2 she owes you 35%. (We do this with new hires and it is VERY effective for retention.) If you put that kind of clause in your contract it gives you huge peace of mind. I would also give her a moving bonus (which helps offset the sting of the relo payback clauses.) I'd give her a 5 or 10k bonus - not reimbursable, just a pure bonus - upon arrival in the new city. I'd also give her some flexibility for time off to explore the new area.

I might also include her in an advance trip to see the house, the area, etc...

Only a fool would sign such an agreement .

One could equally say that only a fool would pay relocation expenses without some assurance of continued employment. It's a very standard clause when offering a perk such as relo expenses. If you want to be treated as a professional you need to be willing to accept what comes with it.

[Anonymous]

If she is live in, what are the relocation expenses? We dont know how far they are moving, At the most its a one way flight right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone had experience with this, good or bad?
What are the pros/cons to keeping same nanny vs. starting over in new city?
How much notice should we give?
She has already expressed that she wants to stay with us for a while. It's been 2 years so far and we plan on having at least 2 more kids. We are covering the relocation expenses.

Most nannies have a community here so would not entertain a major relocation unless they had friends/family already in that new area.

But generally, if nanny DOES want to relocation with you, it is not a big deal nor contract. Sure having her stuff go with your moving truck.
Live-in Au pairs and nannies for FSO or IMF families that come from their home countries to relocate all the time for new or the same families.

[Anonymous]

Just see what the nanny wants to do, OP.

[Anonymous]

I assume she has no family or close friends in America if she is moving with a Nanny Family, is that correct? Is she one of those special nanny visas that only U.S. or international workers can issue for domestic help? Or is she on her own permanent visa status/green card/citizen?

[Anonymous]

If I were the nanny, I would probably insist on a promise of some re-relocation expenses if it doesn't work out in less than a year, too.

OP, why is she willing to move?

[Anonymous]

OP here, nanny is a US citizen. She's become like family and we realize that we've found a very special person in general, but also someone who is really good with our baby, in particular.
The comments have been very helpful. We'll include her in some of the decisions for the move sooner rather than later, and we'll put our promises in writing, which is our standard procedure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she is live in, what are the relocation expenses? We dont know how far they are moving, At the most its a one way flight right?

As far as I can tell, yes. But I just didn't want to get jumped on by people who might say "you better be covering all the costs." I was trying to preempt the trolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were the nanny, I would probably insist on a promise of some re-relocation expenses if it doesn't work out in less than a year, too.

OP, why is she willing to move?

This is great insight. We'll cover that in the agreement. Totally.
She's willing to move, presumably, bc she likes the job and she likes us. She has said as much to our faces...unless she was just being nice. Guess we'll find out soon!