Tuesday

ISYN Holiday Bonus Survey 2008 - Part 1

Tuesday, December 23, 2008
isyn holiday bonus 2008
(email THIS by clicking HERE.)
A) Bonus this year: $500.00 (that I am truly grateful to have received, seeing that hundreds of people in the U.S. recieved pink slips instead of bonuses this year.)
Weekly Salary: $510.00
Supplementary gifts: Sweater and earrings (that I like.)
Length of time Employed: 2 years 10 months (this is my third Christmas with this family.)
City, State and Country : Manhattan, New York, USA
*I am truly thankful to still be employed!! Thank God!!
And for those of you who are discouraged or think they received a raw deal where bonuses are concerned, remember those unemployed tonight, and those who lost their jobs, and all that they worked hard for many years to accomplish.
If you are still employed, give thanks! That in itself is a bonus.


B) Bonus this year: $0!
Your Weekly Salary: $500
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: A greeting card!
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 18 months
City, State and Country: Dallas, TX, United States
*Please note that I QUIT this job yesterday! There was a multitude of issues, and the lack of bonus just added to it.


C) Bonus this year: $1500
Your Weekly Salary:$600/ 70-80 plus hours a week (live-in)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: a shirt
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: a year
City, State and Country: Right outside of NYC, very high paid nannies
*Not happy, the family takes full advantage of me, does not respect my personal time or space. I have sole charge of the children from the time they was up til the time they go to bed and then some. Signed on to work 60 hours max and its turned into at least 70 sometimes 90 hours a week, I am the most underpaid nanny in the area and I never get overtime pay. I don't even get sick days, I am supposed to but I have been seriously sick twice and the parents just leave the kids regardless. I am currently looking for a new job. The shirt was ugly.


D) Bonus this year: 0
Your Weekly Salary: 350 a week for 30 hrs
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: 125 in gift cards
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 18 months
City, State and Country: Houston Texas


E) Bonus this year: $1200.00
Your Weekly Salary: $1200.00
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from the bonus: 2008 Nissan XTerra
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 5 years
City, State and Country: San Francisco, CA. USA


F) Bonus this year: $230 Gift Card
Your Weekly Salary: $450
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: None
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 1.5 years
City, State and Country: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
*This may not compare to what the NY employers give their nannies, but for here in the Midwest my salary is competitive and the bonus would be considered generous. I am paid on the books and also get paid sick days, paid holidays, paid vacation, plus a gas allowance. I take care of one 3-year-old boy, prepare his lunch and snacks, but do no other housework besides picking up after him. I work 45 hours per week, six of which my charge is in nursery school and I am free to do what I want and still get paid for those hours. My employers are kind, decent people with a nice clean home -- I am very satisfied with my position and have it VERY GOOD compared to the norm for this area. :)


G) Bonus this year: 2 weeks paid vacation over Christmas
Your Weekly Salary: $800.00
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: not that I've received yet
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 3 months
City, State and Country: Chicago, IL, USA


H) Bonus this year: I just got $1000 cash from my boss, he says is for my birthday, that was yesterday.
Your Weekly Salary: $450.
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: And I will be getting a Christmas present from them tomorrow.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 14 months
City, State and Country: Franklin Lakes, NJ. USA


I) Bonus this year: I received $500 for my Christmas bonus
Your Weekly Salary: 350 a week - (Au Pair)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: A D&G purse, shoes, and two pairs of 7 jeans.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 18 months
City, State and Country: Zurich, Switzerland


J) Bonus this year:$1000
Weekly Salary: $750
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Nanny Bonus: 2 weeks off around the holidays.
Length of time you have worked for the family: 3 years. Leaving in a couple months.
City, State and Country: Los Angeles, CA.
*Overall great employers. Schedule rocks. I average about 20 hours of work a week.


K) Bonus this year: $25 ( a twenty and a five in a Christmas card).
Weekly Salary: $685.00
Supplementary Gifts: Three hard backed novels that I am pretty sure the bitch read on her last trip to the Caribbean - Double Cross by James Patterson, Shadow Music by Julie Garwood and The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.
Length of Time with Family: 11 months
Location: UES, NYC


L) Bonus this year: $200
Weekly Salary: $500
Supplementary Gifts: Fancy bath products
Length of Time with Family: 1 month
Location: NYC


M) Bonus this year: $2000
Weekly Salary: $1100
Supplementary Gifts: Kate Somerville beauty products, a yukon down parka from Gorsuch and a box of fancy candies with sea salt on top.
Length of Time with Family: 3 years
Location: New Canaan, Ct.
*I bought gifts for the parents and the child I take care of. I work for really great and generous people. I am also off on paid vacation until January 6.


N) Bonus this year: $1500 cash!
Weekly salary: $750. I do not receive any benefits though. I am off on major holidays only. I rarely get a thank you until now. I am a nanny/household manager for two children under 6 years old.
Supplementary Gifts: I was also given a day of beauty at my all time favorite salon and day spa! I received a framed picture of the kids. There is more! I am off and paid for the following days: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Day after.
Length of Time with Family: I have worked for the family for only 6 months
Location: Monkton, Maryland USA
*I have not missed one day or ever been late. I work full time Monday through Friday from 8am till 5pm, and am a live out, legal citizen with my own car and a college degree.


O) Bonus this year: 500
Your Weekly Salary: 650
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: gloves, small $5 gifts from 3 dc
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: Just under one year
City, State and Country: Manhattan, new york city
*Very pleased with our nanny. (Employer)


P) Bonus: $600
Weekly Salary: $600
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Framed picture of the baby & A Bottle of Champagne
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 11.5 months
City, State and Country: New York, NY USA
*I personally felt I deserved more. Maybe a more meaningful personal gift or an extra week of Bonus.


Q) Bonus: see below
Weekly Salary: $585
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: All I received for my bonus was a $50 Visa gift card, The Tales of Beedle the Bard book (which I already own) and Pictures of the child I take care of.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: I have worked with the same family for 2 years
City, State and Country: New York, New York.


R) Bonus: $2500
Weekly Salary:PT/400.00
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus:I always received several gifts along with a sizable gift card.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family:Since 1994
City, State and Country: Arlington,VA USA


S) Bonus this year: One week salary from both families I work for.
Your Weekly Salary: $650 after taxes (on the books)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Gift Certificate to Day Spa
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 1.5 yrs with one family and 5 months with second family
City, State and Country: Washington DC


T) Bonus this year: No monetary bonus
Your Weekly Salary: $350 gross for 30 hours work
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: So far they gave me a nice Lenox gift and she said my other gift hasn't come in yet. I won't see them again til after the holidays
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 5 months
City, State and Country: Tennessee
*I just wanted to add that I gave them a nice family game to play and some cookies. This time of the year should be about giving, not just receiving.


U) Bonus this year:$1500
Your Weekly Salary:$1500
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: No
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: a year and a half
City, State and Country: New York, NY


V) Bonus this year: an I.O.U for $1,000 payable February 15. That no doubt reflects that they don't get their bonuses until January.
Your Weekly Salary: $700
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: The grandmother made me a poncho, it sounds uncool, but it's freaking awesome. A gift basket from Lush from the children and a white gold bracelet with hearts on it.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: one year
City, State and Country: Westchester County


W) Bonus this year: a measly $60
Your Weekly Salary: $250-$300
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: none, although I got both
children and the parents nice gifts in the $25-$30 range
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: one year
City, State and Country: New York, NY, USA


X) Bonus this Year: $300
Your Weekly salary: $640 after taxes and $220/month for health insurance/gas.
Any Supplementary gifts aside from the Bonus: nice photo album book with children's pictures
Length of time you have worked for the family: 3 years
City, State, Country: Boston, MA USA
*Oh yeah, to add to that, the mother took me to Boston Ballet's Nutcracker ~$100 tickets. I LOVE my family and am so grateful for their generosity and just the kind of people they are in general. I'm VERY thankful for my job, especially in this economy.


Y) Bonus this year: $380 and 2 weeks paid vacation
Your Weekly Salary: $550/45 hr. week/live out
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Personalized stamp (I love scrap booking)
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family:1.5 years
City, State and Country: Phoenix, AZ, USA


Z) Bonus this year: NOTHING
Your Weekly Salary: $650.00
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: a $20 subway gift card.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 8 months
City, State and Country: Riverdale, Bronx


AA) Bonus this year: $1000
Your Weekly Salary: $640 (before taxes)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: black leather Coach clutch
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 1 year
City, State and Country: Massachusetts


BB) Bonus this year: I received $1,500 this year as my bonus(same as last year).
Your Weekly Salary: My weekly salary is $1,020.
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: I didn't receive any additional gifts from the family.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: I've worked for the family for 7 years
City, State and Country: Manhattan


CC) Bonus this year: I was totally shocked by the bonus I got because both of my boss's are stock brokers and everything they talk about is negative. They gave me 2500 dollars and they gave it to me all in one hundred dollar bills so I wouldn't have to claim it.
Your Weekly Salary: My weekly salary is $900.
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: When I was saying good bye on Monday, my last day, the Mom said, "we have something for you". So, she disappears and comes back with a bunch of gifts. I was shocked. I had gotten them each something, I spent about $50 on each of them. The kids were there and they wanted me to open them up. I was kind of embarrassed to stand there and open the gifts. They were all super thoughtful. The little girl had gotten me a fancy dog bed with polka dots and a matching sweater for my dog, the little boy had gotten me a (Peyton) Manning jersey. There were five gifts signed from the mom and dad, they were a Nikon digital camera with 15 mega pixels, a huge box of Hershey kisses that on the little pull papers say 'thank you for everything that you do', a $150 gift certificate to my favorite restaurant, a pair of cashmere gloves and a beautiful picture frame with a picture of the children, then there was a small gift signed from the dog and it was a framed picture of him.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: I've worked for 13 months. I started right before the holidays last year and didn't get anything but a gift certificate to a restaurant. Not that I was complaining then or now- I was just not expecting all of this this year!
City, State and Country: Outside NYC
* I adore the family I work for. They are completely thoughtful all of the time. If they arrive home late at night, it's because it was unavoidable. It does happen, but she or even he will say, "have we cost you your plans". They are at least tuned in that I might have plans. What I like best about them is that they totally trust my judgment when it comes to the children. If the teacher passes on a message to them, they talk it over with me and solicit my advice. I don't even want to think of the time when this family will no longer need me. The two children I take care of are the little lights of my life. When I come back from a weekend, I am desperate to see them and give them a hug. The only bad spot is I felt like my gifts were insignificant in the scope of everything they did. And when I went home Monday night, I had all my gifts with me and was showing my fiance and his Mom who is visiting and I could tell my fiance was kind of put off. I think because he recognized the gifts were really awesome and he always tries to get me something that will make me light up. I couldn't help it, I was all lit up. And not because I had the goods but because it just made me feel that they really loved me and appreciated me. The funny thing was, after I opened all the gifts, she gave me a card. I thought it was so I could have a copy of their family card which was a picture of all four of them and the family. I packed my stuff up and slipped the card in one of my bags. Only on Tuesday, the next day, did I open it and realize it had a check in it. I thought with all of those gifts, that was surely it for me. I go back to work on the Friday after New Years and these days are all extra because I already took my vacation this year. 12/24 extra info from author- I just read the comments and I don't think I was clear about the check. When I received the cash of $2500 and all of the presents, I was going home and not returning until January. I had assumed that the bonus was combined with the rest of the days off they were giving me as extra paid days. I never would have thought I got a $2500 bonus, even without all of those amazing gifts. Like I said, both of my employers work on Wall Street and they have been very stressed and worried about things. I never thought that I would open a card and see a check for the days off (rounded up) additionally. That's why I was shocked.


DD) Bonus this year: Nothing.
Your Weekly Salary: My weekly salary is $775.00
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: An Ove glove and a candle that smells like bug spray.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 2 yrs.
City, State and Country: NYC
* Last year, I got a bonus of $775.00, so this R E A L L Y hurts.


EE) I work for a family on Mondays and Wednesdays for about 15 hours each week (I am a student, so can only do PT work). I'll also do occasional times or whenever I do not have class for a day. They have 2 6 mo old twins and a almost 3 year old who is in preschool, so I only have the twins unless the older child's school is closed. I get paid $25 per hour for the twins and $35 for the three of them. I get paid for 15 hours each week, even if they don't end up needing them all- and get paid extra for anything additional, even if they only used me for 6 of the regular hours, I'll get paid extra to work on a Tuesday or whatever. I just got my holiday bonus (my first, as I just started with them in March last year) and I got an iPhone gift card, a mac book air, and a check for $1000 dollars. I was FLOORED! and was not expecting all that at ALL! The family is amazing in general, always very considerate to make sure I have food in the house that I like, to make sure I get a break if I end up working a longer day (if I stay to do night sitting etc.) basically they are amazing!!! Plus, it was so thoughtful of them, as they know I desperately wanted an iphone and was waiting for my 2 year contract to allow me to renew!


Want to share? If you are an employer or employee, please email jane at isawyournanny@aol.com with your specifics. Part 2 will be published on December 31.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

To C:
At least you got a decent bonus. But the shirt comment at the end was funny as hell!

I see so many nannies that got screwed, but the worst one was the $20 subway gift card. Are you freaking kidding me? That's a slap in the face! They'd have been better off just giving you nothing at all!

I noticed there was only ONE entry from an Employer. I know there's another Part 2 coming on Dec. 31st, and I would LOVE to see some more Employers answer this Survey.

And to the nannies that answered but haven't gotten your Bonus yet, please write back and let us know what you ended up getting!

Anonymous said...

I am D. I'm a tad disappointed because last year I received a weeks pay as a bonus that I used to pay bills with...and that's why I'm a little upset. I was counting on the money to pay off a CC.

I am grateful for what I got though, they didn't have to give me a darn thing and that's what I keep telling myself.

Anonymous said...

Oh you needy, needy nannies-
Grow a pair. Vacation is not a bonus. When employers take this time off during the year, it is to travel or be with their family. It's great that you don't have to work, but in and of itself, it is NOT a bonus. Why do you let yourself get tricked?

Anonymous said...

Good point smart nanny, but if it's PAID time-off, well then, that could be construed as part of their bonus. Especially so if the nanny has already had her vacation for the year.

To D:
That's gotta suck, expecting to at least get the equivalent of last years bonus and ending up with gift cards that have no cash value. Maybe your Employers are having it rough, too? If they are, then you kind of have to be understanding, and be glad that they haven't cut their expenses back so much as to have to let you go. However, if he's buying her a pair of brand new diamond earrings, then they are just assholes.

Anonymous said...

Oy vey,
I rather doubt most of these nannies are deserving of these perks, in fact, I wonder if some of these submissions are the result of hallucinations.

Anonymous said...

Most of you sound pretty ungrateful. Have you tuned in to CNN lately? Do you know how many pink slips were issued last year? Do you know that even Google, one of the richest and best managed companies took away their employ bonuses? They did not reduce them, they axed them entirely. Why? Because WE ARE IN A RECESSION.

Anonymous said...

Pissed of nurse
Recession or not, these nannies work their asses off and deserve these bonuses. Most of them are under-paid, over-worked and taken advantage of daily! If these families were that broke the very first thing they would do to cut expenses is get rid of their household employees, which is a LUXURY!
Nah, these Employers are just cheap bastards, that's all there is to it!

Anonymous said...

OOoohhh...my favorite is the nanny that got $2,500 cash money and then another check!! That made me so jealous I literally turned green as I read it!! Also the nanny that got $1000 bucks bonus and only works 15 hours a week. These stories make me realize that there are some parents in this world who actually care and respect those who care and love their children. I am a wonderful nanny and have gone through multiple families in search of a decent family like the ones I read about here, no I am not referring to monetary only!!
Keep up the good work nannies and you deserve everything you received!!

Anonymous said...

OK, first of all-isyn will you please change the comment page back to the little pop-up box instead of a new whole page? I like to be able to look at the post while typing the comment....
Thanks!

Let's see, someone got a car-HS!
Some ppl got nothing-sucks. And I don't count having Christmas day off paid as a present, that's part of your annual agreement. I can't stand when employers try to act like they are so generous giving you a day or two off paid when you are owed that anyways.

Person who got a freaking iphone, laptop and money-let me know when you are gonna quit bc I want your job!

Anonymous said...

$230 gift card. Really?
Are you sure that isn't a regift and it used to be a $250, $300 or $500 gift card that was used once.

Anonymous said...

I am so incrediblly insanely horridly jealous. I know my "family" isn't extremely well off, but it IS industry standard to give at minimum one week pay! I have been there several years and I got a $50 gift card. Yup, that's it. I am particulary dissapointed because the mother has been a royal pain in the arse this year- making my concider leaving the position- I didn't sign up for the stress of someone on a rampage over every little thing! Bah. On a nicer note- someone I babysit for once a week gave me $50 cash, a terrific gift and a beautifully framed pic of the kids. THAT was NICE, and they don't have nearly as much $.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'm so impressed by the thoughtfulness of some of the families mentioned here - not just the cash, which of course is always sweet - but the thinking of their nannies as *people*, not just employees. I think one of the 4 years I nannied I got a small gift of about $25, and yeah, a photo of the child every year, but never a bonus. I have to count myself among the envious here, as at my work place I got two cheesy mugs, some cookies, a packet of Swiss Miss hot chocolate powder (you know, one from a box of 12), and two Starbucks gift cards totalling $15. Yay for the S-bux, I guess. No bonus. No paid days off.

But I'm still pretty damned happy to be employed.

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I run an in-home daycare for 4 families. My families are very sweet and bought a train table for the daycare. They were very excited and told me that their children all wanted a train table for Christmas but there was no room in their houses so they got one for here. The kids love it but there were no gifts for me. I am trying to be happy for the children but I have to admit that there is just a little sadness that I was forgotten. Am I just being silly?

Anonymous said...

Yaya, there is a link to click at the top of the comments page that will show the original post (so you can see it when typing your comments).

happy camper said...

Holiday bonus is an opportunity for employers to show employees how much their appreciate the good work they have done over the months. I am a nanny working for a family for the past 8yrs. the first year I was given 500, then the seond was 4. This year I got $100. I was tempted to give it back because my husband sees it as an insult. To be honest it's down right disgusting. So to the nannys that getting $1000 and more just be grateful.

Kate said...

J- Can I take over for you? Seriously!

MaryPoppin'Pills said...

YaYa
On the left hand side of the comment page, you will see in BLUE letters "Show Original Post". Click that, and the Original Post comes up right next to the box you are commenting in! It's better this way because the old way would have you scrolling up and down.
:)

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a wide range. Amazing how I really get into reading this, I want to kiss the generous employers and smack the crap out of the ones who were Scroogey.

Neither my husband nor I receive Christmas bonuses at our jobs, it is just not done for whatever reason. I wish it was a more standard concept!

MaryPoppin'Pills said...

"Look Up"
LOL, I didn't see your Post until now, thanks!

Anonymous said...

I got a $50 check. Taxed.

Anonymous said...

Jane, I Love the Santa's Sleigh background! It's so magical!

Anonymous said...

$230 gift card. Really?
Are you sure that isn't a regift and it used to be a $250, $300 or $500 gift card that was used once.


I am that nanny (Item "F" on the list. No, it wasn't that at all, LOL! The gift card was to a place that I've always wanted to try but would have never paid for myself... it had different levels that could be purchased, ranging from $20 up to $230. My employers bought me the highest level and I can't wait to use it. It was very generous of them... here in the midwest a nanny bonus is the exception rather than the norm and this was certainly more than I had expected. :)

Anonymous said...

Smart Nanny, I always find that interesting too.
I usually end up with about 4 weeks vacation, because the parents get more time off than I do, and I don't travel with them, and naturally it's paid. My checks are electronic and never fail.
I am paid every single week of the year.

Who gets involuntary time off without pay???
I learn more everyday.

Anonymous said...

Midwest Nanny: Where city are you in? I'm in the Twin Cites, and it isn't NYC- BUT my nanny friends and I expect a bonus for our hard work. Maybe gratitude isn't shown toward nannies in your small town? You're making our part of the country found like hillbilly land.

Anonymous said...

"here in the midwest a nanny bonus is the exception rather than the norm"?

Showing thanks to a Nanny is normal all over the world. Above post is right- you're making your area sound like it's run by hill billies.

Anonymous said...

Em:

Can you state your point without being a bitch about it? Really.

Anonymous said...

Wow, to all of you nannies who didn't get bonuses, you should definitely get revenge. On the news it always goes over what one is expected to tip. You tip your doorman. Don't have a doorman, then you don't tip your doorman. If you go to a restaurant, you are expected to leave a minimum of 15 percent whether your dinner comes to 12 dollars or 312 dollars.

If you have a nanny, you damn sure better know that one week is the standard, the minimum and the reccomended and if you are with a family for several years, it should go up.

Too damn many poor people have nannies. If it hurts you that much to give your nanny one weeks pay as a bonus, guess what, you aint rich enough to have a nanny.

Why you nannies work for people who have to be counting their nickels is beyond me.

I worked as a nanny for two years and the only reason I did it is because I found a job with a wealthy family that wasn't afraid to spend their money, even on piddly ole me.

Life is short. You damn sure gotta make sure you get what your worth.

Anonymous said...

Holy cow! A new car? To the person who received the new car, did you know you were going to get it? I want more backstory! Please let me live vicariously through you.

Anonymous said...

I just got to thinking about how difficult it must be for the nannies that receive little or no bonus for Christmas, and how they can see here that there are others who are treated so well in comparison, at least financially.

But what about the nanny that does receive that $1500 bonus, a bunch of presents, etc.. and is treated like crap? It seems like once they are paying you that kind of money, they feel like they own you.

I would trade my bonus any day to get a nice employer instead, one who would take me to see The Nutcracker.

Anonymous said...

Maybe gratitude isn't shown toward nannies in your small town?

Maybe gratitude can be shown in ways that don't involve money. I am "Midwest Nanny", not "Small Town Nanny".

You're making our part of the country found like hillbilly land.

Only if you have an inferiority complex.

Showing thanks to a Nanny is normal all over the world.

Is it also normal all over the world to imply that more money equals more gratitude?

My bonus was one of the smaller ones on this list (monetarily), but I can assure you I am shown I am appreciated in countless ways all the time. I have never had the need to submit a rant or a tirade against the injustices I suffer at the hands of my employer; money isn't everything.

The way you are treated is a direct reflection of the way you permit people to treat you.

Anonymous said...

I got a large bonus (4k) and a very expensive gift along with some other smaller gifts as well, and my boss still didn't think she did enough for me. Those of us well paid aren't necessarily treated poorly. That's a misnomer perpetuated by the jealous.

Anonymous said...

drop kicking
how about I state my point anyway I like, and then you can drop kicking?

sounds good to me
and by the way, exactly what was bitchy about what I wrote? apparently you've got an axe to grind so grind on. dumb dumb

Anonymous said...

I too am a midwest nanny and bonuses are very much the norm where I am. Yes the midwest is a large area so perhaps we reside in different parts but EVERY nanny I know here gets some sort of a bonus.

I am very grateful for all the wonderful gifts I got this year from the many families that I work for randomly throughout the year. They ranged from cash to a bunch of products from a favorite spa store to gift cards. This year I felt truly blessed since the economy has been so terrible.

As far as a bonus goes, 1 weeks pay is the standard norm from what I've seen over my 5+ years working in the field. I was lucky enough to get a bonus that encompassed 2.5 weeks of pay. This was in addition to a very nice gift from a very nice department store. I am so lucky to work for such an amazing family and will feel deeply saddened when I move in a few weeks and have to leave my kids!

Anonymous said...

"Those of us well paid aren't necessarily treated poorly. That's a misnomer perpetuated by the jealous."

I don't necessarily believe it's jealousy. If you were to read "abused nanny's" comment, she evidently got a very nice bonus. I don't think it's jealousy that provokes her saying she just wishes she had an employer that would treat her better. Who wants to be treated like garbage?

chick said...

Frankly, given the choice between being well treated and getting smaller gifts/bonuses or being poorly treated and getting huge gifts/bonuses, I would pick option A.

My employers are terrific to me all year long. They gave me a small bonus this year, and they also...

provide me with a 2007 crossover vehicle for work and personal use

are as flexible as anyone could be with time off for any reason

thank me at the end of every day

back me 100% if the kids try to play us against each other

and I could go on.

Of course, in an ideal world, we would all be respected, well treated, AND get large bonuses when deserved, but the world isn't ideal.

Anonymous said...

Most of the attitude here is that if you're well paid, you're taken advantage of and abused by your employers. That's simply not the case of many well paid nannies that I know. You can have it both, a nice salary and a nice family.

Abused Nanny seem to be speaking in a hypothetical sense to me.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed reading the results of the survey and look forward to the next installment. I am moving from London to NYC in 2 weeks (YAY!!) so all the info about salaries and bonuses there was particularly interesting for me. I was offered 4 jobs and in the end I have chosen the family who I think I will get on with best. It's not a traditional family unit but they have been really, really great so far, even flying us out just before Christmas to find an apartment. I have negotiated a great salary with all the benefits (I have a degree and a British accent but am dual nationality so it seems to work in my favor!) I can't wait!