Nannys

The going rate around us is ~$18 to as high as $25 in San Francisco/hour. We've had a nanny/(ies) for almost 7 years and they get 14 days paid vacation - half their choice, half ours. If we take more than 7 days in a year, they get paid for that time as well. They didn't ask to not work... They also get 5 sick days per year paid and regular holidays. If they don't take their sick or vacation days, we pay them out at the end of the year. As well, we give a bonus around 2 weeks pay at Christmas. Typically it's a little over that. We do give Xmas and bday presents as well. Is the mother home or the nanny is doing all this on her own all day? Our nanny has always kept busy when the kids were napping or in school.

I think your friend needs to ask herself the question: "How much money makes it worth it for me to delay my life's plans?"

I had this dillemma earlier in the year. I had planned on quitting work in June, however someone wanted to hire me for private care. I put the hourly rate at something that made it worth it for *me* to change my plans. It's worked out that their care needs changed, which was fine with me. But I know I asked for what I felt made the job worth it for me.

Your friend needs to do some soul searching and decide what's important to her. Once she decides what she wants most, she can move forward knowing what she's willing to sacrifice/ trade or accommodate.

And as a former nanny, she should be making about $15 or so, at least. 2 5's and a newborn!? Wow!

Good luck!

Wow I feel blessed with our Nanny. We pay her $25 a day for one child who is 8 months old. The others are in school, but if they have a holiday that neither dad or I get off she still gets the $25 a day. She does not work for us during the summer either. Yes she gets her birthday off PAID and we make other arrangments. If we choose to go on vacation she still gets paid, but if she takes a week long vacation she doesn't get paid. Likewise if I have a half day off work she still gets paid for the entire day. If I want her to stay while I am home I just ask and it has never beena problem. I do on occassion take a day off work and still have the Nanny come. On these days I work madly cleaning (doing the deep stuff) as it is easier on me and hubby for me to do this with the Nanny there.

I love my Nanny and wouldn't trade her for anything.

I was paid $10/hr for ONE child, not doing any household cleaning/laundry/etc. If the FAMILY needed time off, I got paid - if I needed a day off it was unpaid. Holidays are paid as well.

Just like any job - with an increase in responsibilities equals a raise. Each year at a job equals a raise. Bonuses for Birthdays and holidays are appreciated, but not a given.

I now ask for $14/hr one child with $2 per hour more for children over 1. Newborn along with other children - might get into the $18/hr range. I would offer to do light housework, but laundry and grocery shopping would be an added fee.

The $$$ is somewhat specific to the area of the country, living expenses, past experience and whether or not they are paying taxes on her income.

Having said that, most employees are entitled to paid "sick time" and a set period of "paid vacation". Our daycare provider has in our contract that she gets two weeks per year (10 days) of paid vacation and one week (5 days) of sick time- meaning if she AND her two aides are sick and need to close, we still pay for the day. If WE go on vacation, we pay her.

It may be time for your "friend" to move on- it sounds like her role is increasing, but her compensation is not.