I've requested this before, but I'm looking for some more info. My husband will be deployed for a year, so we've decided I will have a room-mate/ part-time nanny to help out with childcare when I have to work on call (3-4 times a month) or have other "child-free" commitments (a few hours once or twice a week). I have had one interview so far, and I was pretty impressed. I just have no idea what to pay her! I figured room & board are part of the salary, but how much is that worth? I see her becoming part of the family, not just an employee, so she would not need to provide herself any food, and would have free use of the laundry and "entertainment", etc. This girl in particular is not going to school right now and does not have another job (although either of these would be okay - we would work a schedule around it). I am thinking $360 a month (that's how much I pay day care for about 30 hours a week), and then any other work (childcare, help around the house, etc.) would be covered by the room and board. Does this sound like it's in the ball park? I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks!
How often are you one call? You said you called in a few times a month, but are you on call more often then that and just not called in? I ask because if you are on call, then so is she, meaning she can not make other plans. This should be taken in to consideration when figuring out how many hours she is actually working for you.
We have hosted international college students and they pay $525 a month for using the whole house and five days of food. This also covers the utilities. If you add up what you would normally pay a care giver by the hour and then subtract that amount, you might be closer.
Au pairs get paid $176 per week, but they don't have to pay any bill etc. They work up to 45 hours a week. But the weekly cost including the fees for agency (also covers au pair's flight, insurance etc.) is about $320 per week. You pay $360 a month - that is a cheap day care. How many hours a week is this for if you don't mind me asking?
J.,
I do not know the appropriate salary to give her, However in my opinion $360 a month is too low! If you do the math, you are essentially paying her $19 a day 5 days a week?????
I understand that the room and board is included but I would look at that as a bonus of sorts for her having to be on call. I know money is tight for everyone but if you could, I would bump that salary up a bit more. You say you want her to become part of the family and thats great but your including her in family fun time isnt going to pay her bills...and on that note I do not think you should be taking into account what her private bills are when deciding how much to pay her. I think you should do some more research, maybe a call a nanny service and ask some questions....all I know is that I would want the person responsible for taking care of my child at any and all hours of the day to be happy not bitter.---I am sure there are websites out there that could give you some answers...have you googled it?
K.
It depends on how much she is caring for the child and what her other responsibilities will be. (You said she will watch your child while you work on call. However is that once a week, or 5 nights a week? Are your child free commitments for a few hours a day, or just a few hours on the weekend?) Will she do the child's laundry, clean the house, etc? It also depends on what things you will provide her. For example, will you buy her food?
Also, you should not pay her based on her bills. It does not matter if she has no bills, or she has huge debt. You pay her based on the job she is doing.
I think you need to post more information for people to be able to respond and help you. :)
I thank your husband - and your family - for making these hard decisions and sacrifices to keep our country safe.
