By Stacie Steelman
If you are like many families this year, 2020 has not been pretty on the bank account. We are turning the corner into the holidays and putting our minds around how and if to spend money on special meals, gifts, and holiday bonuses. The economy shut down has presented so many challenges for people from compensation cuts, to loss of employment. Industries have been tragically damaged throughout the Pandemic and this leaves us within a sensitive time when it comes to spending.
Typical standard bonuses:
- 1 week worth of pay on top of a normal paycheck is considered standard
- 2-3 weeks of additional pay is considered extremely generous
- Bonus pay PLUS a personal gift shows more meaning and especially appreciated
Additional or alternative ideas you can offer this year:
- If a compensation bonus has to be less or cannot be paid a personal note to explain or a sit-down conversation about what is going on that led to this decision is helpful.
- Consider having your children make something as a gift option
- Gift card for a grocery store for holiday dinner
- Cards from the whole family, even Grandparents if they are around
- Personal care gift cards such as a manicure or gift cards to a clothing store
- An extra week of paid vacation or additional Paid Time Off, it does not cost anything but your time
- Offer them the chance to have a “flexible” fully paid week where they take some days off early
- Buy them an online class for development
- Offer additional paid days off during the holidays or early days out
- Magazine subscriptions, they keep coming all year
- Make a family thank you video
- Order in Door Dash for them for lunch
- Offer an annual Birthday Paid Time Off day
- One week or a few days of meal delivery to their home
- Hang a Christmas stocking in your home with the nanny’s name and fill it with her favorite things
The most important thing to remember is that we are all going through the Pandemic and it has touched us in different ways. Allowing your human side to be seen goes a long way with your employees. It is important that as an employer you communicate to your Nanny or Care Provider and take an open approach to whatever you choose to do during these times. Regardless of what you can offer in bonuses or gifts, your employee will really appreciate knowing that they are an important part of the family.
Stacie Steelman,
CEO of Crunch Care
INA Treasurer
* THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL NANNY ASSOCIATION. THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG POST ARE INTENDED TO CONVEY GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR OPINIONS. THE CONTENTS OF THIS POST SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS, AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE IN ANY PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE OR FACT SITUATION. THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS POST MAY NOT REFLECT THE MOST CURRENT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS. NO ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST THE INA DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY IN RESPECT TO ACTIONS TAKEN OR NOT TAKEN BASED ON ANY OR ALL OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS POST TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. THE INTERNATIONAL NANNY ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS THAT AN ATTORNEY SHOULD BE CONTACTED FOR ADVICE ON SPECIFIC LEGAL ISSUES.