16:03 makes excellent points about the many ways a long term nanny can ease a transition, if she chooses. Honoring the contractual notice period is the least/barest minimum of them.

No bonus is called for or remotely necessary in this instance OP.

No bonus.

She took excellent care of your children, loved and nutured them. Of course you should give her a bonus. Why do you even need to ask.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is she leaving? For another gig, retiring, moving?

OP again. These are helpful. I am totally confident it has not occurred to DH to give her a bonus for all of the reasons people have mentioned. It didn't occur to me until a day or so ago just because we have been going crazy trying to pull all the pieces together on short notice. However we LOVE this woman and we hope to still see her, so I wouldn't say that we're parting on bad terms, more just that it's been stressful all around. I know she feels bad about leaving so soon and I really doubt she expects anything.

To answer your question--she's leaving for a new job (not as a nanny) and, in the longer term, she does plan to move which is why this all happened so fast (i.e. since she's decided to move in a year or so, she wanted to gain experience in a new field before she goes, and something came up very quickly).

We have one months notice in our nanny's contract if she quits because I don't need the stress, productivity loss at work and time commitment to find quality childcare in less than 4 weeks. How much work did you not do in order to solve your childcare void? Sounds like a lot. Hoed your boss didn't notice otherwise maybe YOU won't get the bonus you deserve.

Did she calls round to her nanny friends for people available? Did she help interviews? Is she going to have an overlap time with the new person? Or is that all new stuff for you to do?

I'd just give a Christmas present but no huge retention like bonus. We split those up by 6 mos anyways.

I don't think this situation warrants a bonus, especially since whe is giving such short notice.

Give her 1 week of pay extra if you can afford it

I've never received a bonus when I quit. I have received a bonus when the job ended like the children aged out of nanny care or the family moved.

She doesn't need a bonus in this situation

Anonymous wrote:Why is she leaving? For another gig, retiring, moving?

OP again. These are helpful. I am totally confident it has not occurred to DH to give her a bonus for all of the reasons people have mentioned. It didn't occur to me until a day or so ago just because we have been going crazy trying to pull all the pieces together on short notice. However we LOVE this woman and we hope to still see her, so I wouldn't say that we're parting on bad terms, more just that it's been stressful all around. I know she feels bad about leaving so soon and I really doubt she expects anything.

To answer your question--she's leaving for a new job (not as a nanny) and, in the longer term, she does plan to move which is why this all happened so fast (i.e. since she's decided to move in a year or so, she wanted to gain experience in a new field before she goes, and something came up very quickly).

Being that she did not honor the four weeks notice in her contract I would not give a bonus.

Why is she leaving? For another gig, retiring, moving?

I wouldn't give a bonus to the nanny in this circumstance. I would give some sort of generous farewell gift (which it sounds like you are) and the stellar reference.

But the fact that she is leaving (not you ending the employment), and especially that she did not give you the contracted amount of notice, would take a bonus off the table in my opinion.

A bonus is most appropriate for an exiting nanny when the family is letting her go. I think it's less expected when the nanny is leaving on her own terms. Especially since she is giving you less notice than she agreed to. (So, already a concession on your part)

That being said, if shes great, why not give her 75% of your budgeted holiday bonus and leave the rest for the incoming nanny. There's no way she should expect a full holiday bonus after 1-2 months of work.

Given the situation I would not give her a bonus.
If her contract states you will pay her unused vacation days pay those.
Other than that a gift and reference is plenty,
As for a bonus for the new nanny it is entirely up to you if you are extremely impressed by the new nanny a small bonus is fine.
We have gave our nanny that started with us at the holidays a small bonus her first year. She didn't expect it and was grateful for it.

A bonus is appropriate for q nanny who is departing on good terms after years of good performance. A bonus is not expected for a new employee starting near the holidays. A gift card maybe, but a full bonus is over doing it.

Nanny of the past few years is leaving today. She has been great and we absolutely would have given her a small bonus/gift for her birthday (later this year) as well as a holiday bonus if she were stil working for us at those times. We are giving her a gift, card, and a stellar letter of reference. I'm now wondering if we should also give her a bonus for her last day. However, this has all happened really fast--she gave us 2 weeks notice (our contract asks for 4) and even though I think it's all going to work out we have had to do a bit of scrambling in the past week to find someone new and cover the gap in care. Additionally, we will want to give the new nanny some sort of holiday bonus and even though I know I might get flamed for this we are not a family that can pay decent wages and give out multiple holiday bonuses.

Has anyone given or received a bonus when they quit/left a job? We plan to keep in touch with our current nanny in the future, so we could also just give her a pro-rated bonus closer to the holidays, but is that super awkward since she's a grown woman who will no longer be working for us at that time? Thanks for any helpful advice.