Nannies:
How are you feeling?
Are you getting antsy?
Feeling like you’re being taken advantage of?
Do you deserve more?
Are you ready for a raise?
What’s the best way to ask for a raise?
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Know Your Worth – Get Paid the Amount You Deserve
Let’s start by finding out how much you should be making based on your experience and services. Check out the Nanny Rates Calculator in our Resource Page to find out how much you should be making. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Once you know what you’re worth. Own it! Don’t accept anything less than what you’re worth. That being said, don’t make an ultimatum unless you’re okay with moving on.
Keep things professional. As a nanny, we tend to know quite a bit about our nanny families. Even if you know about them, don’t bring up the families’ finances when asking for a raise. Making known that you know they “can afford it” is not the way to go.
When presenting reference numbers, lean on local nanny pay trends. For example, if the minimum wage in your area increased, use that increase as your barometer. If that happened, technically your base price also increases.
Don’t leave room for doubt. Let your confidence shine. Don’t use words like: might, believe, think, feel, just, or only. These words make you appear unsure of your worth and give them room to hesitate.
Get an idea of how much you could be making right now. Visit our Nanny Rates Calculator HERE.
When Should You Ask for a Raise?
Don’t just ask for one the moment it pops into your head. Thankfully, since you’re reading this, you probably didn’t do that. When asking for a raise, equally as important to what you say is when you say it.
Pick the best time for them. Consider when their low and high-income times are throughout the year.
Avoid asking around the holidays. As long as your nanny parents aren’t self-employed, try asking around their tax refund time. They will have just received some extra cash and won’t be as stressed about their spending.
Make time for this discussion. Because asking for a raise is really more like a conversation, don’t treat it the same as a passing question. Don’t ask one of them haphazardly as they rush out the door in the morning.
DO NOT REQUEST VIA TEXT!
Set aside time, without the kids present, that you can talk to both of the parents together. I like to schedule this time in my initial contract. In the area about performance reviews, I add in a bit about considering moderating payment to coincide with current performance. In a sense, I’m scheduling, in advance, when I plan on asking for a raise.
Keep in mind: When you’re asking for a raise, it’s best to talk about it a month prior to when you’d like the raise to start. This gives the parents time to adjust their budget as necessary.
How to Ask for a Raise
Now that you know your worth and have made a plan to discuss a raise, work on accomplishing something big! It’s best to ask for a raise after accomplishing something big to prove you deserve it.
You should be keeping track of your little ones’ milestones regardless of a raise. Every age has a few big ones –
- learning to crawl
- learning to walk
- learning animals sounds
- learning the alphabet
- writing their name
- learning to read their first full sentence
- learning to tie their shoes
- learning their multiplication chart
Try to do one of these or make a big step towards an even bigger milestone shortly before asking for a raise.
Practice what you will say.
Make sure to be confident! Ask for what you want! You deserve this! One of the best ways to come off confident, even if you’re nervous, is practice. Practice what you will say.
When you’re preparing what you will say, remember to keep your personal financial information to yourself. You simply need to present the reason you deserve a raise, how much it should be and when you expect it to start. They don’t need details on any other reason or financial explanation.
Be Prepared for “No”
When you’re preparing to ask for a raise, another thing you should prepare for is, “No”. Now may just not be the right time.
If you are told, “no”, be prepared to ask follow-up questions.
- When would be a better time to address your raise?
- Is there anything you’d like in the meanwhile?
- Would they consider doing a nanny share? Would they consider giving you more hours?
- Or fewer hours so you could work with other families?
Remember your worth! Don’t stay in a job that makes you miserable! You’re your own boss! Be your own advocate!
Next week, we’re going to be talking about one way to make you more valuable – Help make room for baby. I’ll see you on Friday! 🙂
