Do I have to pay my nanny the same if this or that?
Parents often think it is ethical to pay less for the nanny in certain situations… NO! The moment you take up their time, you have to pay them, and not at a lower rate depending on the situation. Nannies should be paid normally whenever they are on duty, regardless of how busy they are.
Sleep times and travel times are not free time for nannies.
When children are asleep or when nannies travel to join their employer in another location, nannies should be paid the same, even if they have nothing to do but sit where you need them to be.
Even if you feel like they are doing “nothing”, they are still responsible for your children and they make themselves available to you, so the question of paying them or not should not even arise.
Their time is valuable, so if they can’t leave work or be home, they must be paid and that’s non-negotiable!
If you feel like you’re paying your nanny to “do nothing” because they just sit around, look at it this way:
☆ It is not acceptable to take people’s time without compensation.
☆ Even if they are on their phone while the kids are sleeping, they are there in case of an emergency and your kids are safe.
☆ When they go on a trip to join you at your vacation spot, it is not their choice to travel, they do it for your convenience.
☆ You wouldn’t want to be on the clock without pay (or with lower pay) yourself, so how fair is it to expect that from others?
Hiring a nanny is expensive, but finding a dedicated nanny is difficult, so when you find one, treat them fairly and value their work!
