I think the holidays are just a stressful time for everyone, and that additional stress can take what was already a difficult nanny/family relationship and turn it into an unendurable one.
Older charges will be out of school leaving nanny with more work than usual, Relatives may be visiting which can put a strain on the nanny and the family, Parents may be working from home or working fewer hours over the holidays and therefore be around and in the nannies way more than usual, A nanny who doesn't mind a demand to be flexible at most times may have more than her usual number of family or social engagements and may feel resentful if a family continues to ask her to work late or on days off. All these and more can add up to pushing a nanny or family that was already thinking about making a switch over the edge.

I am on vacation (using 1 of my 2 weeks off) so recived Christmas bonus a few days ago for what it is (and how wealthy the family is mb has a new designer purse every week ) I am now going to be looking for a new job after the holidays . It wasn't just the bonus , but that was the last straw I bend over backwards and cancel a lot of my own personal plans to fit there needs and the very small bonus (100) when I work 60 hour weeks . Just shows its time to look for a new job .

I think you notice the increase in jobs because it's very difficult to hire anyone during the holidays. Everyone's schedules are all over the place, people are out of town, people have guests, kids are out of school ... families wait until after the first.

no but i thought less of a family (my first full time) who gave me nothing after i gave their kids 8 days of haunakah presents and they had money to go to england for 2 wks and left me w/o hrs or pay. i never agreed to unpaid holiday/time off again.

Will tell you this year

Nope never done that. My last job did go downhill after the holiday season though. I'm the nanny that got a $10 gift card. That on top of other issues (frequent tardiness, getting me sick but not paying sick days, missing payroll 6, SIX, times, and being really protective overbearing and demanding PITA's) I quit just shy of the end of my contract. They proceeded to threaten to sue me. I *should* have quit when they showed me how little they cared/appreciated me at the holidays.

Have you ever waited it out to the end if the year, just to see if you would get a bonus? And then quit if you didn't or received a poor one?

Or...

Have you ever waited until you received your bonus (even if it was a good one) to then quit? So you could walk away with more cash$$$.

I've noticed an increase in available jobs Jan-Feb.