Nanny - bonuses

[Tremadoc]

We are fast approaching an annual review with our nanny and need some advice on bonuses.

We have been really happy with our nanny and would like her to feel valued and motivated to stay working for us and our children.

We have agreed a pay rise and will give an extra day's paid holiday per year. What do people do in respect of bonuses?

Is there some rule-of-thumb for calculating the amount of a bonus where you are happy with performance? We are a bit clueless and in need of some guidance.

All views/advice welcomed.

[womanofdulwich]

i think it is a case of treat others as you are treated. if you get a big bonus, and as your nanny enables you to do so ,then share it. but if you dont get a bonus then no- maybe an extra amount at christmas.

[Tremadoc]

Many thanks womanofdulwich!

We are certainly not city-slickers bringing in big bonuses. We just want to make sure that the 'extra amount at christmas' is enough to ensure that our nanny feels appreciated and not at all hard done by. We didn't know whether there would be any expectations as to the amount....if any?!

[childsleepsolutions]

Hi there, I've worked as a nanny and know lots of nannys, I would say the Xmas bonus is the most common bonus time rather than at the annual review, most nannys I know are very happy with a weeks wage, some get more, some a bit less but the only bosses really moaned about are those that give none!!

[Wiffwaff]

We just went with Christmas bonus last year and as we are in a nanny share, we wanted to agree on an amount which both couple were happy with. There is no rule, whatever you feel comfortable with.

[Tremadoc]

Thanks all - this is really helpful. Good to have a point of view from a nanny too!

[Sanne Panne]

If a week's wages is the norm for an xmas bonus, would it be stingy to give it roughly pro rated to the time worked, e.g. half for someone who started in summer? We don't get bonuses ourselves and already decided to keep the family xmas celebration extremely simple this year (1 small present for everyone) because it's been an expensive year. I do want to make sure our (great) nanny doesn't take offence if we only give her 1/2 a week's pay though. Maybe promise to give the other half at the appraisal?

[chantelle]

after the first year I gave our three-day-a-week Nanny ?200 as a "we're very happy" bonus. I've also given her xmas bonuses of around the same amount. It's a nanny share but I don't think the other family have given bonuses, not sure. I just want her to know how much we appreciate her.

[childsleepsolutions]

Sanne Panne, If you are happy with your nanny then I assume she is a nice girl, in that case I think she would be happy with whatever you could afford, half a weeks pay for half a year worked is pretty good anyway! I always felt a thank you went just as far so maybe put it in a little card saying you think she is great and thank you.