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Holiday pay for caregivers
Filed under: Just For Moms, Childcare
When Nolan was in full-time daycare, I paid a monthly fee that didn't fluctuate according to holidays. In other words, I paid the same amount no matter whether it was March (no stat holidays) or December (over a week of stat holidays.) This seems fairly par for the course, and I didn't question it.Now he has a Nanny four days a week, while my Mom looks after him on Fridays. It's a fabulous arrangement, Nolan loves his time with his caregiver, and I'm relieved to know that he's spending his mornings in parks, at playgrounds, throwing rocks at the beach. But now I'm an employer rather than a customer, and I find myself wishing there were a 'Nanny Protocol' website that I could consult in order to keep my caregiver happy, without stripping my wallet of every last penny.
I paid Nolan's nanny for a week off at Christmas, figuring I would have done the same at his old daycare. But this week, she let me know that she's planning to take off a week at the end of February to bask in a tropical climate with her boyfriend. And she should! It's been pouring cold, drab buckets here, the days are short, and Nolan is a handful. I'll have to arrange for alternative care, which is fine -- she'll actually help me with that. What I'm wondering is whether I should pay her for that week she's away. I'll have to pay another caregiver, too, and it will be a bit of a stretch for me...but every semi-full time employee deserves at least two weeks paid holiday a year, right? But then I'll also need to pay her for any vacation time I take this year (up to three weeks, which I may or may not take at all.) I have consulted with Dr. Google and he knows nothing, so I'd be interested to know what you've done in this situation.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-16-2008 @ 9:55AM
Chris said...I guess it depends on what kind of employment agreement you have. Is she a contractual employee and paid hourly, or a salaried worker? Are you withholding taxes and remitting them on her behalf or is she responsible for claiming her income? I think the law is that the employer must pay for statutory holidays, but not for the 2 weeks vacation. I'd suggest contacting your local labour office.
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1-16-2008 @ 9:56AM
SKL said...I know it's kinda late now, but these are some of the things that should be worked out when you hire a nanny. I am in a similar situation. I pretty much err on the safe side and pay, because it would cost me a lot more to upset my nanny. But, if we had discussed it up front, I am not sure what would have been decided.
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1-16-2008 @ 10:10AM
Groovymarlin said...My first reaction is that you were right to pay her for the holiday, but a vacation is her choice and you are not obligated to pay her for that. Do you have some kind of contract with her? Seeing as how you can't take time off just because she is, and will therefore need to find (and pay for) other daycare, maybe if you do feel obligated to pay her something for her vacation time you could negotiate to pay her half the usual amount or something? I suspect you're going to have to just talk to her about it.
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1-16-2008 @ 10:12AM
Sara said...My sister is a nanny. She gets one week of paid vacation per year. She gets paid holidays. But she does not get paid for any time her employer decides to take family vacations. In my opinion she should...I mean it is her full time job and she is depending on that income. But it is definitely something that you'll have to discuss as there are no clear cut rules on when nannies should and shouldn't get paid as far as vacations are concerned.
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1-16-2008 @ 10:31AM
Kristin said...I have no contract at all. Which seems absurd in retrospect. I'll put one together now, I think..better late than never.
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1-16-2008 @ 11:03AM
Erika said...We don't have a nanny, but I just wanted to say that I liked your comment of an "employer instead of a customer". Our son goes to a state-licensed in-home daycare. It just so happens that right now he is the only child in her care. So if my parents are in town and keep him at our house (which they do, and they are usually in town for at least two weeks every other month), we pay the provider, and she is truly "off" - with no other kids to care for. I don't really mind paying her for that, but I hate paying for the week at christmas, holidays, spring break, etc. I am basically giving her money for nothing at those times, and it hurts. But like some of the other comments said, I don't want to ruffle the feathers of the person who spends most of her time with my son, so I pay it!!
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1-16-2008 @ 11:35AM
Nicola said...I worked as a nanny all the way through college. I never had paid holiday time. I was paid under the table, weekly cheque for hours worked. If the parents wanted a Saturday or Sunday outing, they would schedule me for that and I had more pay for that week, on top of my usual hours. In retrospect, they were getting a good deal! If the mom had a holiday or the family were away for a week, I simply didn't have pay during that time. If I took a holiday, she was happy enough to work around me, but of course I was without pay during that time as well.
You are a dream employer :-)
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1-16-2008 @ 11:47AM
Emily said...I think aside from national holidays, employers typically pay for 2 weeks vacation: 1 week of employer's choice and 1 week of nanny's choice. Additionally, 3 paid personal or sick days is pretty standard. Hope this helps!
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1-16-2008 @ 12:04PM
Kate said...When I started with my current provider, we all agreed that she always takes the last two weeks in July, and a week at Christmas, and that we don't pay for that. That being said, I do always confirm verbally (at those times) that I do not need to pay her for those 3 weeks (although her Christmas bonus more than makes up for that week). However, if I decide to take an addition week at any other time, I would pay for it.
In this case, where the nanny has popped this on you with little or no warning, I would bring up the question with her. Likely she is wondering if she is getting paid, too, and a discussion about it will open the communication about this issue and let her know that you respect her needs.
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1-16-2008 @ 12:50PM
Jennifer said...I am thinking that maybe I should quit my job and become a nanny... I don't get paid for most national holidays (I do get paid for Chritmas & New Years but not if they fall on the weekend and I have to work the other days of the week.) I also do not get paid holiday time. I am fairly certain (in the states at least) vacation time is optional.
I think you need to sit down and have a talk with your nanny and as you mentioned work out a true contract for both of your peace of minds... Good luck.
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1-16-2008 @ 1:25PM
stephanie brown said...My mom is a nanny and says that she wishes she got paid vacation, just like at a regular job. If she is taking vacation she is perfectly happy to not get paid. But when they take vacation and she is not needed...that is when she wishes she could be paid.
So I would say...for her vacations no pay. But when you are taking a vacation she gets paid...because she cannot help when you take off.
Hope that helps :)
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1-16-2008 @ 1:31PM
Eva said...I would give her a holiday bonus (we do two weeks' pay but for us that's very, very little since we use childcare only a couple of hours a week) and otherwise not pay for her time not worked. If she were more dependent on the income, I would pay her for time she usually works but doesn't since we have chosen not to use her for that time.
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1-16-2008 @ 2:25PM
Margaret said...When I hired my nanny, I said we would need to arrange to take the same vacations, so I wasn't paying for double care. We would need to work this out ahead of time as it comes up. I usually err on the side of KEEP THIS WOMAN HAPPY, SHE'S AWESOME! But I do ask that she coordinates her vacations with ours.
I pay her a salary regardless of how many holidays fall in the work time.
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1-17-2008 @ 3:28PM
anna said...I was a nanny in college and my employers and I worked out a deal (and I signed a contract to this effect) that I recieved two weeks paid vacation/sick leave a year. I could take it when I wanted to, but it was up to me to use it. If I was sick and didn't need it, I'd forgo the day of paid leave for a vacation I was planning later. It worked out quite well for us both - there was no guess work involve since it was decided before hand.
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