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Paid childcare

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

How much do you pay your nanny on holiday?

13 replies

lumama · 27/03/2010 22:59

We are just about to go on holiday for 2 weeks and take our nanny with us and have no idea what to pay. Does anyone have any advice/experience in this? I would welcome any suggestions. Thanks for your help x

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Quattrocento · 27/03/2010 23:02

Normal rates I think? That's what we did when we had a nanny. Seemed to be the norm.

Unless she is not expected to work at all and has the time entirely free and can do with it as she pleases, and actually wants to go on the holiday of your choice, with you.

giraffesCANdriveAcar · 27/03/2010 23:05

I would think a bit extra - when shes off duty shes not around her friends/family/home comforts.

nannyafrica · 28/03/2010 10:27

Will she have her own room? if she is sharing with children and they wake in night I think you would pay a little more as she may not want mother or father of the child in her room in the night and she would settle them.
Would she work more hours or babysit? this should be extra paid. This is your holiday she may see it as work and not a holiday.

Missus84 · 28/03/2010 11:37

Normal rate + any extra for extra hours/babysitting + a bit extra for the inconvenience of being away from home. If she's sharing a room with the children then I think you should pay overnight rates too.

frakkinaround · 28/03/2010 12:38

Is she normally live in? If so normal wage for normal hours and same accomodation (own room etc). Any overtime or babysitting is paid extra, if you don't need her during normal working hours then ask if she might mind swopping mornings so she can have a lie in for an extra evening or similar. Obviously if it's just a couple of hours let it slide. If she's expected to work travelling days and they're longer or days she doesn't usually work then pay extra.

If she's expected to share a room with children and get up with them then you pay overnight rates.

If she's normally live out I'd pay her a bit extra for being away from home. I have a nightly displacement fee!

It is definitely worth negotiating a separate part of the contract if you're going to change things significantly. Even if you aren't you should write down what you expect in case of misunderstanding or disagreement. As others have said it's not a holiday for her if she's on duty! In fact it's usually harder work.

Strix · 28/03/2010 14:45

I pay normal rates and have her work same number of hours, but might swap tha hours around a bit so she did some daytime and some evening. I would make sure, however, she still some free time to do what she wanted. For eample, she should have some evenings off and some daytime off to take advantage of the holiday herself.

Also, I would ask her if she wanted to come with us rather than just telling her she was comming... unless it was discussed and agreed prior to employing nanny.

FabIsGettingThere · 28/03/2010 15:23

Normal rates and overtime if she does more hours than when at home and if she doesn't get the normal time off.

StillSquiffy · 28/03/2010 19:37

We pay normal and stick to same total number of hours (but we will vary from the normal schedule). But those that really go the extra mile to help us have a good holiday get a bonus on the last day - normally equivalent to a weeks wage for an AP, slightly less than a week's wage for the nanny (but still a tidy sum).

Blondeshavemorefun · 29/03/2010 13:07

as others have said depends on what hours and duties she will be doing - if normal hours then a little more for inconv being away from home

if has children in her room then needs to be paid overnight rates

be good to swap hours and give her a afternoon off to sightsee/sunbathe and she can bs for you in evening

def write up a contract stating hours/duties etc

lumama · 29/03/2010 20:30

Thanks for all your replies. It's a weird one because she only works 3 days a week normally for 10 hours a day. We definitely wouldn't expect her to work that many hours in the day and she's only there as an extra pair of hands.

She would get loads of time to herself and days off. She also has her own room.

So you still think normal pay in those circumstances? I keep changing my opinion about it.

I like the idea about the contract though - thanks for that.

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frakkinaround · 29/03/2010 20:40

Could you consider splitting the 30hours over the week and/or paying her the normal hourly rate? I definitely think something for being away if she normally only does 3dpw.

Contract sounds like a must if you're changing her normal days or hours. Do you know when you'll want the help? it's very easy as a nanny away with family to work lots especially if you're there as that nebulous extra pair of hands. Better in some ways to have clearly defined hours and duties. Where are you going?(nosey!)

lumama · 29/03/2010 21:28

Cheers for that.

Going to South Africa - can't wait. Not so sure about the flight with a 3 1/2, 2 year olds and 7 months.

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frakkinaround · 30/03/2010 04:49

Nearish me! Agree it's a long flight with 3 littlies so can see why you might want nanny to help. I would talk to her, work out when you need her to work and agree an hourly rate based on her normal salary as it sounds like she'll be working more than 30hours a week if you need her when in transit.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time

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