We need to let nanny go due to relocation - need advice on timing/staying bonus

[TinCan]

We are relocating internationally at the end of March. Our house will go up for sale in a couple weeks, so we need to inform our nanny now of our intended move. Sadly we can't take her with us, but we want to try to ensure that she stays with us until we depart (especially because both my husband & I need to continue working). What are your tips to try to ensure that our nanny stays with us? Should I provide a bonus if she stays with us until the end -is this customary? If so, how much? Thanks for your advice.

Ah, tis easy. If she is really good then tell us all, and one of us who lives near you will snap her up in a second, with an agreed start date in March.

If she isn't that great then chill and go with the flow; you may lose her and need to have some alternative nursery/childminder solution for the short term. C'est la vie.

A bonus might keep her but it would have to be big enough to stop a potential employer coming up with a counter-offer, IYKWIM. also I wouldn't go down this route as it might make her think that you think she is unprofessional enough to leave you in the lurch which will insult her and make her want to leave straight away (but I would for sure give her a big bonus if she did stay anyway).

One option might be to ask her really nicely to stay and to promise her that if she doesn't have a job to go to when you leave you will pay her X weeks salary to tide her over. That will stop her panicking, which might help.

Don't offer a bonus at this stage. However, if it all pans out - you can always increase the last paypacket with a cash bonus! Bonus amount is up to you, depending on how well things have gone with this nanny and what you can afford.

I nannied for a family for 4 years and they rather casually told me they were moving away. I think I had missed the bit about them seriously looking for a house. I was given notice and nothing was ever said about a retainer bonus to make sure I stayed until the end. It wouldn't have crossed my mind not to stay. I had been with them since their baby was 5 months and we all were really good friends. When I got married the boy was my page boy, his Dad gave me away and they all sat on the top table with me, my new hubby, his parents and brother.

I wouldn't say anything about a retainer. Something on leaving may be nice though.

Thank you so much for your advice.

You could offer her a good redundancy package, which would only come into effect on the date that you leave. Presumably you would have to give some redundancy payment anyway, unless the rules are different for domestic employees.

I don't think nannies have to have redundancy payments but a little extra bonus or a present is always nice.

Nannies can get redundancy - the rules are exactly the same as for any other employee. I think its 2 years employment?

Correct, employee needs to have 2 full years of service to qualify for redundancy pay.

More information about Redundancy Pay

When did this come in? I was in my job 4 years. Not that I mind not getting redundancy. Fab family to work for and I did get odd bonuses and loads of presents.

No idea on date... many many years ago I expect. Nannies are an employee like any other and to my knowledge always have been.

Certainly since the Employment Rights Act 1996

This exact same thing happened to me in the Summer. My bosses offered me a bonus on top of my 3 years redundancy so it came to a tidy sum in the end and because they had been so generous i helped them out as well by trying to make their move easier. i would definately mention redundancy pay if applicable and a bonus because i passed on interviewing for some great jobs because of my commitment to my job and the prospect of having a cash lump sum at the end made me more then happy to wait.

Would the tax man help out if you called it redundancy instead of a bonus? Obviously only up to the statutory minimum, but still... Nannytax would know, if you use them.