Gas stipend request

[Anonymous]

Hi - our part-time nanny/HM (30 hours a week) asked us for an increase in pay because of the gas prices. We currently pay her $33/ hour, which comes out to roughly $1k a week. We are of course understanding and open to this, but also feel like it is a slippery slope as the increase in price is hopefully only a few more months. She does drive our son but I would say it is all within a 10 mile radius, and he is in school until the afternoon.

What is reasonable? I was thinking an extra $50 / week?

[Anonymous]

If she's driving her car, you should have been paying the IRS reimbursement rate at minimum this entire time.

For 2026, that rate is 72.5 cents per mile.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sets-2026-business-standard-mileage-rate-at-725-cents-per-mile-up-25-cents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she's driving her car, you should have been paying the IRS reimbursement rate at minimum this entire time.

For 2026, that rate is 72.5 cents per mile.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sets-2026-business-standard-mileage-rate-at-725-cents-per-mile-up-25-cents

This or provide a car and gas.

[Anonymous]

You should already be paying her 72.5 cents per mile. I've never heard of a nanny using their own car and paying for gas if they're driving the kids around

[Anonymous]

The issue is if the prices go back down when do you stop giving the money?
$33 an hour is a good rate.
How many miles is she actually driving your child per week? If it’s 20 miles and her car gets more than 20 miles per gallon for example then that’s like $5 extra per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue is if the prices go back down when do you stop giving the money?
$33 an hour is a good rate.
How many miles is she actually driving your child per week? If it’s 20 miles and her car gets more than 20 miles per gallon for example then that’s like $5 extra per week.

The IRS rate is reevaluated every year.
You stop giving money when she stops driving her car as part of her job.

By all means -- if you're so eager, you drive the kids for OP for $5/week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue is if the prices go back down when do you stop giving the money?
$33 an hour is a good rate.
How many miles is she actually driving your child per week? If it’s 20 miles and her car gets more than 20 miles per gallon for example then that’s like $5 extra per week.

And, out of that hourly rate, she has to pay for the car, car insurance, taxes on the car, gas and maintenance. OP should provide the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is if the prices go back down when do you stop giving the money?
$33 an hour is a good rate.
How many miles is she actually driving your child per week? If it’s 20 miles and her car gets more than 20 miles per gallon for example then that’s like $5 extra per week.

And, out of that hourly rate, she has to pay for the car, car insurance, taxes on the car, gas and maintenance. OP should provide the car.

Assuming she knew all that when she took the job that would be accounted for in the hourly rate.