I highly doubt she has reason to be angry with you OP. You sound very generous to me. You gave her adequate notice, you secured another position for her, you gave her two weeks paid vacation and you are giving her a weeks pay tax-free.

If anything, she should be grateful for having such a thoughtful employer. If she does get angry, then she would most definitely be in the wrong here.

What the hell? I never got severance pay!!! What jobs these days give severance pay?

Anonymous wrote:OP here- thanks for the replies. I have seen previous posts where nannies have argued that one weeks pay per month is standard. In our case that would be over $3,200-- which seems like a lot to me-- especially considering that I made sure she had plenty of vacation time already, did the legwork to find her a new position and gave her over six months notice. I am just hoping that she isn't expecting over 3k and then will be disappointed that it is only 800.

The standard typically quoted is one weeks pay per year of service, which would be exactly $3200, however that is in the case of little to no notice. You have done everything a great employer can and should do to give her time and help to find a new position. What you are giving her is not severance, rather a bonus or gift, and you obviously have a great relationship, so I'm sure that it will be appreciated.

Some parents do choose to express their appreciation this way to a beloved nanny.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- thanks for the replies. I have seen previous posts where nannies have argued that one weeks pay per month is standard. In our case that would be over $3,200-- which seems like a lot to me-- especially considering that I made sure she had plenty of vacation time already, did the legwork to find her a new position and gave her over six months notice. I am just hoping that she isn't expecting over 3k and then will be disappointed that it is only 800.

One week's pay per month? That is insane, and no, that isn't standard. If she's disappointed, that's all on her. As others have said, severance is typically in lieu of notice--i.e., you want the nanny to quit immediately, so you pay her two weeks' or one month's salary--or if the termination of the job is really unexpected.

One week's pay is good, OP. I'm sure she'll appreciate your thoughtfulness.

OP here- thanks for the replies. I have seen previous posts where nannies have argued that one weeks pay per month is standard. In our case that would be over $3,200-- which seems like a lot to me-- especially considering that I made sure she had plenty of vacation time already, did the legwork to find her a new position and gave her over six months notice. I am just hoping that she isn't expecting over 3k and then will be disappointed that it is only 800.

I think given the situation that your plan to gift her $800 is just fine. If she gets angry about free money, she's a little whacky, IMO!

Any nanny that would be angry is ridiculous. Severance is not a must so she should be appreciative no matter what, especially with you referring her for her future position.

She won't be angry.

I would think of it more as a parting gift. After 4 years, 1 weeks pay isn't that high, but I expect much less from my family! She will be very grateful. I work for a family similar to the first reponder, they pay decent and think that's all there is to it, disheartening.

I doubt she will be angry either way. You were very thoughtful by letting her know well in advance of the move, and helping her secure a new position. I think you should give her the $800 and consider it a gift and as a thank you for staying with your family for 4 years, and (presumably) doing a great job. Severance is unnecessary in this situation, as the PP pointed out, it is usually given instead of say 2 weeks notice.

I was going to say 800 sounds below average and then I got to the part about you saying money is tight and that is a lot of money. Considering she had a ton of notice and you worked with her to get her a job that starts right when you leave, plus the fact that she's known you for 4 years, I doubt she'll be angry. I'm sure she knows your financial situation.

Why would she be angry? Personally, I wouldn't give severance pay if you gave someone that much notice and they have a new job lined up. Severance would generally be in lieu of notice. If your nanny is angry that you only gave her $800, that's her problem. A week's pay sounds generous.

My nanny has been with us 4 years- we are moving in a few months. I told her about the move last year and have used my connections to get her another job that begins when we leave. I also let her take two weeks of paid vacation this month before we move. I am planning on a week of pay as a gift (about 800 cash) as a severance-- is that normal, below, above average? I will not have a job when we move and we are not wealthy-- and so money will be tight- so $800 isn't an insignificant amount to us but I don't want her to be angry either.