So your hourly wage for her, as of now, is $15.60?
I think if you can swing a tiny bit bigger raise (offer $17/hour), then cutting 10 hours is fine.
Basically, you can't afford a raise, but still want to keep her - right?
She deserves a raise, especially if it's the annual review type raise as WELL AS an additional kid.

This way, she'd be making $100 less per week, but got her proper raise. She can find something else for Fridays if she wants.
Or, she can say no thanks and move on.

OP, I worked for a family that was in your situation 2 years ago. I had been with them for a year and a half and 2 months before Christmas, the husband lost his VERY high paying job due to a big incident at the company and the company closing down for a while. I knew that they weren't going to be able to offer me a bonus like the previous year and I was fine with that because I loved the family. On my last day there before my break, they came up to me and gave me a couple of gift cards to my favorite stores/coffee places and also told me that as soon as DB got his job back, they would give me a $2/hr raise to make up for not being able to give me a bonus. I bet if you talk to your nanny and tell her what is going on, she would be understanding.

Anonymous wrote:Offer it.. She can take it or leave it.. The economy is not at it's best and your husband lost hours and he probably has some type of degree.

Nannies don't have degrees so they cant be extra picky and should be happy with what they have (as long as its a decent wage)

Many don't have jobs or are getting laid off this Holiday season.

Just let her know you appreciate her and explain why you can't give her a raise and let her know that you understand if she wants to look elsewhere. Atleast then she'll see that its not you just being cheap or 'taking advantage.'

You are rude and uninformed. Lots of nannies have degrees. I actually graduated from the same school as my employers.

Anonymous wrote:Op I would not feel guilty. 780 a week for 2 kids and only 40 hours is a high salary and will be hard for her to match out on the market. She can look but you could also find an equally qualified nanny for 650-700 not 780 for 40 hours a week easily.

why is there always a poster who hints at finding a new nanny? I can only imagine how many nannies you go through.

Anonymous wrote:Offer it.. She can take it or leave it.. The economy is not at it's best and your husband lost hours and he probably has some type of degree.

Nannies don't have degrees so they cant be extra picky and should be happy with what they have (as long as its a decent wage)

Many don't have jobs or are getting laid off this Holiday season.

Just let her know you appreciate her and explain why you can't give her a raise and let her know that you understand if she wants to look elsewhere. Atleast then she'll see that its not you just being cheap or 'taking advantage.'

Uhhh rude generalization much? Yes some nannies don't have degrees, but some of us do. Yes we can, and should be extra picky - we, like most people depend upon our wages to pay our bills. When we decide to accept a job we do so knowing that the pay will cover our bills. The new offered wage may be 'fair' but if it doesn't cover the Op's nanny's mortgage then it would be stupid of her to "not be picky"

Op I would not feel guilty. 780 a week for 2 kids and only 40 hours is a high salary and will be hard for her to match out on the market. She can look but you could also find an equally qualified nanny for 650-700 not 780 for 40 hours a week easily.

OP here, I think the best idea is just to offer her her regular pay and give her extra days off. That's holds my costs constant and gives her no change in income. No raise will bite, but it'll bite a lot less than actually making less.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't offer the raise.

But don't cut hours ? Feels a bit crappy. The 2nd kid is new, so I feel she's entitled to something

Ok, so that would be great if she actually got paid more, but with your "raise" as well as cutting of hours, she is losing $120 per week! She is most likely not going to find another job that will work with your schedule to gain another 10 hours elsewhere, so you are harming her more by trying to offer this raise in the end. I know I would not be happy with losing $500/month so that you could feel satisfied that you offered me something for my good work. I would rather know I have my usual paycheck that I can count on, or know if you cannot handle the usual pay, the chance to go find another position that will offer what I need to live on each month.

PP, you're absurd and offensive.

I'm a nanny and I have a degree, and I'm working on a second! Also, nannies CAN and ARE picky just like everyone else out there looking for a job. Of course everyone, not only nannies, should be happy with what they have.

OP, I think it's a fair offer. Maybe she can find a job on Friday's to make up for the missing money

Offer it.. She can take it or leave it.. The economy is not at it's best and your husband lost hours and he probably has some type of degree.

Nannies don't have degrees so they cant be extra picky and should be happy with what they have (as long as its a decent wage)

Many don't have jobs or are getting laid off this Holiday season.

Just let her know you appreciate her and explain why you can't give her a raise and let her know that you understand if she wants to look elsewhere. Atleast then she'll see that its not you just being cheap or 'taking advantage.'

offer it....but don't expect her to accept.

she may not be able to afford to lose over 100$ a week

I feel like the offer is reasonable and she may accept it. She may not though, just because of the hours and money she will lose, so it will be up to her. Best of luck!

Anonymous wrote:Just don't offer the raise.

But don't cut hours ? Feels a bit crappy. The 2nd kid is new, so I feel she's entitled to something

Just don't offer the raise.

We currently pay our nanny $780 a week for 50 hours a week for care of our 2 kids. We intended to give her a modest raise this year but my husbands hours at work have been cut so we are in a tough spot. We are thinking of offering her a four day a week schedule (every Friday off) with a per hour raise to $16.50 an hour for 40 hours - it doesn't make her "whole" - but it feels like a fair offer given the circumstances. Does anyone have any advice? Does this seen reasonable?

We like her, we just can't afford a raise AND a pay cut on our end.