Giving my babysitter a raise - is this too cheap? - Page 2

[Logan's Mom]

Originally Posted by Beth-TX

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

:

My DH only makes $15 an hour after getting his 4 year degree and 50k in student loans. I think my sitters are getting a heck of a deal getting $40 a day and he isn't there as much as most kids would be in daycare. Plus, she hasn't gotten a raise in 2 years, but then again...neither have I!!!

[kijip]

For those that think $12 is a lot, you need to consider region. For an adult, professional sitter in my city, $12 is the min. starting point. For good nannies, $15-25 an hour is not out of the norm. And education level, student loan debt have nothing to do with the amount of money that someone gets paid (ie I make more as a non-profit manager than a PhD in Russian Lit without a faculty position). I am surprised that so many in a group of mothers would imply baby-sitting is not hard work. Am I to assume then you think our jobs as mothers are easy?

I would do 60 cents so it is 5% and let her know how much you appreciate her.

[Cutie Patootie]

Yep, I remember getting $1.00 an hour for 4 kids when I was 13. I think one family paid me $2.00 and hour and I thought I was rich.

When I left the family I nannied for in New England 10 years ago, I was making $18.00 an hour, had health benefits, sick and vacation pay. I have a high school education and no degrees there after.

[hollyvangogh]

No...cheap would be the $3 an hour I saw someone offering on Craig's List the other day.
$12 would be EXCELLENT in my area for babysitting(Provo, UT).

[wednesday]

Originally Posted by fallriverfox

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

: A 5% annual raise has been very typical in my experience.

[C.Arden]

I like the idea of a 5% raise along with a modest gift card. If I were in that line of work, I'd be happy with that

[hipmummy]

As a nanny, for fifteen + years not including the years of babysitting, I think her rate is great for a babysitter/Nanny. That being said .50 is a tough one. I am not sure where you live as a Nanny I made 18 and hour with all the bennys. >50 may not seem a lot, but it adds up. my suggestion would be similar to one of the pp aand give a gift card but not to the mall or anything like that. Give a gas card #1 because fuel cost are so high and a bonus check. Explain why you are doing it and I am sure she will be morethan happy. I thinkyou said that she works three afternoons per week. I would guess it averages 12 hours a week, maybe more so that would give your 312$ for the year so give her 4 50$ gas cards and then a hundred dollar AMex gift check or give her a very large gas card. One family let me have there mobil card for the year and it was great. I did not abuse it and only filled up with it every other fill up. Good luck. PM me if you need any more ideas. I have many.

[~Megan~]

I wish I got paid $12/hr to babysit for you! I think she's got a good deal going on. The raise sounds reasonable to me.

[dharmamama]

A 50-cent raise is a 4% raise. To me, that doesn't really come across as a "we love you so much and really want to keep you" raise. Which is fine, if that's not what you're intending. Maybe you're just intending to give her a raise because you said you would. But honestly, if she's been with you a year and you really want to hold onto her, I'd say go with $1.

dm

[phathui5]

I think .50 an hour is a decent raise for a nanny.

[mtm]

If you are worried about the amount, write her a note telling her how much you appreciate her and how good she is with your dc.

[kaylee18]

Are you asking whether a 50 cent an hour raise would be insulting, like giving a $1 tip to a restaurant server for a $15 meal? I assure you, it isn't. It doesn't make a huge statement about how you feel, but it isn't a pittance, either. In my line of work, that amount of a raise for an hourly worker is in the area between standard and generous.

Inflation is another consideration, though. You might want to look at what the percentage of inflation was this last year (maybe 2%?). Remember that adjusting pay up for inflation is not technically a raise at all.