Am I Overreacting Here??

[Anonymous]

I have been a part-time Nanny for this family for two yrs.
I watch two children, an infant + a toddler.

Full disclosure: I work for a very cheap rate ($18/Hr. for two children) which is considered low in my area.
I love the family & am treated well so I accept the rate I am currently receiving.

Last Christmas they gifted me $200, some homemade cookies and a homemade scarf/glove set.

This yr., I received nothing.
Not even a Christmas card.

Nothing has changed in the job…..
It’s just that this yr. the entire family was really sick before Christmas Day so I had the M/T off.
I returned to work on Thu., but was not given anything.
I am assuming since I didn’t see them before Xmas they opted not to give me anything, I (as usual!) had presents for their kids.
As the kids were opening up their gifts on Thu., the parents looked uncomfortable and made quick exits upstairs.

While I know that presents/bonuses are not required, I personally feel unappreciated.
I work part-time for another family and they gave me a lovely gift.
I also babysit on weekends occasionally for a few other families who also gave me gifts.

Just a heartfelt appreciation card would have been nice to receive…..but not even being acknowledged during the holidays has put a very bad taste in my mouth and for the first time, I am considering leaving this job.
Again, I would have appreciated a nice holiday card….just something showing they appreciate me and are not taking me for granted at this point!

The family had taken an expensive week long holiday vacation earlier in the month plus the kids got a lot of presents so am pretty sure lack of funds is not the issue.
Plus a card would have cost very little…..even a handwritten one would have been great.

[Anonymous]

The family was likely not sick Xmas week. They probably just said that not to give you a present. They probably are going to put their kids into daycare and will be letting you go very soon.
This happened to me too. My bosses had always given me Xmas gifts but one year they didn’t. The following month (new years) they notified me that they would be putting their child into a home daycare and they gave me my one week notice.
Be prepared for the same outcome. Or you can just resign and beat them at their own game.
To go from two hundred dollars to nothing means something is definitely up with them. GL.

[Anonymous]

I would feel unappreciated too OP. Not sure what to suggest though.

[Anonymous]

Maybe waiting until New Years? It sucks but what can you do. Bonuses aren’t mandatory. $200 is not a lot anyway. Don’t sweat it but do keep your eyes out for a new job in case they are planning on firing you.

[Anonymous]

I’d look for a new job. They could’ve Venmo or zelle you money even if they didn’t get you a gift.

[Anonymous]

I may be in the minority on this but I think eighteen per hr is pretty standard for up to two kids.
Shame on this family for not acknowledging the person who cares for and loves their children when they cannot be there.
They do not deserve you and you definitely should find a new family to work for in the new yr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may be in the minority on this but I think eighteen per hr is pretty standard for up to two kids.
Shame on this family for not acknowledging the person who cares for and loves their children when they cannot be there.
They do not deserve you and you definitely should find a new family to work for in the new yr.

18hr is definitely not standard lol I made that over ten years ago. A nanny is a luxury. Don’t hire one if you can’t afford it. Not everyone can and that’s ok. Try daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I may be in the minority on this but I think eighteen per hr is pretty standard for up to two kids.
Shame on this family for not acknowledging the person who cares for and loves their children when they cannot be there.
They do not deserve you and you definitely should find a new family to work for in the new yr.

18hr is definitely not standard lol I made that over ten years ago. A nanny is a luxury. Don’t hire one if you can’t afford it. Not everyone can and that’s ok. Try daycare.

18 is reasonable depending on where they live and what the job is. No one is entitled to gifts and bonuses.

[Anonymous]

I’m an employer (I hate that “MB” junk, I tried using it once on here and felt like an AH.) of nannies and I think it’s completely justified for you to feel unappreciated. They couldn’t go stick some cash in a card for you if they had simply forgotten before then? (Forgetting you in general would be horrible, IMO, but they could have covered their mistake, had they cared enough to do so.

I would be questioning my employment if I were you - are they about to let you go so they don’t care if you feel unappreciated? And, in your place, I’d also consider leaving because either they don’t appreciate you or again, you’re going to be let go soon anyway.

Have a conversation with them if you think it will help. Something is definitely up. I wouldn’t do this to my household employees, even if I were planning to let one go - you are still under their employment and if things were so bad that I felt I needed to stiff them on a Christmas bonus, they’d be fired before then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may be in the minority on this but I think eighteen per hr is pretty standard for up to two kids.

Maybe in Iowa? My employees travel with us and live in a few different locations during the year so it is different and they are paid much more for this. However, before all the travel I was still paying much more than $18 an hour. In the DC area, that’s ridiculously cheap.

Op, are you paid on the books?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I may be in the minority on this but I think eighteen per hr is pretty standard for up to two kids.
Shame on this family for not acknowledging the person who cares for and loves their children when they cannot be there.
They do not deserve you and you definitely should find a new family to work for in the new yr.

18hr is definitely not standard lol I made that over ten years ago. A nanny is a luxury. Don’t hire one if you can’t afford it. Not everyone can and that’s ok. Try daycare.

18 is reasonable depending on where they live and what the job is. No one is entitled to gifts and bonuses.

I wouldn’t say $18/hour is a great rate for two kiddos but it could always be much much worse.

Like $16-17 per hour for two.
Though many on this forum love to claim that even $20-22 per hour is minimal for two charges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I may be in the minority on this but I think eighteen per hr is pretty standard for up to two kids.
Shame on this family for not acknowledging the person who cares for and loves their children when they cannot be there.
They do not deserve you and you definitely should find a new family to work for in the new yr.

LOL

[Anonymous]

$18 an hour is still above the minimum wage in all states and most counties too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$18 an hour is still above the minimum wage in all states and most counties too.

So? It doesn’t make it a good wage.

[Anonymous]

Be honest with yourself, you don't care about the card, what you expected was a bonus.

I don't know why they didn't give you anything, they probably were late with their gifts etc and you're not their priority (their family is).
Maybe you'll get something soon.

Nanny.