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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

nannies, what's the deal with coming on holiday?

17 replies

miniegg · 23/02/2008 11:41

We are thinking of asking our nanny whether she would be prepared to come on holiday with us. It was touched on at interview but I was a bit vague about it then.
How would this work? She would be working her normal hours, or less, but obviously she would be with us 24/7, so of course we would need to compensate her in some way for that.
How do other families do this? Do they offer double time?how do nannies feel about it in general? any tips for making sure everyone is happy with the deal?

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Original poster

miniegg · 23/02/2008 12:26

anyone?
if no nannies out there, what about employers? what's your experience of this?

OP posts:

moopymoo · 23/02/2008 12:33

is she live in anyway? would imo make a difference to paying double or not. - actually think double pay would be a bit too generous esp if she is able to have some holiday type time herself in a nice pl;ace. We took an aupair on holiday, was different i know - we gave her a bit extra and some days to herself - she was more than happy to come.

Lauramd · 23/02/2008 12:39

I'm a nanny, and am going on holiday with my family this summer. They are obviously paying for everything for me; flight, accomodation, food etc.
While away, I will be working the same number of hours as usual (and being paid as normal), but any extra hours they need me to work, such as in the evenings, I will be paid extra, at my normal hourly babysitting rate

HLG3 · 23/02/2008 12:48

Havent taken any of our nannies on holiday myself, but from what I know I dont think there is a hard and fast rule. Agree that if she is live in then that wld make a difference.

Maybe you can clarify what you want from her while you are away, and what she will be able to do that is "holidayish".

What accommodation will she have and where will you all be staying - will she be able to get away in her time off? What hours do you want from her? If you can give her an extra day off, or shorter hours that let her go off and do her own thing in the afternoon/evening then you should pay less.

On the other hand, if she is going to be closeted with you in a remote villa with the smallest room and no car, and you want her to babysit while you go for a meal to a distant town every night then double time might not be unreasonable!

She may well have her own views/experience to bring to the negotiation, so you can always ask her - and she can always just say "no" if she doesnt want to. Did you hire her through an agency? could they advise you?

nannynick · 23/02/2008 13:26

As a nanny, I've not been on holiday with my regular employer. However, I have been on holiday with a family, who needed extra help due to 2 of their children having special needs.
I didn't really work fixed hours, just helped out as and when needed... which at times meant spending 5 hours in a swimming pool. Technically I would do up to 10 hours childcare per day, but in reality neither I, nor the parents counted the hours. Far better just to see how it went - the holiday was primarily for the children, so if they needed 1:1 for an activity, then whomever was available (be it myself, parent, grandparent) accompanied the child. Often we would do things all together, such as having all the children in the swimming pool (4 children in total), with 3 adults so that they were well supervised.
General tips I'd say would be to treat the nanny as another pair of hands, to help out as and when needed, but respect that they also may want time on their own.

Original poster

miniegg · 23/02/2008 16:20

thanks everyone.
she's not live in; she does 40 hours a week for us, with extra hours at a babysitting rate.
it's a skiing break, and as she doesn't ski, not massive fun for her, holiday wise. however, it would be a change of scene for her. i would certainly like to offer her some extra pay, as having been sent away on work trips myself, i always feel that even if it's in a fun place, you're not at home with your family/friends in the evenings, so it still feels a bit like working.

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RahRahRachel · 23/02/2008 16:26

Just remember that it's not a holiday for her - pay her normal wages + extra for the inconvenience of being away from home. Compensate her for any extra hours. And make sure she has her own room and isn't sharing with the children!

soapbox · 23/02/2008 16:30

TBH, if it is a skiing holiday, then I would definitely pay for some ski lessons for her so that she gets something out of the holiday too. If you plan a couple of days lessons for her, when you can look after the children and then she can go out later in the day the other days when you take over the childcare. Then she can make up the hours babysitting for a couple of evenings for you.

That way, everyone gets a good share of fun

soapbox · 23/02/2008 16:32

Oh and don't forget that all of the traveling time is working time for her - so do factor those hours into how you use the 40 hours working time

frannikin · 23/02/2008 16:39

I generally charge my usual weekly rate + a charge for each night spent away from home if live out.

I would also advise doing a separate contract for the time you're away just to clarify duties, any fixed time off etc.

Original poster

miniegg · 23/02/2008 17:18

really helpful tips,thanks

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trockodile · 23/02/2008 17:53

As its a ski holiday -does she have the right clothes? Might be something to think about contributing to, hiring for her?
I was always fairly easy going about holidays when i nannied-i think you should emphasise the'mucking in'aspect and general holiday cameraderie. It may not be a 'holiday' but it is an experience and she will have all meals etc paid for where as a 'liveout' she will normally have to pay for them herself.
Also clarify what is 'on duty' and what is not -ie evening babysitting, yes-going out to dinner en famille because she chooses to go with you,no.
Financially is it really worth it? Could you use local childcare instead? Just a thought.

Original poster

miniegg · 23/02/2008 20:55

yes, it's a lot of money, by the time you pay for flights, accommodation, etc etc etc. i think i'll run it by her and see how she reacts. if she's not keen and will need a lot of extra money to persuade her then perhaps we'll ditch the idea. But i think we could find ways of making it work, and be fun, all round.

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Neney1 · 23/02/2008 21:14

My god, I was a bit naive then!! I used to do regular babysitting/ part time nannying for a family when I was 19, they asked me to go on holiday to Marbella with them & their 3 girls. I had interconnecting rooms with them whilst parents were in other wing of hotel. I had the girls for all morning and most of afternoon, then was holed up in my room after 8 every night whilst they went out and left me with nothing more than spanish telly & a book for companionship!

The best bit? I was never paid, as they felt it enough that I was getting a holiday out if it!! Thank god I didn't go in to nannying!! I'd be skint (but tanned!)

frannikin · 25/02/2008 00:09

You were definitely a bit naive Neney!

At 19 I was getting £300 a week for holiday nanny jobs. 10 hour days, all flights etc paid for, 4 evening babsits a week but usually a couple of hours off in the afternoon. Exhausting, no tan but financially viable!

bigdonna · 25/02/2008 15:42

when i was a nanny i got paid my normal wage,but got paid for babysitting on top.

Bink · 25/02/2008 16:00

We took our nanny skiing with us last year, & I planned the arrangements quite carefully having researched views on here & elsewhere.

What we did -

we paid for her travel & accommodation (she had her own room, by the way; children were in suite with us), and all meals (she ate with us throughout, her choice)
our Christmas presents to her were gear for skiing (useful stuff, like a ski jacket you could also wear when London is COLD)
we paid for her ski hire, ski pass, etc.
re salary, we paid her at her normal rate, but she did slightly shorter hours than usual - usual hours are 8-7, on holiday she did 10-5.30ish
we paid for her and the children (all similar beginnery level) to have a private lesson together each morning - they all loved that & it was a wild success. Dh & I (different sort of skiing level) went off skiing by ourselves. In the afternoons she did sledging & swimming with the children while dh & I skied some more, then she handed them back over to me late afternoon while she had some restful time before dinner, which she joined us for again. She did tend to insist she took the children up to bed while dh & I lingered over the wine, but that was her (very kind) initiative.

It was really quite an expensive holiday - not one we could by any means do every year - but ds & dd got to learn to ski, as did our nanny; we got to ski at our level; everybody had time for fun & time for rest - altogether it was fantastic.

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