Hi, I have been working for a family with twin 2 yr old boys since Dec 2010. They have told me about a nanny share they would like to do with the neighbors downstairs. The neighbors have a newborn and will be 3 months when I start to care for her. I am already being underpaid for the first family, only 11/hr for both boys. I am highly qualified, have great references, I'm bi-lingual, and I am college educated. I have just presented them with the nanny share rate. I have explained my reasoning for the rate per family as well as getting a pay cut for the first family because it is a nanny share. I have asked for $850 a week which is a 48+ hr work week, for 3 children. I get the feeling that they think that I am asking for too much. I don't think they actually know how hard it is to take of children, they are always making comments like "oh, thank god ****** is here" or "HAVE FUN!!!" or "this one is a bully and the other one wont stop crying" or "I am so glad to be going back to work, unlike most people I look forward to Mondays." I think that all of these comments are unnecessary considering the fact that they are with them for a total of 3-4 hrs a day and the rest of the time they are sleeping or with me. Also, they only have them two days out of the week for full days. I'm not sure if I should reduce to the rate or not. I don't want to feel as if I'm being ripped off. I also don't want to put in twice the work for only half the pay... Advice anyone?????
Tuesday
Being Paid Fair for a Nanny Share...
Hi, I have been working for a family with twin 2 yr old boys since Dec 2010. They have told me about a nanny share they would like to do with the neighbors downstairs. The neighbors have a newborn and will be 3 months when I start to care for her. I am already being underpaid for the first family, only 11/hr for both boys. I am highly qualified, have great references, I'm bi-lingual, and I am college educated. I have just presented them with the nanny share rate. I have explained my reasoning for the rate per family as well as getting a pay cut for the first family because it is a nanny share. I have asked for $850 a week which is a 48+ hr work week, for 3 children. I get the feeling that they think that I am asking for too much. I don't think they actually know how hard it is to take of children, they are always making comments like "oh, thank god ****** is here" or "HAVE FUN!!!" or "this one is a bully and the other one wont stop crying" or "I am so glad to be going back to work, unlike most people I look forward to Mondays." I think that all of these comments are unnecessary considering the fact that they are with them for a total of 3-4 hrs a day and the rest of the time they are sleeping or with me. Also, they only have them two days out of the week for full days. I'm not sure if I should reduce to the rate or not. I don't want to feel as if I'm being ripped off. I also don't want to put in twice the work for only half the pay... Advice anyone?????
Where do you live?
ReplyDeleteIn NYC and burbs, you are asking for a fair rate. $17/hr for 3 kids including 2yo twins and an infant, plus dealing with two families, is reasonable.
I make $20 for two kids in a share with each family paying $10. But I also live in Boston where the starting rate for one child is 12-15. Most families here pay 16-20 for twins but everything depends on experience and duties.
ReplyDeleteNycmom-I'm surprised NYC is cheaper, I would expect it to be more since the cost of living is higher.
Generally speaking, I think a nanny share salary should be about 2/3 of what each family would pay individually, which mean nanny gets about 33% above market for her salary.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where you are located OP, or what sort of experience you have, but in my SE city for a nanny share, I would ask $12/hour for the twins and $9/hour for the singleton. That would be $21 per hour total.
In my anecdotal experience with friends and online, NYC is cheaper than Boston and SF. I believe it is just supply and demand. Huge immigrant population that wants nanny work. Plus, you don't need to drive here, unlike many parts of Boston or SF burbs so more opportunities for illegal immigrants to compete in the marketplace.
ReplyDeleteITA with Tales on the numbers. IME, shares net nanny roughly 1.5X normal salary and family pays 2/3. $20/hr sounds spot on.
Also, in case I was not clear, I do NOT think $11/hr for infant twins is market in NYC. I do think $17+/hr is a fair number for OP considering she her current pay scale. I should have worded it as "$17/hr for 3 kids including 2yo twins and an infant, plus dealing with two families, is MORE THAN reasonable." OP's concern seemed to be that she was asking too much, which she is definitely not.
I live in one of the Metro Cities "Chicago"... I really do not want to settle for less considering the fact that I am pretty good being a nanny, when I first started one of them didnt even speak and now I cant get him to stay quiet... LOL I love the boys is the parents that are making the situation hard.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have been a nanny for the past 5 years, I am college educated majoring in Sociology and Early Childhood Education, I am bi-lingual (teaching the boys two different languages), we hardly watch tv, I'm very hands on and I like I said before I live in chicago and the price of living here is not cheap at all... I even presented them with information about the going rate and how I will still be underpaid with the rate I'm asking for now... They do not even pay my health care... I was even nice enough to reduce the rate of the first family.
ReplyDeleteDon't settle for less. Tell them if they want the best care for their children, this is what it costs.
ReplyDeletestart looking for a new job. If they can't see that they have an awesome nanny then find someone who can. Don't settle for less because they bully you. I'd just straight up tell them that you rather not take on the other child for crap money, then start applying.
ReplyDeleteYou have the power in this situation. even if they fired you, you could easily get a job in a daycare for $11 with benefits. Then just keep searching for a different position.
It fucking sucks but you have to take control.
$11/Hr. seems pretty cheap to me considering the children are so close in age and are still toddlers. Yes, you are being underpaid. You sound like a great nanny and the family is getting a bargain with you.
ReplyDeleteI would say, don't settle for less than what you are worth. Trust me on this one, OP...if you accept less than what you know you are worth, sooner or later resentment will set in and you will be miserable, angry and resentful. If they say they cannot afford you, simply respond that you cannot afford them as well and move on.
Regarding finding a new job, considering the state of the economy now, I would stay w/this one until a new job comes up. I am currently in the market now for a new position and it has been months since I have been offered anything fair and reasonable. :( I think many families know this and choose to be cheaper because of it. Shame shame on them.
It is a share OP but are you negotiating separately? I think you should. The only reason I would do a share as a mom is it saves me money, as the care is "diluted" as far as attention due to increased work load for the nanny. I have two kids in SF bay area. I paid, per hour:
ReplyDelete16 for one child
12 in a two child share
20 for both kids, share or not
As you are already underpaid for the twins, I hope you do not back down on your rate there. In fact, if you can swing it you should increase your rate during non-share time. You should then work out your share and solo rate for the third child with that family. You know best the rates in your area.
Thanks for the advice, I am currently looking for a new position in case things do not work out to my advantage. I have been great to these people and the only reason I have stood this long is because the boys are honestly great kids. One of them cries when I leave at the end of the day and that breaks my heart. So, I then tell myself "How do I not come back tomorrow?" But you are correct I have decided that I am not going to settle for less and if they cannot accept my terms then I will have to find a different family...
ReplyDeleteI have given them the rates separately and the first family with the twins are getting a $50 deduction from the weekly I am currently receiving. The going rate in Chicago for three kids and from someone with my expertise and background is pretty high ($15-$25/hr)
ReplyDeleteI live in a suburb of Chicago and I'm getting paid $17/hour for 2 kids (infant & toddler). I don't know why your boss(es) are being so cheap. They're the ones getting a deal & underpaying you. Good luck in finding a new position in case this one doesn't work out!
ReplyDeleteI too live in a subarb outside of Chicago,
ReplyDeleteI gross $20 a hour for two children. I'd say
stand your ground.
I hope you have found a better suiting position... I get paid $17.50 an hour for 3 children--nanny share. I also get all paid holidays, paid vacations, and paid sick days. $11 for 2 children is wayyyyyyy below the going rate here in Chicago.. 2 children/one family I'd charge at least $14/hour
ReplyDeleteWe live in rural WA state and pay our fabulous nanny $16/hr to care for one nearly 2yo child. We are looking to combine with another family that has a 2.5yo child several hours per week. Any recommendations for a reasonable rate for 2 children? The average rate in this low-income, rural area is $8-10hr.
ReplyDelete