Holiday Bonus Question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends a bit on your job. If you're a fed family and so the nanny likely has a pretty steady hrs and not crazy OT with you, then a very generous gift may be fine. If you are lawyers and work your nanny a ton, yes, you should pay a week's bonus.
- MB (whose family fits in neither category)

I don't think it has anything to do with what kind of schedule your nanny has, and more to do with the quality of her work and how much you appreciate her. Bonuses are standard in some industries and not in others - nannying is one where it is considered standard. All you have to do is run a google search to know that much.

Standard....in your world. The world of the extremely rich and famous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends a bit on your job. If you're a fed family and so the nanny likely has a pretty steady hrs and not crazy OT with you, then a very generous gift may be fine. If you are lawyers and work your nanny a ton, yes, you should pay a week's bonus.
- MB (whose family fits in neither category)

I don't think it has anything to do with what kind of schedule your nanny has, and more to do with the quality of her work and how much you appreciate her. Bonuses are standard in some industries and not in others - nannying is one where it is considered standard. All you have to do is run a google search to know that much.

Standard....in your world. The world of the extremely rich and famous!

I don't understand how this is even a debate. It would be just as pointless debating whether grass is green or water is a liquid... it simply is. I've said before that just because bonuses are standard doesn't make them mandatory, but it's like tipping in a restaurant - standard and anticipated.

And my current employers are neither rich nor famous - in my experience, those families actually tend to give less by way of bonuses.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how this is even a debate. It would be just as pointless debating whether grass is green or water is a liquid... it simply is. I've said before that just because bonuses are standard doesn't make them mandatory, but it's like tipping in a restaurant - standard and anticipated.

I've received gifts or a card at all my jobs. Never a bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't understand how this is even a debate. It would be just as pointless debating whether grass is green or water is a liquid... it simply is. I've said before that just because bonuses are standard doesn't make them mandatory, but it's like tipping in a restaurant - standard and anticipated.

I've received gifts or a card at all my jobs. Never a bonus.

Sorry to hear that.

But you do know your personal, anecdotal experience doesn't change anything about how the majority of legal nanny employers function, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't understand how this is even a debate. It would be just as pointless debating whether grass is green or water is a liquid... it simply is. I've said before that just because bonuses are standard doesn't make them mandatory, but it's like tipping in a restaurant - standard and anticipated.


I've received gifts or a card at all my jobs. Never a bonus.



Sorry to hear that.

But you do know your personal, anecdotal experience doesn't change anything about how the majority of legal nanny employers function, right?

Not the PP you are responding to, but your personal anecdotal experience doesn't change how the majority of employers function, either.

Holiday bonuses may be anticipated by nannies, but they are not standard or mandatory and there is no way you are qualified to speak for the majority of employers. Oh, and linking to nanny blogs doesn't change the fact that bonuses are not standard nor mandatory.

This is a very different debate than grass is green. Employers may give a bonus if they feel a nanny has earned one. That's about it.

[Anonymous]

Would you all also argue that tipping at a restaurant isn't standard simply because it isn't mandatory? Are thank you notes not standard? Holding a door open for someone closely behind you? None of these things are mandatory, but are in fact standard. Also not doing so will certainly get you dirty looks, a bad attitude, and/or someone who won't try so hard to make you happy in the future. The same goes for your nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you all also argue that tipping at a restaurant isn't standard simply because it isn't mandatory? Are thank you notes not standard? Holding a door open for someone closely behind you? None of these things are mandatory, but are in fact standard. Also not doing so will certainly get you dirty looks, a bad attitude, and/or someone who won't try so hard to make you happy in the future. The same goes for your nanny.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

None of your examples are relevant. Holding a door open is the same as tipping a server is the same as thank you notes? Crazy. None of these things share any context at all.

As for your threat that not giving a bonus means a bad attitude, dirty looks, and a lazy nanny, bring it on. You don't seem to understand this economy. There are many more nannies than jobs, just like many other industries. If you want to risk your job bleeding on the hill of your perceived slight around not getting the bonus you wanted (esp when your employer likely did not get an bonus), more power to you.

You won't get farther than the job listings you will need to read to find a new position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of your examples are relevant. Holding a door open is the same as tipping a server is the same as thank you notes? Crazy. None of these things share any context at all.

As for your threat that not giving a bonus means a bad attitude, dirty looks, and a lazy nanny, bring it on. You don't seem to understand this economy. There are many more nannies than jobs, just like many other industries. If you want to risk your job bleeding on the hill of your perceived slight around not getting the bonus you wanted (esp when your employer likely did not get an bonus), more power to you.

You won't get farther than the job listings you will need to read to find a new position.

Wow you're dense. The commonality between each of those scenarios is that, while not mandatory, are indeed standard and anticipated. Choosing not to do any of them, including not tipping or giving a bonus to someone in a service position. It is a way of showing gratitude, and not doing so will not go unnoticed. A nanny that has been sent a clear message that you feel no need to show your appreciation in the standard and customary way has absolutely no incentive to break her back providing you with exceptional service beyond that for which you pay her for. This does not make her lazy. Why would you expect above and beyond service for bare minimum appreciation?

[Anonymous]

I am an MB in the DC area and we have always given our nanny a one week bonus in Dec. i can't imagine we are the exception...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an MB in the DC area and we have always given our nanny a one week bonus in Dec. i can't imagine we are the exception...

You're not. I've had great employers just like you in this area. Interestingly enough, very few of them read or posted on DCUM on any type of a regular basis.