Nanny holiday allowance - what's fair???

[choucroutegarnie]

Our nanny, who's been working for us for the past year, is asking for a 5 week holiday allowance rather the previous 4 (on top of the statutory holidays obviously). Any advice/experience on this? I'm nervous about this because I only have four weeks' hols myself, and when our nanny is ill, which has happened, I have to take time off work which means I will have to take unpaid leave when she is on hols! Any advice - from either parents or nannies - much appreciated. Thanks.

ok.... TBH i have never heard of a nanny who gets more than 4 weeks holiday as well as bank holidays in her contract...

as far as i know it is not the "done thing"

I do know many families who put 4 weeks in the contract, but if they get more than 4 weeks holiday themselves give the nanny a few extra days when they are away etc. (My boss has 6 weeks holiday + bank holidays.... so she may have 1 or 2 of her days holiday shopping per year and the rest i get anyway!.... cause on her days off she likes spending time with her Children

I do know of familes who arnt flexible and nanny gets 4 weeks + bank hols and thats it!

(as my boss does )

I'd agree with NannyL, 4 weeks (20 days) is the usual holiday period with Bank Holidays tacked on for good measure.

Why does your nanny want 5 weeks holiday, is there any special reason? Does your nanny realise that you only get 4 weeks yourself, thus you can't offer more? Could you come to a compromise, say offering 4 weeks holiday, plus 1 day for each full year worked (could be an incentive for your nanny to keep working for you - I know of companies who do this kind of thing).

I give my nanny 4 weeks plus bank holidays. I also propose to give her one extra working day per year she is with us, as a kind of incentive. I only get 4 weeks holiday from work, so I am not going to pay my nanny for more holiday than i get. I am mean and make my nanny take her 2 weeks holiday, when we take ours, although I have to give her minimum 6 months warning of when this will be. She seems happy withthis arrangement and other friends do the same with their nannies, and all are with it. It seems the norm in my area.

I think it is entirely reasonable to give your nanny 4 weeks if that is what you get. Also, if you do give her an extra weeks paid leave this is equivalent to an additional pay rise of 1/52 2% in salary terms. We give oour nanny 20 contractual days although in reality she probably gets about 6 weeks a year as we take the time off as we are self employed.

Thank you everyone, that's been really helpful. It is good to hear that our 4-week offer + bank hols is the norm. I like the idea of an extra day per year of service. Thanks for that one too.