My Nanny wants me to pay for gas to and from work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot fewer wealthy families than nannies who'd like to work for them. What wealthy families do isn't a benchmark for the market, just for one segment of it.

Way too complicated a concept for the basic angry nanny posting on here.

Don't use words like benchmark. Way above her pay grade.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are legally obligated to pay her the IRS reimbursement rate for driving on the job only. You are not obligated to pay for her commute and you should not. It is not standard and your nanny is taking advantage of you by even suggesting such a ridiculous request.

Also. $17/hr for a single child in DC is on the high end of the average and you are already compensating her more than fairly.

If she doesn't like it, let her quit. There are many, many more nannies than jobs in this area and you will find excellent candidates at your rate.

Never allow yourself to be held hostage by a selfish nanny. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Very useful post. A nanny I just interviewed asked if I could help pay for gas to and from work. I was not planning on doing that, but I must say I did not know if this is common or not. I'm offering $18/hr, two weeks vacation, five days of sick leave. I also offered to pay for a class to further her training (CPR certification or something else). One child, part-time. She also wanted to add to the paid holidays those holidays in her country/religion, shouldn't it be U.S. federal holidays only? Shocks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very useful post. A nanny I just interviewed asked if I could help pay for gas to and from work. I was not planning on doing that, but I must say I did not know if this is common or not. I'm offering $18/hr, two weeks vacation, five days of sick leave. I also offered to pay for a class to further her training (CPR certification or something else). One child, part-time. She also wanted to add to the paid holidays those holidays in her country/religion, shouldn't it be U.S. federal holidays only? Shocks!

I can see asking for the paid religious holidays but holidays in her country? Both Eids last for like a week in countries where they are celebrated. That's not happening.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, I have never asked my employers to pay for my gas getting to and from a job. It's an understood thing that you as the nanny are responsible for getting yourself to and from a job and the location/distance is something you take into account when deciding whether to take it or not. I will also say though that $17/hr is the absolute lowest rate I'll accept and the standard for most nannies I know in the area is between $18-$22. Now, I'm not hating on the OPs rate but I am trying to make a point that the PP wasn't wrong that the rate is low for a good nanny.

But if your nanny is asking for this OP then I don't think it matters much what the norm is but rather how much you like your nanny and want to keep her. Maybe she's asking because she is just trying to see what extra she can get or maybe she's realized that when factoring in her gas costs she's not actually taking home as much as she thought/needs and instead of asking for a raise she's trying to offset if this way. Either way, you're full in your right to say no but if you do, you should be prepared that you might need to find a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We do pay for our nanny's gas but this was discussed and given as a perk before we hired her. We really wanted her and she lives ten miles away. Well worth the gas money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 10 years having nannies we have never paid (or been asked to pay) for the commute. Some of nannies have had 1+ hour commute given dc traffic.

She knew those costs when she interviewed with you.

Presumably you paid a decent living wage.
Where do you think $17/hr is enough to afford rent for an adult woman in the DC area today?

And I'm not talking about couch surfing.

That's not the employer's problem nor is that how job's work.
I don't get to tell someone what they need to pay me so I can live the life I want, they present me with a compensation package and I adjust my life to live on it (or get a different job). There is no obligation for an employer to over pay just because you feel entitled to a certain life.

No, but I will give my rate to take the position based on a few things, location being one. You can choose to hire me or someone cheaper, no hard feelings. And I don't even get into discussions with families below my pay scale, or I mention that my rates are above their listed range. As an employer, I understand that you have a budget an a I might be outside of that, but don't you want to see a variety of candidates with a variety of experience before making your decision? Maybe I'm $3 more per hour and maybe you won't see the benefit to cost ratio as being worth it, but maybe you will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very useful post. A nanny I just interviewed asked if I could help pay for gas to and from work. I was not planning on doing that, but I must say I did not know if this is common or not. I'm offering $18/hr, two weeks vacation, five days of sick leave. I also offered to pay for a class to further her training (CPR certification or something else). One child, part-time. She also wanted to add to the paid holidays those holidays in her country/religion, shouldn't it be U.S. federal holidays only? Shocks!

Um, yes- federal holidays only. She wants to take off other days for her holidays? That's what vacation is for.

[Anonymous]

Hahahaaha I am a nanny and sometimes I am just shocked at how clueless some nannies can be. I couldn't even imagine having the balls to ask my employers to pay for my gas commute or federal holidays in my home country. This is just hilarious and unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

$17 net is average I'd say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know lots of workers getting free metro cards. Can you at least do that, op?

Shes notntsking the metro. She has free onsite parking at the home. IF the NF had only paid parking available then thr NF would be reasonable in paying for that.

I dont know ONE single employer who pays for their employees commute in their personal vehicle to and from their home to workplace. There are Metro subsidies and paid for parking, but that is all.

Nanny needs to go, she's not worth it. Id show her the door. $17/hr for 1 kid, OP will have a line out the door for a replacement.

[Anonymous]

I might be willing to swap out some US holidays for others, as long as the total amount was the same, and as long as I didn't have a harder time finding coverage since I wouldn't be off work, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, Can anyone tell me if they are paying for the gas that is used for the nanny to come to our home and for her to go back home? I have no problem paying for gas for all activities and errands that are asked of the nanny but should I pay for her gas to and from work? This seems like an odd reimbursement. The distance to and from is less than 15 miles.

Also can anyone share with me how much they are reimbursing for gas per mile?

Thanks!

no. Dumbass requests like that would really make me pause and question her judgement, credibility and long-term fit with my family.

[Anonymous]

IRS gas mileage is 54 cents per mile and yes that's what I get when I use my car to drive my car for work