Anonymous wrote:How common is this for travel expenses to and from work? We have a nanny who is commuting from MD to DC and asking for $30 a week to cover her commute.

No. If she chose to apply for, and accept, a job that is far away, that is on her.

My answer would be different if YOU used to live in MD and she was your nanny there, then you chose to move to DC and asked her to still stay on as your nanny. THEN I think it would be right to give her compensation for the additional commute.

Re: above, some people do, some people don't make enough money to live closer to DC proper. Some people prioritize outdoor living space over proximity, or the cost of driving over taking public transportation (for flexibility, or other reasons). Everyone I work with makes sacrifices in or more areas (space, commute, transportation, etc.) to pay for convenience in another. But we all knew where the job was located when we applied/interviewed/accepted - my agency does not give additional perks (more work from home, varied schedules outside of what is available to all others) simply because someone lives near Quantico or in Baltimore City/County. Nor should they, in my opinion.