Many parents rely on a nanny for overnight and weekend care to guarantee the best attention for their children.
These caregivers seamlessly blend into our family unit, stepping in to care for our young ones in our absence.
But what happens when we need nannies to work during these extended hours and how can we compensate them accordingly? Let’s dive deep into understanding the costs associated with these extended hours.
How much should parents pay their nannies for extended time and why?
1. Paying Time and a Half for Extended Hours
Like any profession, nannies are entitled to fair wages for their work. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) stipulates that any employee working over 40 hours a week should be compensated at a rate of time and a half. This ensures that the nanny is being paid fairly for putting in those extra hours, especially when those hours stretch over a weekend.
Think about it – if you ask your full-time nanny to work through the weekend, that means they are working 14 days straight without a break. Compensate them for the toll of all the emotional, physical, and mental labor.
If you are calling in a weekend nanny and asking them to work the entire weekend, that is still potentially 48 hours of their lives where they are on call, without breaks, to ensure your little ones and happy, healthy, and safe.
2. The Overnight Fee – More than Just a Night’s Stay
As 2021, the average overnight fee for nannies in the U.S. ranges between $100 to $200, on top of their standard hourly rate. It typically handles the moment your child is in bed until the time the child wakes up, or the moments when the nanny isn’t “physically” working. It instead covers the mental and emotional labor of the caregiver.
Many parents have expressed that they think an overnight fee is an overboard fee because the children are sleeping – so what work is the nanny performing?
Well, setting aside cases of children waking up in the middle of the night and needing care, or older children staying up later than their bed time, or sick children needing attention, there is the comfort knowing that your nanny is on call to handle a potential burglary, fire, or child related hazard. Just because they kids are in bed, doesn’t mean the nanny isn’t performing essential safety measures and mental work to keep your home harmonious.
Additionally, an overnight fee isn’t just about compensating for the hours worked but also for the disruption it brings to the nanny’s life. Having to stay overnight means giving up the comforts of their home, their personal time, and, in some cases, their privacy. This fee is designed to cover the inconvenience of being ‘on call’ during sleeping hours and away from their family, pets, and personal routines.
Asking them to stay overnight or work during the weekends without adequate compensation is disruptive to their job and their personal lives.
3. A Luxury, Not an Obligation
It’s essential to recognize that having a nanny available during the weekends or overnight is a luxury. Most “normal” jobs don’t expect this kind of commitment without proper compensation. We must acknowledge the uniqueness of a nanny’s role and the sacrifices they make to ensure our children’s safety and happiness.
Communication is key – but get it done BEFOREHAND.
Before expecting your nanny to work over the weekend or stay overnight, discuss the associated fees, and ensure that they’re comfortable with the arrangement. When you come to an agreement, include the details in your Nanny Working Agreement and Contract to avoid uncomfortable conversations and potential resentment on both ends.
Recognizing and compensating them fairly not only shows your appreciation for their dedication but also fosters a harmonious working relationship. It makes it a little easier for them to give up a chunk of their lives so that you may live yours.
To the nannies reading this…
…know your worth and ensure you’re being compensated fairly. You play an invaluable role in many families, and your sacrifices and dedication deserve proper recognition and remuneration. You do not perform a “normal” job and you should be compensated as such.
Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay
