Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

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

Flip

Original poster

Help! Nanny pay

19 replies

NannySurrey79 · 23/09/2019 22:40

I currently work three long days a week and I am paid 13 pounds an hour gross. The parents third baby is due at Christmas and they want to drop my pay to 11ph and increase hours by 2 more days. Whilst I know it would cost them a LOT having an extra 2 days (others at school and after school club the days I'm off) I really feel this is unfair and a cheek tbh. I have been with them for a number of years and adore the children and when I tried to discuss they were just defensive and said they could get a cheaper Nanny. I felt like saying, well I could get a better paid job. They are wealthy so it isnt that they cant afford it and their kids are attached to me. I have years of experience with all ages and very qualified. Other Nanny friends are on 40k with a car for 50/60 hours a week. Thoughts please?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Happyspud · 23/09/2019 22:44

I think it’s very wrong of them to add a child and give you a pay cut. Are you willing to lose your job over this? I think you should be because accepting those terms would be professionally ridiculous and I don’t feel there’s any coming back from them treating you like this. You care for the kids I’m sure but the kids parents are using you and your emotional attachment against you. You can’t let them do that. Sorry but I think you need to name your terms and square up to them. They are shitty employers, sorry for that. I’d never do that to my beloved nanny, expect her to take a pay cut ever. It would be for me to sort out, not steal pay back from her.

nannynick · 23/09/2019 22:48

There is always a cheaper nanny... some people take on work under minimum wage!

More children, more hours, so more responsibility yet lower pay... not sure why you would stay.

Finfintytint · 23/09/2019 22:56

They are taking the piss. I’m sure you will find better employment elsewhere. Call their bluff and start looking for alternative employment.

BritInUS1 · 23/09/2019 23:00

I'd look elsewhere

Original poster

NannySurrey79 · 24/09/2019 09:01

Tricky as they pay over the odds per hour at the moment. Not saying I'm not worth my pay, my experience, training and reliability confirm and a Norlander would be paid more. Just awkward. Thank you for opinions, has really helped. Lovely to hear people value their nannies so much too
X.

OP posts:

MolyHolyGuacamole · 24/09/2019 10:48

Absolutely not! The very definition of overworked and underpaid.

Increased hours at work will take a toll on you and could lead to burn out. You need to be well compensated for that.

AllFourOfThem · 24/09/2019 10:52

How can you say they pay over the odds but you have friends on £40k - 58 hours per week still equates to more than you are getting and that’s before the car allowance.

I’d look elsewhere.

BlingLoving · 24/09/2019 11:07

This is so unacceptable I'm actually shocked. And what amazes me is that they actually thought you'd go for it.

You pay is £13/hour. To say they'll give you significantly more work at lower pay is completely unacceptable. It is true that two extra days will cost them a lot more, but it's equally true that if you work two extra days you will be working a lot harder.

We had a nanny who had a similar issue with her previous employer. And it completely destroyed the relationship, even after they came to terms because there ws so much resentment on both sides

8by8 · 24/09/2019 11:13

That’s bonkers. When we had our second child our nanny got a pay rise straightaway as obviously it was more work. That’s normal.

Blondeshavemorefun · 24/09/2019 22:37

Why on earth would you take a pay cut and extra child

ox136jl · 24/09/2019 22:51

When we had a nanny we didn’t pay any extra when we went from one to two, or two to three children (just reviewed at the end of each year as normal). As far as I’m aware, nanny pay isn’t usually based on the number of children - but that doesn’t mean they can cut your pay just because they want you to work more hours!!

Cora1942 · 24/09/2019 23:36

£13 gross is normal in my area.
Dont forget you will be entitled to redundancy as job is changing if you leave.
Look.for a family who value you as they dont. Leave now before the new baby is born. That way they can get someone from the start for the newborn, which is kinder to the baby.

Durgasarrow · 24/09/2019 23:42

That is horrifying. More children, more experience, and less pay? That's how they say thank you for all the love and care you gave their children? What a load of crap. Good childcare should be the foundation of their happy life. If their kids aren't well-cared for, everything will grind to a halt. EVERYTHING. Do they have a fucking clue what it is you do? What you provide? They should be kissing the hem of your garment. All workers should be treated with respect. And the person who cares for your children!!! This is the most important relationship in their lives. And you have been with those kids for years, you say? You've been reliable? OP, you deserve better!

NWQM · 24/09/2019 23:47

I dont know anyone that would be happy with a pay cut. Not getting a rise is a real terms pay cut and that - quite rightly - annoys people.

If the norm is to not increase wages for any additional children then fair enough but a childminder would charge higher fees.

I really think you need to speak to someone like ACAS and find out your rights. I'd be stunned if you have to take these two massive variations in your terms and conditions.

dobedobedobedoo · 24/09/2019 23:54

Is £13/hr average for your area? Do your employers use a company to do your payslips? Have you worked for them for more than 2 years? If yes then as pp says you would be entitled to redundancy pay. TBH I think they’ve pushed you into a corner and you have no choice but to leave BUT they need to present you with a change of contract first, which you then decline at which point they make you redundant. If you resign you won’t get the redundancy pay. The reason you need to leave is if you stay on their terms you’ll resent them. If you stay on your terms they’ll resent you. If you are a good nanny they are insane to let you go (I speak as the employer of a nanny).

Soon2BeMumof3 · 25/09/2019 00:35

That's outrageous. I'm really sorry they are being so greedy and ridiculous.

If you've worked for them a longtime they won't want to loose you, especially now they are having another baby. I would just use the classic mumsnet line 'that doesn't work for me', say you will gladly do the extended days for the same hourly rate, but you understand if a redundancy is necessary but could you please have as much notice as possible and a reference letter if that is the case.

Call their bluff.

Honestly I'm not made of money, but I'd make enormous sacrifices before losing our wonderful nanny over pay. I expect if they were actually faced with losing you and starting over with a new nanny, you'd find they will magically be able to afford your rate after all.

rainbowlover1 · 26/09/2019 16:42

Also shocked to read this. They CHOSE to have another child so all financial issues should have been thought of prior to discussing with you. Very cheeky to mention getting a cheaper nanny- 3 children (including a newborn baby) for £9 ph after tax is unacceptable and I guarantee they wouldn't find anyone else quickly, or even able to do the job up to their standard. In any other job sector no-one in their right mind would take a paycut in their role especially after being there for years, plus with the upcoming heavier workload! Sounds like they're on their own planet Unfortunately this is a big red flag that you shouldn't ignore, and also be aware 3 children is a handful! I do it myself 10.5 hours Monday to Friday and on the weekends I am exhausted. You would definitely find another job with no problems. Give your notice asap!

JaneEyreAgain · 27/09/2019 08:11

So you are currently working 3 longs days (12 hours), at 13 per hour which amounts to a salary of 24K over three days.

They are offering 5 (also long?) days, for 11 oer hour which works out at 34K annually.

They are being completely unreasonable and you should speak to ACAS to understand what your options are.

They could attempt to pass off these changes due to their change in circumstances and they could indeed, ask you to accept or resign. I am not sure about redundancy as there is still a nanny job available and in any case this would amount to one weeks pay for each year of service which may not amount to a huge sum.

Do you work on the other two days? Are you giving up income in addition to the 24K you earn from them? Is the 34K salary enough to make you stay? If it is not, then you have an option to negotiate with them, reduced hours for all 5 days or an hourly rate somewhere between the 40K that would be your current hourly rate for 12 hour days, 5 days a week and the 34K they are currently offering you.

or.. you see that they don't sufficiently value your work and you start looking for another job.

fsk53 · 04/10/2019 19:41

You should come and work for us! They are taking the piss. When we were expecting out third, our nanny made it very clear she was expecting £16/hr, but that as she was pregnant too, she would be taking her baby to work, and would be happy with £14/hr. So she now earns 32k for a 4 day week (48hrs), with no childcare costs for her, and I pay her when she randomly goes off sick for a week, even though I nearly lost my job as a result. She does nothing while the two older ones are at school and I come home to a tip every day.

Flip