Oh, no - another "Is this salary reasonable for a central London nanny" thread ... but I need your help!

[LittleOneMum]

My nanny has been with us for 2.5 years. Prior to that she had 2 years experience. In the time she has been with us, we have put her up from £450 net per week to £475 and then to £500 net. On Friday she asked for an increase to £550.
This seems outrageously high to me, but maybe I am horribly behind the times. Can you help? I'm in central London. She looks after my DS (3 - at school every morning) and DD (9 months). She says she needs the increase because the new job (i.e. having 2 to look after, I just went back from maternity leave) is very much more tiring and full on. She says she needs to employ a cleaner at home as she is so tired.

A 20% increase in salary in 2.5 years seems a lot to me but I do not want to pay her less than she is entitled to. Help please?

DS2 is fab! He was on time because he was evicted via planned section. I'm all recovered except being a bit heavier. So the race is on to get into work clothes before 14th March. That wouldn't be a problem if I could just find someone to come look after him for an hour or so twice a week so I could get back on a treadmill. Sadly, the gym creche won't take him 'til three months old which is too late since I'll be back at work then!

So if you know anyone in Twickenham area who might fancy sitting in my gym in the restaurant mid morning once or twice a week, please send them my way.

oh, you had another boy, fantastic :)

many congrats :)

cant help with the gym bit but try the shred dvd

less then £5 inc P&P - fantastic and takes about 30min a day

Hi Strix,

I am indeed back with my ex charges in East Sussex and loving it, but it is all coming ro an end in 3 weeks so back to looking again.

Many many congrats on DC3, I was in Sunbury yesterday for an interview, if only I had known, I'd have sat with him for an hour, just for the cost of a cuddle!

I was up there for an interview where the nanny had quit after 2 months because her 5 and 3 year old charges where too much hard work! Mum is expecting twins in 5 months, nanny didn't know until after she handed in her notice though!

I don't know any nannies in that area though, sorry.

A cuddle with bub, obviously!

I'm a bit late to this but I would agree that as nanny jobs go she is doing less hours than most and with only 2 children to look after, its not that demanding. I think the previous pay rises were more than sufficient.
I would be worried that she so tired and wondered, particularly as she is veggie, whether she may need a check up or some iron tablets.
Have you had a look on nanny job for similar jobs in your area to see what they pay?

I'd say no.
Call her bluff - tell her you understand if she has another option paying that much... as a new job she would be extremely unlikely lucky to get that rate. £50 pw is a huge increase once you factor in tax, Ni etc on top. a FT job with masses of holiday - you will not be short of options if she does walk, in my view.

Update!!! After much soul searching we decided that we would talk to our nanny and say that we were not willing to increase pay at this stage, as we would be paying her well over the odds - and that in any event she seemed unhappy and what was the problem (clearly throwing money at a problem doesn't always help).

Well, the upshot is that she went off on one (making the decision all the easier for me!) and then resigned. So we are interviewing for a new nanny and I am so impressed at all the lovely happy enthusiastic candidates I have seen - all of whom are asking for the same or less money than my nanny was on now...

Anyway, thank you so much for all your guidance and help and giving me the courage to stick to my guns.

thanks for update - always nice to know what happens

sounds to me you will be much better off :)

Our nanny works 10.5hrs/day for 5 days a week (for a 3.4 and 2.11 yr old, and am currently on leave expecting another baby any day. She has over 20 years experience, and is extremely helpful in lots of little ways which makes paying top end worthwhile.

I think top end, which 550 net per week IS, should be for more experience, for a "can do" attitude" and for being more hands on.

In the current environment a payrise should not automatically be expected every year - not that many people are getting it. However, I do believe that having more children justifies a slightly higher wage particularly if the job was originally for 1 child, and then more have come along, as the job is different from the one which the nanny accepted!

Your nanny is doing very well indeed to be on £500 npw for 47.5 hours a week!!

£550 per week works out at £11.57 per hour!!

I am a nanny myself, working 50 hours in a nanny share in north London and am VERY happy to be taking home £500 npw. I have a 14 month old and an 8 month old to look after and do laundry and cooking for and feel my salary is perfectly adequate.

There are nannies out there, I am afraid to say, who are simply asking for too much tbh.

The going rate for a qualified, experienced nanny is £9-10 per hour net so your nanny is already above with £10.50 per hour......lucky nanny

I think some discussion is needed, ESPECIALLY as she doesn't even do laundry etc.

Just seen your update!

She was obviously a very money led person!

Very best of luck in your search for a more hands on nanny with a 'can do' attitude who isn't going to burn more of a hole in your pocket than is necessary