Reply to how to handle employer vacation and nanny pay

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[quote=Anonymous]OP, there is absolutely nothing in nanny-land that is "always the rule."  Everything is negotiable, but negotiations do need to be handled in advance to avoid misunderstandings and frustrations down the road.  Also, only nannies with a contract that specifies guaranteed hours are entitled to be paid for days, other than whatever vacation time and holidays you've specifically committed to them, when they are not needed due to the family's travel.  If the nanny did not ask for this benefit at the time of hire, she should not be trying to claim the perk now on the ground that it is "always the rule."  If she is, then you are entitled to negotiate the terms on which you will start providing that benefit.

Some nannies may be completely okay with cleaning or doing other backed up house management projects--child-related or not--while you are away.  Some may be okay with making up the hours at another time; I know one person whose nanny "earns" her excess vacation time by spending a weekend overnight with the kids for each week of vacation beyond what they determined was standard.  You could also specify that the nanny must use the extra weeks for professional development (e.g., reading and reporting back to you about certain child development books), researching schools or summer programs for your children, or planning future activities, crafts, or projects.

Some families contract to pay a below market hourly rate for the entire year to offset the extra paid vacation time.  This works best when you can give the nanny lots of notice about when the extra vacation time will be, so she can actually take advantage of it.  Getting cancelled on at the last minute for a day here and there isn't of much benefit to her, so she's probably not going to take a lower rate to offset that.

I also know one family who offers four weeks PTO plus two weeks federal holidays, but the family has sole control over when all four weeks of vacation will be taken.  If the nanny needs to self-schedule time off for any reason, she does not get paid.

Again, it is all about finding a balance that works for both your family and the nanny and then spelling out mutual expectations in your contract.[/quote]

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