Understandably, we get the question
below a lot during this time of year and wanted to offer some guidance.
"Hope you are well! Gloria is fabulous, she has settled into our family
brilliantly and the children have a good relationship with her. Could you
advise us on how much we should give her as a bonus? I don't know how much she
got with her prior family or what the standard out here is."
To answer your question, a full-time nanny can usually expect a holiday bonus of one
week's pay - two week's salary depending upon her length of service.
Additionally, if the nanny has been with the family under a year, half of her
weekly salary is standard. If the nanny is just starting, a $100 gift
card sets a nice tone. A hand-written note of thanks expressing your
appreciation and referencing a yearly highlight of the caregiver/child
relationship is an additional way to show your genuine gratitude.
Some families will
include an extra little something coming from the children like a homemade
card, cookies or her favorite confection which surrounds the monetary gift with
genuine warmth and appreciation from the child.
For the part-time regular babysitter that provides care several times each
month, a gift equal to one night's pay are the norm. Many families choose to
provide a $50-$100 gift card to her favorite shop, cafe, nail salon etc.
Housekeeper/Cleaner, one or two week's pay,
depending upon her length of service and a small gift like a bottle of
wine.
Obviously, this is a general guideline of industry norms in the NY Metro
Region. Some families give considerably more or less depending on overall job performance, length of employment,
particular circumstances and family budget.
Wee Care wishes you
and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season.
