Holiday Bonus Feature 2010, part II

To read part II of 2010's survey,click here.

Bonus this year (2010): $1000
Your weekly salary: $450, working 3 days a week
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Tiffany & Co. silver necklace with name initial +$25 gift card + Christmas card
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: almost 2 years

City, State and Country: Baltimore, MD

Comment: No words can express my gratitude, I didn't expect something like this ever. Their appreciation sincerely moved me to tears. It's not about what they gave me but the fact that they did it when they didn't have to. They are such amazing people, having them in my life is a gift on its own (as cheesy as it sounds it's true). I'm so so insanely happy working for them, I don't even consider it work. They are part of my family. I love them so much, every single one of them. They are seriously the best people I've ever met.

Bonus: Fifty dollar bill
Salary: 700 per week.
Supplementary Gifts: Yeah. Some advice. "Get yourself a pair of good tennis shoes because I want you to start taking X to X park and walking there". The park is about two miles away!
Location: Westchester County, NY
Time worked for the family: 5 months
* I loathe these people. They have a bunch of money. Mom is a psycho and Dad can't keep his snake in  his trousers.


Bonus: $3,000
Salary: $1,200 Four children. fifty hour week.
Years with the family: 9.
Location: NYC
Supplementary gifts: Gift from the parents: an iPad. I am so thrilled to get this! From the children, A coffee cup made and painted at a pottery class. Dangly cat earrings, a box of chocolates with a card saying I didn't have to share them, and from the two year old a beautiful sweater that MB obviously picked out. I love my gifts from the kids, and especially the cards they made.
*I am so blessed to have a job I love with a wonderful family. The only negative is that the children are growing up too fast and won't need me forever!

 Bonus this year (2010): $0
Your weekly salary: $300 weekly for 20-25 hours
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: $75 gift card to retailer, card, picture frame of children
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 3 years and 3 months
City, State and Country: Houston, TX
*I was surprised by my gift. My first two holidays with my family, I received $25 gift cards, then last year a $50 gift card so expected to receive the same amount this year. I feel really blessed to work with such a great family. I always know I never need to worry about getting paid, and they are generous with paid holidays (4 weeks at minimum) and days I request off. Plus this past Summer, with one parent off from work, I received 10 weeks off paid which completely surprised me as this was outside of my typical vacation weeks, but of course was great as I used that time to work for other families as well. I definitely hope to work with this family as long as I am able to and will be sad when the time comes for me to go.


Bonus this year (2010): None.
Your Weekly Salary: $13-$15/hour, depending on how many kids are
present each day; usually 1-2 days per week.
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: A beautiful wallet, some
toiletries, a cute little notebook and a card. (My MB and the eldest
child chose them, and they have great taste!)
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: Almost a year (I
started just after Christmas last year, so this is my first Christmas
with them).
City, State and Country: Canberra, ACT, Australia.
*I'm pretty happy! :) I wasn't really expecting a bonus; nannies aren't
really common in Australia and I'm the family's first nanny as well,
so I doubt MB had any idea that a bonus was standard. She regularly
rounds up my weekly pay quite generously, as well, and best of all, I
love the kids and get treated like part of the family.


Bonus this year (2010): 175 $
Your Weekly Salary: 600$ for about 45 hours a week
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: no
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 4 months
City, State and Country: Merrion Station PA USA
*I am getting 2 weeks paid off in early January over my birthday.


Bonus this year (2010): $640 check
Weekly salary: $16/hr, average about $640 a week before taxes
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: $100 visa gift card, $25 Dunkin Donuts gift card, $25 itunes gift card and a new pair of uggs as one of the pairs that I have got paint on them from when the baby spilled it a couple of months ago...completely didn't expect that gift at all but was very happy!
Length you have been with the family: 16 months
City and State: Narragansett, RI


Bonus this year (2010): $40 gift card to the movies
Your weekly salary: $250 (when I was full time, now I just watch the kids every Friday night so about $40- $60/week)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: something the children have made for me or picked out for me.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 5+ years
City, State and Country: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
*I used to watch the youngest girl three to four days a week from the time she was 6months to about two years old. Then I got another job but stayed on as a guaranteed babysitter for every Friday night. I still watch the girls and I should mention that they are relatives of mine (not very close but decidedly relatives) I had some experience so they asked me to do them a favor and watch their youngest. I never get a bonus, or much more than a $40 gift card to the movies, which I can hardly use as I work weekends seasonally on top of my full time job and my Fridays are spent watching the kids. I love them and all but without any incentive to stay….I think my time with this family is coming to an end. It wouldn’t be so bad if I knew they couldn’t really afford much, or if they had a full time nanny and I really was just supplementary, but they go out every single Friday night. And I know that dadboss makes much more than he pretends. I just don’t feel very appreciated. I do feel respected and I’m very close to the family obviously, but throwing me an extra few bucks once a year or buying me movie passes for the latest film out and giving me a random night off without guilt would go a long way.


Bonus this year (2010): $1000
Your Weekly Salary: $600
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Gifts for nanny's 4 own children (WII game console, dolls) Gift for nanny (kitchenware she admired of mine and week off between X-mas and NY)
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: She has worked with us for 6 months
City, State and Country: Falls Church, VA (right outside Washington DC) USA


Bonus this year (2010): $1500 (not really a bonus, but a gift)
Your Weekly Salary: $0- I have not worked for this family for four years. I am now the mother of one 2 year old myself.
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Dolls, clothes and letter learning toy for my daughter. Cashmere robe, set of silver picture frames and kindle for me, kindle and a bottle of wine for my husband.
City, State and Country: Purchase, NY, USA
*I worked for this family from 2000-December 2006. I now live 1/2 hour away. She never forgets my birthday and still sends me and my family gifts for the holidays. She also gets my daughter a birthday present and even sends a holiday gift for my husband!


Bonus this year (2010): $500
Your weekly salary: about $500
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: a photo album
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 10 months
City, State and Country: Texas
Comment: The photo album is empty, thank God. When I saw the shape of the package I knew what it was and worried it would be pictures of the kids. I have plenty of pictures of the kids and far more use for an empty album. Yay! I was worried what my bonus might be since the family is not loaded by any stretch and I'm their first nanny, but they did me right. I spent about $100 on gifts for them, so I'm glad everything turned out happy.


Bonus this year (2010): $0
Your Weekly Salary: $15/hour (no set schedule)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: $100 gift card
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 1.5 years
City, State and Country: Denver, CO
*I was the families regular full time nanny until I went back to school and could no longer work the hours that were needed. The family and I have a wonderful relationship and I love working for them. They welcomed babies into their family this past year and I am truly happy that they've been able to keep me around for nights and weekends so that I can continue to work and see the kids (and the rest of the family.) I got a holiday card from them as well with a sentimental note inside from the mom that really did mean a lot to me. Would I have liked a bonus? Yes, it would have been nice but I'll take what I got!


Bonus this year: $100
Weekly Salary: $800 for 55 hours, PLUS per week. (with no notice). My base is 55 hours. I average 62.
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: A Chico's sweater that is two sizes too small. There is no way it was purchased for me.
Length of time I have worked for the family: 15 months
City, State: Rye, NY


Bonus this year (2010): $200
Weekly Salary: $340 gross for 20 hours ($17/hr)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: no
Length of time I have worked for the family: 2 months
City, State: Greenwich, CT


Bonus this year (2010):  Zilch
Weekly Salary: $765 gross for 44 hours
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: an apron. A snowman her son made for her.
Length of time I have worked for the family: almost two years
City, State: Fairfield, CT
*As an extra bonus, my boss also told me that this year in 2011, they would not be able to pay me when they were away on vacation, so she GAVE me a Wells Fargo calendar with the dates of their travel marked. This includes two weeks the children spend at their great Aunts, a 17 day vacation to Australia, a ski vacation next month (one week) and two other trips. She oh so nicely explained that I should plan ahead and let other people know I am available then so I can still make money. What??


Bonus this year(2010): none
Salary: $600 net for 40 hours a week
Any supplementary gifts aside from bonus: travel size body products worth $39 plus sponges and a homemade card from the baby(the card I loved)
Length of time you worked for family: 1 1/2 years
City, state, country: Boston, MA
*Family is overall good they do the bare minimum to keep me happy. They don't pay any health insurance or gas/mileage or even offer me a raise. I knew I wouldn't get a bonus or a gift comparable to the ones I gave them. I have one more year with them then I'm moving on to another family who will hopefully offer me better benefits.The only thing that upsets me is that my very personal(expensive) and thoughtful gift was kind of shrugged off with a "oh how lovely, thanks." I was hoping for a little more excitement but they aren't the sentimental type I guess.


Bonus this year (2010): 6500, plus a 3500 tax reimbursement
Salary:1200 cash take home, they pay all my taxes
Length you have been with the family: 5.5 years
City, State: Westchester NY
*I went back to school this summer and cut my hours and pay back significantly. This is a wonderful job in terms of pay. At its worst it’s a nutball situation. But I really appreciate the huge bonus and I’m glad to get a monetary thanks, cause I rarely get a sentimental one.


Bonus this year: 10,000 cash. All in 100 dollar bills. No joke.
Weekly salary: 900 after taxes, for 60 hrs
Supplementary gift: A 75 dollar gift card to design my own Converse, which excites me to no end. I wear Converse a lot, but I have no idea how they knew to get me this. I've been hoping for this gift from anyone in my life for like 5 years.
Location: NYC
Length of time employed with them: 16 months
*I'm shocked, moved, amazed + humbled by this extraordinary generosity. In no way has it sunk in for me yet. When they gave it to me I felt lightheaded + my fingers began tingling. If anyone has any suggestions as to how I can convey my gratitude to them, I'd really appreciate it. I'm completely at a loss.
I thanked them up and down when they gave it to me yesterday, but I still feel there must be something I can DO for them to convince them of my gratitude. Money is no object to them, so I fear there's nothing I could buy that'd mean much. Do you think a night of surprise free babysitting would be ridiculous?


Bonus this year (2010): 2 weeks pay ($1200 cash)
Your Weekly Salary: $600 (net)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: $150+ sweater from my favorite store
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: about 10 months
City, State and Country: Southern California


Bonus this year: 2010 $100
Salary: $350- $400 a week- depending on how many hours worked in a week. Changes every week- but average 35-40.
Length you been with the family: Since July 2010
City and State: Commerce, Michigan
*I also got a cute picture and a stocking full of goodies. Gift cards and a really nice card from the family- telling me how much they appreciate my services. I am very thankful to have this family. It is nice to finally have a great family. I am honored to work for them.


Bonus this year (2010): $1200 cash
Your weekly salary: $500 for 30 hours a week paid extra if worked over 30 hours
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: 2 weeks paid vacation
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 2years
City, State and Country: New York New York


Bonus this year (2010): $440 cash
Your weekly salary: $780 before taxes (40 hour week)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: $175 gift certificate to a really nice spa
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 2 years
City, State and Country: Arlington, MA
*Everything about my job is amazing. In addition to the gifts I received, the family also contributed $1000 to pay for me to take a class for fun at a local university this fall. It was very generous of them to do that (even adapting my work schedule so I could attend the class without having me make up all the time I would miss - still being paid for 40 hours). They are constantly letting me know how much they appreciate me. I love my job and I'm looking forward to more time with them!


Bonus this year (2010): A box of candy
Your Weekly Salary: $520 ($13/hr)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: none
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: almost two years
City, State and Country: The West Coast USA


Bonus: $3000
Weekly salary: $1460 after taxes
Gifts: Books and cashmere sweater
Length of time worked: 1 year 11 months
City, State: NYC, NY


Bonus this year (2010): 2 Weeks Pay- $600
Your Weekly Salary: $300 for up to 15 hours- usually around 11 (Guaranteed 15 hours, anything over at 1.5x pay). I am a college student, so only work part time.
Supplementary Gifts: Super super flexible scheduling- basically whatever hours I say!iPad, $200 for lululemon store, $200 for anthopologie, $200 rei, a journal, a waterbottle, scrapbooking materials and super nice scrapbooking pens. For my birthday I also go a kindle, $200 gift card for apple store, and $300 cash.
Lenth of Time you Have worked for the Family: Just over 3 years.
City, State and Country: Berkeley, CA, USA
* I love that they know exactly what I like! They took the time to pick out some special gifts and then gave me money or gift cards to pick stuff out for myself. They leave me little notes/cards and random gift cards for starbucks, amazon, or gas cards just to show they appreciate me. Plus they completely work around my class schedule! They also make sure to check in to make sure everything is going alright for me (from my classes, to the kids listening and doing their HW, to if I need any extra time off around finals! They also make sure to vocalize that they appreciate me. I definitely feel like I am part of the family and truely appreciate them!


Bonus this year (2010): $0
Your weekly salary: $475 cash
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Kindle
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family:14 months
City, State and Country: Washington DC
*I'm really surprised I didn't get a bonus. Every nanny that I know personally got 1-2 weeks, and they don't work my crackheaded hours.


Bonus This Year: $0
Weekly Salary: $550
Supplementary Gift(s): a haircut/style at local boutique, a pair of J Crew cashmere gloves, a J Crew cashmere scarf, a bottle of vitamins
Location: upstate New York


Bonus This Year: $5,500
Weekly Salary: $1,500
Supplementary Gift: a pair of .6 carat white diamond earings from a jewelry store in Greenwich with a gift receipt so I could return them if I didn't like. I love! I love!
Length of time you have worked for family: 18 months
Location: Greenwich, CT


Bonus: A brand-new 2010 car, fully-loaded compact!
Supplemental Gifts: Prepaid maintenance for car, clothing
Weekly salary: $900 for 45 hrs, plus medical, dental, vision, paid holidays and sick leave
Length of time worked for family: 7+ years
Location:Southern California
*She’s the best!


Bonus this year (2010): Nook Color - something they knew I wanted - 250.00! :)
Your weekly salary: 600 net
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: a nice card saying how grateful they are to have me as their nanny to take care of their most prized possession! :)
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: Only 3 months (tom. will be 3)
City, State and Country: Cambridge, MA



I work for 2 families:
Job 1. $3,000,framed picture of the kids,lovely earrings,and a blackberry
Length of time:15 years,started FT but for the last few years 3-6 M-F

Job 2. $25 Starbuck's card and 2 framed pictures of the kids
Length of time:September 2010 M-F 8-2PM
*I am curious but does that sound like adequate appreciation from family #2? I am not upset but was rather shocked!



I have 3 to tell about. The first is a nanny job, the other two I suppose are babysitting positions.
Job 1:
Bonus this year (2010): $100
Your weekly salary: $10/hr 24-30 hrs a week
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Picture of the babies, $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble
Length of Time you have worked for the Family: 3 months
City, State and Country: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
*Since I have not been with the family for very long, I was impressed that they gave me a bonus at all, but it was much appreciated!
Job 2:
Bonus this year (2010): $40
Your weekly salary: $8.50/hr 6-18 hrs a week
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: No.
Length of Time you have worked for the Family: 3 months
City, State and Country: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Job 3:
Bonus this year (2010): $20
Your weekly salary: $10/hr 4-8 hrs a week
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: Homemade candies, a large Yankee Candle.
Length of Time you have worked for the Family: 5 months
City, State and Country: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
*I used to be the nanny for this family before they had some financial troubles and switched to a daycare. I was surprised they gave me a bonus at all since we no longer have such a regular schedule.



I work for two families, each with a 2 year old and a 4 year old.
A) Bonus this year (2010): A paid week off
Your weekly salary: $350 (before taxes) for three 10 hour days (30 hours)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: $50 to Montanas/Kelseys/Swiss Chalet chain restaurants, $30 to a movie theatre
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 6 months
City, State and Country: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

B) Bonus this year (2010): $50 to the Keg (a very fancy steakhouse), $20 to Tim Horton's (Canada's best coffee)
Your weekly salary: $160 for two 7 hour days (14 hours)
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus: a bag of coffee, scented candles, chocolates, and an ADORABLE t-shirt with "WE (my name, complete with accent over the E)" screenprinted on the front, with the two kids hand prints on the back... I'm wearing it right now! So thoughtful.
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family: 4 months

City, State and Country: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Click here to read Part I of this year's bonus feature.