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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To pay my nanny what she asks for?

35 replies

Romax · 24/04/2019 06:05

Because I think I may be but not sure as this is my first nanny.

I’m a single mother, two children under 10. I work part time. My nanny does 5 hours in total a week.

She is wonderful. 6 months now and my children love her, as do I.

She asked for £8.50 an hour. I didn’t give it any thought and this is what I have been paying. £42.50 a week. Cash. It is her only job (she has children) and seems to suit her very well.

However, it dawned on me this morning that I am only paying her 30p an hour more than minimum wage.

Do I wait for her to raise her prices (although I suspect that that may never happen) or should I suggest an increase now?. If so, what to?

I organise my budget down to the last penny, so I can see that I could afford to pay her more. I would simply reduce monthly savings, but I put away quite a healthy amount a month so I’m not perturbed by that prospect.

It’s just whether you pay what is asked for, if you think their value is more, you offer to pay more?

Many thanks for any advice / view

OP posts:
WhiteDust · 24/04/2019 06:07

Cash in hand Nanny?

WhiteDust · 24/04/2019 06:08

Sounds like it does suit her well. Does she declare this income?
I suppose if you are happy & she is happy...

AJPTaylor · 24/04/2019 06:11

So really she is a baby sitter? That's what I pay via Sitters agency so seems ok to me.

Original poster
Romax · 24/04/2019 06:13

@AJPTaylor
A bit more than that as she picks up from school. Plus prepares dinner (that I have cooked but she assembles) 2x a week and over sees homework.

OP posts:
Original poster
Romax · 24/04/2019 06:13

The picking up involves walking not driving

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 24/04/2019 06:13

Shouldn’t you be paying her pension, NI etc if you are her employer?

Ceebs85 · 24/04/2019 06:37

One hour a day? That's a babysitter isn't it rather than a nanny? Sounds fine to me.

CareBear50 · 24/04/2019 06:38

Sounds like she is happy with current arrangement. She is not paying tax or ni contributions so this prob works out better for her I'd say

user1474894224 · 24/04/2019 06:47

Do you ever pay her holiday pay? (Like a bonus?) As that might go down well. Does she bring her kids to yours too? As the flexibility you give might count for a lot. If she's done a year and you don't want to lose her then yes up it a bit - she will be pleased....just say that you are happy and you know life is getting more expensive. Good childcare is worth its weight in gold. Keep her happy. Any other job you would get a cost of living rise.

NannyR · 24/04/2019 06:50

You are employing her so it's up to you to offer a payrise. She won't ask for one.

Hollowvictory · 24/04/2019 06:53

It's only 5 hours per week. Is she self employed or are you her employer? It does sound like it's a babysitter arrangement as fir so few hours.

stucknoue · 24/04/2019 07:18

She's sitter on those hours so it's up to her. Strictly speaking you should be putting it through the tax system, she won't meet the threshold if it's her only job but they need to know her earnings for benefit calculations (is she claiming?) don't get yourself into trouble!

CuriousaboutSamphire · 24/04/2019 07:26

Strictly speaking you should be putting it through the tax system You mean the nanny should! OP can't do it for her!

cranstonmanor · 24/04/2019 07:30

A bit more than that as she picks up from school. Plus prepares dinner (that I have cooked but she assembles) 2x a week and over sees homework.

She sounds like an Angel. Maybe you could occasionally give her some vacation money/christmas bonus or birthday money to keep her happy?

PinkGlitter123 · 24/04/2019 07:34

I would pay more than that personally.
With that sajd, good on you for appreciating her and thinking about all of this. So many people don't think about the person who looks after their child/children enough.

Original poster
Romax · 24/04/2019 07:37

Thanks for feedback
Yes I paid Xmas bonus
And she really is a keeper

So I text this morning to say I’d pay £9 an hour from now on.
And then my plan is from November (when I should hopefully receive a pay rise) I will take it to £9.50 an hour.

She sent lowly text back thanking me Smile

Thanks again

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 24/04/2019 07:57

That's a lovely thing to do. She sounds great too - I need someone like this in my life

I hope you meant lovely and not lowly though - be sad to think of her feeling she has to act in a lowly manner before you :)

Original poster
Romax · 24/04/2019 08:00
Grin
OP posts:
PinkGlitter123 · 24/04/2019 08:09

Good on you Romax. Sure your nanny is very happy and feels appreciated which will mean a lot to her.
Happy you have found someone amazing x

Kpo58 · 24/04/2019 08:15

I would always ask offering a payrise first. If she is on benefits also, a payrise can interfere with them and make her worse off overall.

PrasadsNonDyingDeclaration · 24/04/2019 08:18

If she is an employee you have responsibility to deal with tax and NI. If she’s a contractor then it’s her. You might be best to clarify the situation. She might be lovely (or lowly) but if you start with another one in the future they might be after holiday pay, sick pay, mat pay and so on. If that’s not in your budget you’d be stuck.

Dressless · 24/04/2019 08:23

Well done. Very conscientious of you. It is always nice to see people appreciating those when care for their children. Don’t worry about the tax issue, this doesn’t seem like you are an employer more like you are paying for a service so there is no onus on you to do the tax accounting (the responsibility would either fall to her agency or more likely to her as self assessment). If she doesn’t declare then that’s not even remotely your problem.

Yabbers · 24/04/2019 08:31

Does it matter what she’s called? She looks after children and does some cooking. It’s up to you whether you think she deserves more or not.

I have a similar issue with the lady who does my ironing. She charges so little, undervalues her work but refuses to take any more money. My choice is to use her and pay too little or to stop using her so she has less work.

turtlelove · 24/04/2019 08:33

This is fantastic value really. I am paying £15 per hour for after-school nannying.

Comefromaway · 24/04/2019 08:37

For those saying the OP should be paying tax and NI. If the nanny has no other employment and the OP has no other employees there is no obligation to run a PAYE scheme as the nanny is earning under the threshold.

I think she’s being underpaid but such few hours is more like babysitting.