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Original poster

Nanny pay when DS starts nursery?

36 replies

deedeedadada · 18/05/2011 21:33

Have a fantastic nanny who works 8am-6pm. DS is 22months and will be starting nursery (3 mornings per week, increasing gradually to 5 mornings just for a bit of social life) when he turns 2. Just wondered whether it's the norm to continue with the same amount of pay even though DS will be spending 3 hours per day at nursery? Do nannies expect a slight pay cut or not? Should say that nanny will still be asked to start work at 8am as we need to get to work and nursery doesn't start til 9.30 -obviously she can't therefore take another job in the mornings. Any guidance wd be appreciated!

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nannynick · 18/05/2011 21:57

If you make a change to the contract, you risk losing the nanny. Your nanny has taken the job based on the hours of work and salary on offer - change those and nanny will reconsider if they want the job.

Given your nanny works 8-6, and you have only one child, why do you have a nanny? Nursery's are open 8-6, childminders provide care during those hours? Nursery or Childminder would be lower cost than a nanny.
You have a nanny for a reason, think about why it is you decided to have a nanny in the first place - does your son going to pre-school really change your reasons for having a nanny?

TheOriginalFAB · 18/05/2011 21:52

Right.

Original poster
deedeedadada · 18/05/2011 21:50

Nothing to "rethink" as no decision made and have posted (as hopefully clear) for some advice. Thanks to Nannynick for your help though.

OP posts:
eurycantha · 18/05/2011 21:48

Most nannies including myself would not generally take a pay cut when the children start school ,I have always found that I have more time to do jobs such as tidying the playroom,Ironing and preparing activities.By the time youve dropped your charge at nursery and returned home it may be 9.30,then I tidy up maybe hang a load of washing,Iron and start preparations for dinner,By the time youve done that there may be time for a quick cuppa and your nanny has to leave to collect your child.You are also pying your nanny to be on call in case your child is unwell at school.I have on several occasions been called into nursery and school to collect a child.

nannynick · 18/05/2011 21:48

Consider how you would want to be treated by your employer in such a situation.

Perhaps consider it differently, say your employer sends you on a training course... do you still expect to be paid even though you aren't at work?

Just because your DS isn't in their care physically, your DS would be their priority in the event of anything being needed by him - such as if he was ill at nursery, if he simply didn't want to go to nursery one morning, nursery is closed due to no hot water, no heating, the snow. Consider who is on-call for those type of circumstances... would you pick him up?

TheOriginalFAB · 18/05/2011 21:45

Your nanny might be nice but she will be pretty pissed off if you dock her wages. She would have to come in and do 1.5 hours, then do what for 3 hours and then go back to work. You need to rethink this.

TheOriginalFAB · 18/05/2011 21:44

Okay, so who will pick your child up if they become ill at nursery?

I worked as a nanny. After a few years the child went to playschool twice a week. My salary stayed the same. I used the time to do extra jobs for the parents. It was never even a consideration that they would lower my salary as I was still working as I was on call.

Original poster
deedeedadada · 18/05/2011 21:42

Don't think we mentioned it before we employed her (hadn't thought about it ourselves at that stage) but have been talking about it for a few months in the context of "oh god I'd better sort out a nursery place soon". Understand that nobody welcomes a pay cut but also keen not to be the only fool who continues to give someone full pay even though they effectively have 3 hours off in the middle of the day IYSWIM? She is so nice that I doubt she would express an opinion either way - that's why I'm asking what the "done thing" is.

OP posts:
cookielove · 18/05/2011 21:41

Oh nannynick said it perfectly Blush

nannynick · 18/05/2011 21:39

Stays the same, you are contracted to pay that amount. Or are you planning on changing the contract and thus risking losing the nanny?

3 hours isn't long, nursery is probably only open term time, nursery probably won't care for a sick child. There will be travel time to/from nursery. By the time nanny is back to your house, how long would they have... a couple of hours. Time to do the washing, dishwasher, general tidy around, cook lunch perhaps.

I'd suggest you keep paying exactly the same amount and think of some tasks nanny could do during the time available.

cookielove · 18/05/2011 21:37

I think your nanny won't appreciate a pay cut, was she aware that this was the case when you first employed her, or have you decided to do this at a later date. If she was aware that was going to happen, then it would be reasonable for her to understand a slight pay deduction, however i doubt she will be able to find another job, to cover 9.30 -12.00 3-5 mornings a week, but she might.