Should I Give My Nanny A Holiday Bonus?

Your nanny may be fairly new to your family, or perhaps they’ve been holding a special place in your hearts for years now, but regardless of how long they’ve been a part of the family, it’s likely that you’ll have them in mind when it comes time to purchase holiday gifts this year. It can be stressful to come up with a list of all the special people you need to buy gifts for, and it tends to become even more stressful when you start thinking of what to buy for these people to show them how much they mean to you. So you’re moving down the list and feeling confident about what to get your family members and close friends, but then you come across your nanny’s name and think,

“What on EARTH do I get for my nanny?!”

Here’s the short answer: It is customary in the nanny industry for nannies to receive a holiday bonus or end-of-year bonus of one to two weeks’ pay.

This industry standard can be dependent on a number of factors, of course: your nanny’s length of service, where you live, job performance, the financial means of your family, etc. Some families opt to give one week’s pay for the nanny’s first year and two weeks’ pay for the second year and beyond.

And if your nanny is relatively new, you might consider a smaller bonus (i.e. one day’s pay per month of service) or a different token of appreciation.

However, as bonuses are not required, nannies should not expect them. If you choose not to provide a holiday bonus to your nanny based on performance decisions, you will need to set aside time to sit down with them so that you can explain your reasoning. This is a great time for an “end-of-year review” and a chance to begin the new year with fresh expectations and goals.

If you simply cannot afford a bonus for your nanny, they will be very appreciative of a conversation about the decision, especially if larger bonuses have been given to them in years past. Openness and honesty go a long way here!

If money is feeling a bit tight this year and you still want to be able to show your appreciation for your nanny somehow, there are some smaller gifts you can consider:

Does your nanny have a favorite store for getting all their comfy nanny clothes? Do they come in to work with coffee every day? Do they frequent a specific nail salon or love a local restaurant? A generous gift or gift card from their favorite store, coffee shop, or spa, along with a handmade craft from the kids is another, more personal way to show your nanny the appreciation they deserve.

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During the holiday season, it is important to remember that the relationship between a nanny and a family is very special and unique. Nannies do the behind-the-scenes work that makes all other work possible, and taking the time to recognize that will only serve to strengthen your relationship. Regardless of the monetary value of the gift, your nanny should always feel appreciated because:

“A person who feels appreciated, will always do more than what is expected.”

Happy Holidays from the Nanny Harmony Team!

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Nanny Harmony is a well-established, premier nanny placement agency, based in Chicago and also offering services in New York. We take immense pride in our extensive community network and in our proven ability to find extraordinary matches between families and passionate, experienced nannies, household managers, and Newborn Care Specialists. To begin the process, fill out a family application here.