10 Tricks Nannies Can Use to Get a Raise

When you ask your boss for a raise, it can be a terrifying experience. Now, just imagine if you were a nanny. Some nannies don’t want to ask for a raise outright, so they may try a few tricks to get you on the right path. Here are 10 tricks to encourage you to make a move in that direction.

1. Adoration – There’s nothing a parent enjoys hearing more than how wonderful, beautiful and intelligent their children are. Continually praising your children and your parenting skills may be playing to your ego in order to encourage a raise in pay.
2. Compliance – Never complain about the children or the job. If your nanny has no complaints, concerns or even suggestions regarding the daily routine or the behavior of the children, she may be hoping her willingness to accept any and all working conditions may earn her a bump in pay.
3. Extras – Going above and beyond what is required. Doing the little extra things, like dishes, laundry, shopping, etc.; things that have not been asked of her or expected of her. This could be a ploy to guilt you into paying her more for extra services that you never requested in the first place.
4. Complimentary – Oh, how well you (the parent) look today; so pretty and young! Flattery doesn’t work with everyone, but it is a weakness some individuals. A nanny who wants to gain extra favor in your eyes may give this tactic a try.
5. Investigate – Nosing through your personal financials when you’re not around- to see how much you really can afford to pay- is another ploy an unscrupulous nanny might use. If you suspect this to be the case, a dismissal might be in order rather than a raise.
6. Manipulation – Using the children to encourage a raise for their nanny by telling them how difficult it is to live on the wages they are making is another tactic of a nanny who does not have the welfare of her charges as her first priority.
7. Indispensability – Of course the idea that you just cannot live without your nanny, and attempts to convince you of this, could be a ruse to get you to pay a higher wage. For some nannies, this might be true, but in most cases no one is indispensable.
8. Subtle Whining – Complaining that other nannies, which are less proficient or dependable, seem to make more money and are appreciated more is another way of strongly hinting for a raise.
9. Subtle Threats – “I just may have to leave because I can’t make ends meet in this job.” Your nanny knew what the salary was going to be when you hired her. You may need to remind her of that. Know the difference between a threat and a genuine need however. Have her circumstances changed since she took the job?
10. Blackmail – Getting information on one parent and using them against the other parent in order to get a raise goes beyond what we’d call trickery; this is out and out blackmail and should not be tolerated.

Providing clear guidelines as to when and how raises will be determined as part of your employment agreement is the best way to avoid these types on passive-aggressive tactics. Always remember that being a nanny is a hard job, and one that should engender respect and admiration, so pay accordingly.

Taken From Hire a Nanny