Received Monday, September 29, 2008. - Perspective & Opinion
I am a nanny who works full time and uses my car for everything related to my job, including my commute to and from work which is around an hour each way.
How do you get paid for gas money? Does your family give you an allowance per week? Do they pay you per mile? Or is there nothing done about it? I would love to hear from nannies and employers alike!
38 comments:
My nanny doesn't drive to work every day because we live in the city, but when we take beach vacations in the summer we have her bring her car along and we pay for her gas for the whole trip. She has a credit card to use.
I would expect that the parents should pay for all gas used while transporting the children but I don't know about your commute. I do pay for my nanny's MTA pass, but she seemed surprised when I offered so I don't know if it's standard. Most people I know are not compensated for their travel to and from work.
another thought!
If it would be cheaper for you to take public transportation or carpool to work but you don't because the parents expect you to have a car I think it would be reasonable for you ask for them to pay the difference.
Before you talk to them, figure out what percentage of your salary is spent on gas for work. If you show them that the 2 hours of driving each day is eating up a big chunk of your earnings they might be willing to help you out.
I don't really think you should be compensated for your drive to/from work. You accepted the position that was an hour away and I'm assuming you knew that before accepting it. In any other professional position, the employee does not get reimbursed gas mileage for their commute to work. However, you are entitled to it for activities that you are using your car for the kids such as school, playgroups, grocery shopping, etc. I've used my car, and currently do, but I've never requested any reimbursement for gas because it never occurred to me to do so. Right now, my drive is short distances and I only use my car when theirs is not available, so it's not a big deal. So, I say you just talk to them about it and come up with something that works for both of you. In my opinion, a flat rate would be much easier, if you have a "typical" schedule and you are driving about the same miles each week. Having a per mile thing might be a lot of trouble and hassle keeping up with.
If you're using your car for work, you employers should be paying you for gas and wear-and-tear. You can look up the rate that the IRS suggests, then keep track of all the miles you drive on the job. As for your commute - they have no obligation to chip in for that. If they want to help you out that's great, but people generally don't get compensated for their commute to/from work; I can't see any reason why it should be different for nannies.
You get an allowance if you are using your car to pool the kids around, your commute to and from work is usually on you.
How much allowance would depend on how much gas you use,if you go over your allowance, bring in the gas receipt and you should be reimbursed, and amount would eventually be tailored to fit your needs.
My favorite type of reimbursement is a set amount to compensate for the gas used during work hours/work related driving. And then keeping track of mileage to use it as a tax write-off.
I've also done the full mileage reimbursement, but this gets annoying bc then the parents tell you to not go out as much (ie, stay in more instead of going to the library, museums, etc), which drives me nuts because I need to get out for my own sanity!
I get the fed rate for mileage reimbursement which is 58.5 cents per mile (as of July 1, 2008). The rate increases each year on Jan. 1, but they did a mid year increase this year due to rising gas prices. I get reimursed for miles driven during the day relating to the children activities. I do not get reimbursed for my commute to and from.
I get anywhere between 40-80 bucks a week for gas depending on where I take the kids. I use my own car, an SUV that I regret daily buying, so it takes a lot to fill my tank up.
You should definitely be getting gas money for when you use the car to drive the kids around. However, I think you might have a hard time getting them to give you gas money for your commute. You should keep track of your miles when you are working and ask them to pay you 33 cents per mile. Or, you can just work out a set weekly amount.
Only low class nannies or nannies working for poor families use their own cars. It's in hugely poor form for a child to climb into the babysitter's car. It does beg questions to of the condition of your car. Do your employers make sure you have regular tune ups, your oil pressure is good, tires are inflated, breaks are good? Because only a total asshole would ever have a babysitter or nanny use their personal vehicle to transport their children.
This question is disgusting.
I get paid the federal per-mile reimbursement which is 58 cents to the mile driven.
PIH....frankly you're an asshole. what the hell? REALLY? only low class nannies drive their own car? pull your head out of your ass. i work for a really rich family and get paid very well, they just happen to only have enough cars for the two of them (CRAZY, isn't it) and give me gas reimbursement for driving my own car. i see absolutely nothing wrong with this??
hopefully you're just a troll because i really can't imagine anyone being as stupid as you seem to be.
What rebecca said
phi, I am not low class and neither is my boss. I feel much more comfortable driving my own car than I do driving someone elses.
My car is also in pretty good condition and I keep up with it myself because most of the upkeep can be done by me. Again I would much rather drive mine, where I know what has been done to the car. I know when the oil was changed and when I got new tires and so forth.
You sound like a total ass.
PHI, only low class nannies or nannies working for poor families do not know the difference between breaks and brakes. Because only a total asshole would be that ignorant.
Now go snuggle up to your barf bag.
I know, as other posters have said, that it's not common for an employee to be reimbursed for the commute to & from work, however this nanny is being asked to transport her car to her employer's home so that it can be used as part of her job. I think that changes things. If she didn't have to drive the kids around in her vehicle she might be able to carpool or use public transportation to save money. OP, I think you have a case for including your to/from work costs into the discussion with your boss.
Emily mkaes a great point. Maybe tell them that because of the price of gas, you hav eno choice but to start using public transportation or carpooling to work. maybe then they will just offer to pay for your gas. PLus, when most employers pay for the use of the car, there is a per mile reimbursement that includes some extra for wear and tear on the car. Be sure to use a current number, not one from even 6 months ago, because the price of gas has gone up so much that the old standard numbers won't begin to cover even the gas.
I once had an employer who was so cheap it was unbelievable. (Although not in a nanny position.) He wanted me to go to a seminar, which was fine. But he wanted me to take video equipment and record the seminar so that he could show it, free of charge, the the rest of the staff, without having to pay to send them to the conference as well. The people in charge of the seminar sid that I could not do that, but he insisted I try to get as much of it as possible before they stopped me anyway. Thank goodness he cancelled the whole idea when I told him I would NOT drive my own car from Southern California to Northern California, at a reimbursement rate of 25 cents a mile, to save him the cost of an airline ticket!
In my last position, I was required to use my own car because the parents didn't want to pay to insure me to drive their car...and driving in rush hour Denver traffic everyday with kids--I wanted insurance! In the 8 months I used my car, I put over 12k miles on it while the SAHM's car gathered dust in the garage. I was only given $50-$65/week for gas and nothing for maintainence. This was the main reason I left the family and now work for a family that requires NO driving. As far as being a "low-class" nanny-- what a snob! I'm glad you can afford a fully insured car for your nanny...
sara-
i'm a nanny and I would never use my own car to transport children. I am a live out nanny. I drive to work and drive the nanny car all day long. I am guessing the people you work for are not 'that rich' either that or they don't trust you to drive their car. Either way, I agree. Things go wrong with cars all of the time. If you care about your children, you will have intimate knowledge about the vehicle that transports them EVERYWHERE.
Gina and PIH, seriously???
PIH- Just because you drive your own car during work doesn't make you a "low class" nanny. To be disgusted by this question shows the world how stuck up you are. The reality is that there are nannies everywhere that use their own cars. Its really common. I'm a nanny, I drive my own car. I nanny for a wealthy family. I don't think its low form at all, in fact I do agree that employers should check up on brakes, tires, oil changes, etc. But to assume that every nanny out there that uses their own car during work is low class? screw you.
And Gina-who is to say that employers don't check up on the car that their kids will be in? that they don't make sure the car has insurance, or everything is in good shape?? I find you to be just as ridiculous as PIH. If the family is okay with their own children being transported around in their nanny's personal vehicle, cool, if they want to buy a nanny car, cool. its really the choice of the parents.
But I don't think that if you drive a nanny car or your own at all determines you to be a low or high class nanny. What the hell does that mean anyway???
oh but I forgot to actually reply to the original post, I think its worth a shot asking your employers if they'd help with the commute, I mean the worse that can happen is a 'no'. But you should be getting gas money for your time in the car during work.
:)
A nanny shouldn't use her car to transport kids, period. It a liability issue. And most well off families rather give you a car to use. Its just a fact. I worked for a family occasionally, and when the parents went out together, the mom would tell me to use her Lexus.
I take my charges for an outing every single morning of the week, and I add $35/wk to compensate for gas. I've never discussed it with the parents... it's just part of the pre negotiated rate. If I had to address the issue after the fact I would be candid about what it was costing me, and ask for a compromise. I probably wouldn't ask for commute compensation. If you're in a pinch with it then, again, be candid. Tell them you can't afford the commute anymore, but you love working for them, and ask them if they would consider compromising on a renegotiation of your pay.
You must live in a middle class area and work for middle class parents.
How mortifying for the children to be chauffered around town in the nanny vehicle.
Mortifying?!?!
What's wrong with middle class? Do you really think only those people wealthy enough to own 3 cars should be allowed to employ a nanny?
"Mortifying for the children"?! Most kids I've cared for thought it was awesome to ride in my car...As far as I'm concerned, the only "mortified" kids would be the ones you've brainwashed into believing a nanny is "below" them...Get over yourself!!
My pool maintenance eople just started out of the blue, wihtout ever mentioning it, a fuel surcharge to my monthly bill because of the rise in gas prices. I think it's a little ridiculous since they live in my town and the whole town is MAYBE 3 miles long by 5 miles wide...and they just go from house to house cleaning the pools..so the extra gas it takes them to get to my house once a week might be four cents or so...but I just pay it and say nothing.
excellent point emily! as usual!! :)
and PIH: you are obviously wrong in your assumption. I think the definition of someone who is "low class" is one who looks down on others and judges them without knowing anything about them. That is "low class" in my opinion.
It always amazes me how many people equate having class with having money.
I suppose it shouldn't though because it comes from there having once been very distinct social classes based solely on wealth or status.
However, I think today most people think of "class" in a different way...one that isn't money dependent.
The word is misleading. Maybe we should say "grace" instead. I think that's how people use the word class today...to describe the degree of grace a person displays in their everyday conduct.
But yeah, too many people who think they have class because they have money are the ones most lacking in it.
Why would a nanny want to use her own car? I would be worried about the liability if something happened. Just wondering how many nannies that use there car, tell the insurance company what they do. Doesn't the insurance company raise your premiums because you are transporting children around as your job? Its not worth it.
If you are a nanny, the family should provide the car. It comes with the territory.
With being able to afford private care.
sydney blue you are obviously just trying to stir the pot with that ca-ca.
Hmm, must have typed my name in the wrong spot. This was me:
Wow, gas has actually gone dOWN by about a dollar a gallon around here, over the last couple of months.
Anyone who still thinks that money = class need only look as far as all those mega-bucks chart topping rappers who manage to get themselves busted over idiotic shit on a regular basis. Who's that rapper chick who seems to make a habit of beating up people in beauty salons whenever she doesn't get her way?
I was always taught that manners and education count for most of what people call "class". PIH obviously lacks in both areas.
Hey Bag
I think Sydney was being facetious.
Cali Mom
I think the rapper that keeps beating up people is Foxy Brown.
ha ha, sorry sidney. me not so smart sumtimes...
-Bag
well i think the parents should provide their own car for benefiting their kids like someone above said it is a liability issue.... so i agree that using your own car is a bad idea....
I used to nanny, and I never worked for a family that didn't provide a nanny vehicle. This ensured that I didn't have to worry about liability, gas, or the kids making a mess in my car. You can call it elitist or snobby if you want, but just as employers have standards for nannies, I had standards for the kinds of families that I worked with.
That said, I also never expected for my commute time or gas to be compensated, with the one exception of a family that moved 30 minutes farther away from me than they lived when I began. In that instance, they gave me $100 weekly stipend to compensate for my lengthy commute.
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