by, Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor
1) Review your Nanny Job description yearly
When was the last time you updated your nanny’s job description? As your life goes on and your children develop, your needs will change over time. As a result, you will need to update your job description accordingly.
2) Update your Nanny Work Agreement/Nanny Contract
Didn’t develop a nanny contract/work agreement when you first hired your nanny? Well, it’s not too late! Develop a work agreement that includes a start date to the agreement and an end date. Include a 6 month review date and an annual review date. Include your nannies duties, agreed payment and payment schedule, rules and expectations of the household, how you expect your nanny to handle differences or any questions she may have regarding raising your child. Be sure to include the hours and days your nanny has agreed to work. Include also what days off your nanny has throughout the year as well as how sick/personal days will work in your household.
3) Have your Annual Meeting with your nanny.
You should have an annual meeting with your nanny every year. Ideally this meeting should take place on the same predetermined date every year. At this meeting you and your nanny should sit down, formally discuss your nanny’s current job description, discuss what has been working and what hasn’t been working. This meeting should be a collaborative dialogue. Listen to your nanny and her ideas and make sure you do your best to help her to feel comfortable to discuss her thoughts and concerns.
At this time, it is also a good time to discuss a raise for your nanny. When giving her a raise, you should pair it with why you are giving her a raise and address all of the wonderful things that she has done for your family. This is a time to express your appreciation! A raise should be anywhere from 2-4% of her nanny salary.
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Great tips! We didn’t outline a nanny contract when I first hired my nanny, but we’re definitely going to sit down and hammer one out now – I can see how beneficial it is for both of us!
what if you can’t afford to give your nanny a raise at the end of each year? i’d like to, but it’s just not in the budget – we’re already stretching it thin just by having her!
Great question Sheila! If you can’t afford to give your nanny a raise, maybe you can show your appreciation in other ways, such as a few extra days of paid time off or paid health insurance – these can be huge perks to your nanny without costing you a fortune!
Being a nanny, I can tell you that any gesture of thanks is appreciated! I understand that my employer may not be able to afford a raise every year, but she always goes out of her way to do something for me to show me she values my service to her family and she gives me raises when she can.
Having a nanny contract in place has been a lifesaver for us. It’s easy to forget what you agreed on in your initial job offer, and being able to refer back to a written contract helps keep us both on track.