Giving my babysitter a raise - is this too cheap?

[MiaPia]

Our babysitter has been with us a year now, and we want to give her a raise. She comes to our home 2-3 days a week to watch our baby (and sometimes the older kiddos) while I work part time.
We really can't afford to give her much of a raise, so it will only be .50 and hour. She currently makes $12 an hour, so this will bump her up to $12.50.
Does that seem too cheap? Like, why even bother with a raise if it is so insignificant?

My DH and I are disagreeing about this, and I'd like some insight. If YOU were offered a .50 raise in similiar circumstances would you be insulted that it wasn't more?

Also, although she hasn't said anything she is probably expecting a raise. When we first hired her we discussed her pay, and she originally wanted more than we were willing to pay. We compromised on the $12 an hour. My DH and I had said that possibly we would re-visit the pay in a year. So now a year is up.

ARGH - I hate dealing with money and paying people!

[Twinklefae]

Well, I worked in child care pre-DS and got a guaranteed raise of .25/year. So I think .50 seems good! It does add up and every little bit helps!

[Mama Dragon]

What do you want to give her? Maybe .75/hour? I think her pay is great as it is, no I can't really comment on that (DH's done a heck of a lot harder work for less pay but it of course depends on the area).

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Instead of the 50 cent raise, what about a $20-$50 gift card to a store she likes?

But if you're intent on the raise, then 50 cents (IMO) is enough to show that she's valued and that you want to hold on to her. BUT I can see how someone might think "What's the point?" since she's there so infrequently.

But I agree, that's a nice rate of pay she's getting. Good for you, mama!

[Hey Mama!]

I think $12 is more then fair, and a fifty cent raise is just fine for doing babysitting. I don't make that much an hour working for a public school.

[kennedy444]

It doesn't seem like much but if she is working 18 hrs a week, that is an additional $9. If she's really good with your child, takes care of the other kiddos on occasion and doesn't charge extra for them, you come home to a clean and tidy house....then I'd give her an extra dollar an hour.

[Blooming]

I would lean more towards $1.00 an hour, But if you are not able to do that then I would give her the 50 cents and a gift card with some nice words.

I once worked for somebody that wanted to give me a christmas bonus but couldn't afford it. She ended up giving me a nice jazz cd and the most beautiful note about the impact I had, had on her child and her family. I will never forget that it meant so much to me. Childcare providers can be so unappreciated.

Of course I'm a sap and I'm sure my car payment would of appreciated a bit of money.

[MiaPia]

Thanks so far for all the great replies.

To clarify: We want to give her a raise because we value her and the work she does for us. However we really can't afford much of a raise. In an ideal world I would love to give her a whole dollar raise, but .50 is much more do-able for us right now.

Also, we pay her for a minimum of 20 hours a week - even if she works less. Obviously if she works more than 20 we pay her for those hours as well. We also give her 2 paid weeks of vacation a year.

[Beth-TX]

Wow. You're a good boss. Can I come be your babysitter?

[fallriverfox]

I'd make it 0.60 an hour and call it a 5% raise which is certainly respectable.

[SunRise]

I think a one time cash bonus would suffice .... a weeks worth of pay. I think 12 dollars an hour is a good babysitting wage.

[Cutie Patootie]

Originally Posted by CookieMonsterMommy

Instead of the 50 cent raise, what about a $20-$50 gift card to a store she likes?

I was a nanny for 15 years and I think I would have been a little put off if I was given a gc instead of a raise, from the professional stand point. I think though, coupled with the $0.50 raise, it would be really nice.

Why not give her the $0.50 and also a $25 gc. I would say, we can only do $0.50 right now financially, but we want you to know that we really value your work and care for our children.

[Cutie Patootie]

Originally Posted by fallriverfox

I'd make it 0.60 an hour and call it a 5% raise which is certainly respectable.

Yes, this is a good idea.

[queendom lady]

I only have one baby but i pay $8/hour so i think 12 is a lot! she watches our dd about 12 hours a week. i usually just round up at the end of the night. we're all happy, i think. after a year i'd consider giving her a dollar raise if i could but probably not less.

[MiaPia]

Originally Posted by fallriverfox

I'd make it 0.60 an hour and call it a 5% raise which is certainly respectable.

I think I like this idea! I'll run it by DH and see what he has to say, but I'm thinking a 5% raise and then maybe a $50 bonus as well.

I have posted about my situation before, but basically I work because I *love* my job and it is something I am good at. I was a SAHM for 4 years, and when I went back to work took a HUGE pay cut due to being out of the workforce for so long. By working part time I am keeping myself abreast with the industry, and looking towards the future. I do plan on working full time once all my kids are in school. This is my choice, as my DH does not really care one way or another if I work or not.
Right now basically ALL of my paycheck goes towards childcare, parking, clothes, and gas. I work because it makes me a better person and a better mom.

As much as I would LOVE to pay my sitter more, to do so we would need to dip into DHs pay, which is the money we live on - all of our living expenses come from that. So honestly, as much as I love my job, and as much as I like my sitter, I can't really justify paying her any more than that.

[Tigerchild]

Originally Posted by CookieMonsterMommy

Instead of the 50 cent raise, what about a $20-$50 gift card to a store she likes?

But if you're intent on the raise, then 50 cents (IMO) is enough to show that she's valued and that you want to hold on to her. BUT I can see how someone might think "What's the point?" since she's there so infrequently.

A 25 cent raise, assuming she works 25 hours a week and year round, nets $325 extra per year.

Way more than a $20 gift card, and more useful than something she must use at a specific store.

So, 50 cent raise *is* significant. Even part time. The gift card thing sounds like something nice to do for holidays or as a bonus, but it doesn't come close to the financial committment of giving someone a raise.

So no, OP, I think the raise is great! Most folks really appreciate it. It sounds like you've got a keeper, and know how to keep her!

[Irishmommy]

I work in an office, and my last two raises were 50 cents an hour, so I think it's fine.

[JennaW]

I worked as a nanny for a long time, I would have very much appreciated a 50 cent raise. And thanks for thinking of your nanny, a lot of people don't!

And I agree with the other person, if I was given a gift card instead of a raise, I would have been respectful about it and shown gratitude but I would think it was kind of off putting....

[Slabobbin]

Holy Cow! I remember babysitting for a dollar an house. I feel so old.

[MiaPia]

Originally Posted by Slabobbin

Holy Cow! I remember babysitting for a dollar an house. I feel so old.

I know - me too! But really she is more like a Nanny than a sitter. She is 25, CPR trained, and does a LOT with the baby - and the other kids when she has them. They go out to lunch, go to the Y to swim, go to the park, go on walks, the zoo etc. She is always out doing something, and is really great with my babe. So while we've always called her a "sitter" really it is more of a part-time nanny situation.