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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

What do you pay your nannies? i dont think i'm being paid near enough!

19 replies

NannyNat · 14/10/2011 12:31

Hi there.
I have been a nanny now for 5 months, i know its not very long, but i have looked after the same little boy since he was born just not full time until 5 months ago.
I have been thinking about my pay because i think for a job so important i'm not getting what i deserve. My origional contract was for £12,000 a year working 9 until 5.30 5 days a week with my petrol paid for.
So far i haven't seen a penny for my petrol, haven't finished one night before 6pm. I have also turned 21 and so i am actually being paid below minimum wage.

As i am a live out nanny i always figured the ay was higher than a live-in one but my pay isnt touching my living costs, and as i have to use my own car its becoming harder to cover my insurance.

I'm just wondering as i think that this is too little an amount to be paying the person that is taking care of your most important thing in the world. Any advice would be really appreciated. Sorry for the lengthy message x

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Novstar · 14/10/2011 12:57

I'm just wondering as i think that this is too little an amount to be paying the person that is taking care of your most important thing in the world.

Not sure if that's a constructive way to look at this... in the UK at least, how much you're paid isn't determined by how important your job is perceived to be. It's determined by market forces. You shoudl talk to agencies and look at local job adverts to decide what the going local rate is, for someone with your qualification and experience. In London I'd probably pay at least £9 gross for a live out with some experience... but it's hard to say as every job is different, eg your hours are very reasonable for a nanny job and you might have other perks (like flexibility etc).

The fact that you're not finishing on time and not being reimbursed for petrol are separate (and quite serious) employment issues.

blouseenthusiast · 14/10/2011 12:59

In London, that would be absurdly low: should be £9/10 net p/h. And obviously it is illegal for your employers to pay you below minimum wage.

Novstar · 14/10/2011 13:20

Yes you do need to factor in the NMW.

CaptainNancy · 14/10/2011 13:31

£12,00 net or gross??

CaptainNancy · 14/10/2011 13:35

Wouldn't you make more than that working in a nursery? and get holidays, other benefits too?

StillSquiffy · 14/10/2011 13:50

If they are paying all the tax on your earnings and you are receiving £1,000 per month, then your wage comes out at 6.32 per hour, which would not be unusual for a first nanny job for someone your age (although it is certainly not high). Once you have built up experience you can move on to a better paid job.

Whether it is way out of kilter with the market would depend on where you live and whether you have any childcare qualifications.

Petrol would normally only be paid for using your car during the day taking your boy out, it would not normally be paid for driving to and from the house at the start/end of your day.

If you are using your car with the child in it you will need to have the correct car insurance in place (business use), otherwise you may not be covered. That is usually quite expensive.

With regard to both use of car and working late every day, you really need to raise it with the family. With regard to the salary I think you should leave it.

Original poster

NannyNat · 14/10/2011 15:32

Thanks everyone.
Well my salary is £12,000 Gross not net so after tax i'm bringing in considerably less than £1000 and before you worry i do have the proper insurance on my car which unfortunately costs be a bomb but its pretty necessary, i'm just not sure that its a very fair deal considering i have to drive him around places and things yet i'm not getting anything in return for it. (obviously apart from my salary and the love of a gorgeous little boy!!)

OP posts:

Ebb · 14/10/2011 16:08

What does your contract say about overtime? Did they put petrol expenses in your contract too or was that verbally agreed? £12000 a year gross is less than the NMW so I think you should sit down with your employers and have a chat. Either they reduce your hours so £12000 a year covers NMW or they give you a pay rise. Insist they pay petrol expenses or otherwise refuse to drive the baby anywhere. if you were being paid a decent salary then I might let it go but as you're not, I think you deserve to be paid what they owe you! Do you have a kitty for expenses? Can you take money for petrol from there? If they're finding it financially tough to afford a nanny perhaps you could suggest a nanny share? Either way you shouldn't be out of pocket.

littlesue · 14/10/2011 16:15

I think you should be paid at least the minimum wage and your employer is breaking the law. I would also pay petrol money when driving your charge around (not to and from work though). I also think you should be paid overtime or come to some arrangement if you don't finish until 6pm. With my nanny if I am late by 15 mins then the next day she leave 15 mins early. Mind you if she is late 5 mins I don't make her stay an extra 5 mins - it all comes out in the wash I think.

Original poster

NannyNat · 14/10/2011 16:26

The petrol is agreed on my contract, but we never discussed overtime. I'm very punctual amd am at work 15 mins early each day, i would never expect them to pay for that because its my choice but i do get a bit annoyed as i'm working 2.5 hours a week unpaid. The problem is i really love myemployers and i dont want to upset them. Its not an issue about money for them (i wont diclose their salaries but they could pay a fair few me comfortably). But i cant afford to keep going being paid less than is legal

OP posts:

fraktious · 14/10/2011 16:53

I would be wary of saying they could afford more on the basis of their salaries - you don't know what other expenses they may have.

That aside less than NMW is obviously too low and not paying your petrol is unfair. I feel you need to sit down and discuss this calmly with them. If they're not willing to raise your pay then you should be prepared to leave.

Original poster

NannyNat · 14/10/2011 17:00

Sorry i realise that commenting on their salaries is unproffesional, however i have known them for a long time and it is common knowledge between us.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I will have a sit down with them and discuss it

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happychappy · 15/10/2011 08:48

If it's your car you shouldn't be getting petrol money but a mileage rate because you have to include the wear and tear on your car and the cost of running the car.

I agree with the other comments, be calm and speak to your parents with some evidence to back it up.

My employers are always late. I am suppose to finish at 6.30 NEVER finish before 7.15 when they are about. But they go way often so I get my time back so its no problem. If you are never getting your time back then it become a problem.

Tarenath · 15/10/2011 09:15

If I'm reading this right then you have quite a close relationship with your employers which could make a discussion about salary and hours very awkward. I would sit them down and say you're being paid £12,000 pa which is under NMW. You can work out how much you should be earning here: www.mranchovy.com/calc/
The petrol money and overtime also needs to be discussed. If petrol money is in your contract then they are in breach of contract for not paying it. Current suggested rate is 40p per mile. As for the overtime, either they need to come home on time, or your regular hours need to be adjusted to 6pm finish.

Hope you can work things out!

lesstalkmoreaction · 15/10/2011 13:02

Do you write down the mileage and give them a figure at the end of the month to pay and they are refusing?
It sounds to me that they are taking advantage of the friendship between you, this is a problem when you have known someone for a while it makes it harder to keep up a professional relationship.
I would ask for a contract review and discuss a pay rise or a reduction in hours and an overtime rate and be clear on when petrol should be paid. Have you kept a record of the mileage you have done/
Hope you can siort it otherwise its time to look elsewhere.
Also try a different insurance as mine didn't cost any extra to have the business class 2 added.

nannynick · 15/10/2011 13:21

Class 2? Business Use Insurance Definitions
Class 1 is more suitable I would have thought, given it's their own car, not their employers car. However even Class 1 may not be sufficient for childcare use (it's a bit unclear and you won't know until you make a claim), as children are somewhat different to Goods. Minibus insurance may be a closer insurance type as that specifically covers transporting passengers.
Ultimately though it's up to an individual to decide on the level of cover they wish to have. Nannies can get specialist motor insurance if they wish from brokers like Morton Michel, BlueFin.

I agree, log all car journeys and present a mileage claim weekly or monthly.
The HMRC Approved Mileage / Travel Rates is the amount up to which the payment does not attract income tax. Currently max amount for a car is 45p per mile (first 10,000 miles). Your journey to/from work does not count, it is only journeys made as part of your job.

Original poster

NannyNat · 16/10/2011 12:21

Yea i realise its not driving to and from work, that wouldn't matter as i only live about 5 miles from them. I am just really close to them and not really a fan of conflict so i find it hard to bring money up to them. I hae business class 1 for my insurance, i spoke to the insurance company for ages to make sure it was sufficient as i would rather be safe than sorry.
When we first discussed to contract it was said that i would receive 40p per mile but then even though i have been writing down my mileage they havent been very interested it and they haven't brought it up at all.
If only everything was simple in life hehe :)

OP posts:

raspberryroop · 17/10/2011 09:48

Write out a professional looking invoice for the petrol and give it to them - easier than asking but you do need to resolve this otherwise you will end up resenting them. However you do need to take the advice on this thread and look at it in a professional way rather than a ''they can afford to give me more so they should'' sort of way - you are en employee not their child.

Vickybroxbourne · 17/10/2011 21:01

I think you need to address this before it drags on for too long.

From the point of view as a parent, I would prefer to have a pre-arranged semi-formal meeting rather than feeling cornered after a long day at work. Also, if you only get one of them on their own they probably won't be able to give you any firm answers/decisions there and then.

Bite the bullet and say you would like a meeting for a 6-month review and perhaps be prepared to come back later in the evening after the baby is down for the night.

Decide how much you want to be paid per hour and also for overtime. Be realistic so you don't sound like you are taking the piss, but perhaps aim a little higher than you are really prepared to accept, so you have room to compromise. It will help to have to hand what the going rates are for work as a nanny through an agency and childcare work at local nurseries, so maybe do some homework on that beforehand. As other posters have pointed out, it has nothing to do with how much money they can afford to pay and pointing that out will be the quickest way to piss them off.

With any luck, they will feel relieved that you want to stay working with them and impressed that you are able to discuss issues with them in a mature and calm way.

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