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Can you believe it’s only 5 days to go until Christmas? We wanted to celebrate the season of goodwill with a slightly different post today, on the way we show appreciation to our nannies over the festive period.
We understand how your nanny becomes a much-loved part of the family and you may be wondering what to buy them for Christmas.
So what is a suitable gift for a nanny? A small present? A bonus? Worry not!
We have polled over 100 nannies in and around London to see what they received from their employers over the Christmas period, this year and last year.
About 60-70% of nannies received a gift from their employer. The number was a bit lower this year, but that’s likely due to the timing of the polling. Some families haven’t shared their gifts yet.
Store gift cards are very common, in particular, John Lewis cards are very popular and also much appreciated by nannies. Other options for gift cards are Treatwell and the coffee chains (Starbucks, Costa, Nero). Chocolates and cosmetics, from makeup to perfumes are also often on the list as are jumpers or some other pieces of warm clothing.
We also heard of some very creative choices for a gift! One of the more unusual being a DNA test from 23andme.
Some parents opt to give cash instead (e.g. £100 to £200), but what does that mean for Christmas bonuses you may ask?
Based on myTamarin‘s annual survey, about 10% of nannies receive a Christmas bonus in addition to also receiving a gift.
One nanny mentioned ‘I always get a bonus and a small gift, such as champagne or chocolate. I also got a ticket to visit a gin distillery one year.’ Another nanny said ‘I never get a bonus and I wouldn’t expect one. I’m more than happy to receive meaningful words in a card and a small gift to show their appreciation.’ In fact, the just-feeling-appreciated theme came up a lot with the nannies we spoke to.
So you may decide this year to give your nanny a bonus, but are unsure what an appropriate amount would be?
For the nannies we spoke with who did receive a bonus, the amount greatly varied from ½ a week’s wage to one month’s salary depending on how long the nanny has been working for the family. Overall, the most common bonuses were between £200 and £500, while a few nannies reported a bonus of £1000 or more several years ago.
The most heartwarming thing we came across was that nearly every nanny admitted the only thing they ever really wanted for Christmas is family appreciation, so a nice word or a thoughtful card will go a long way.
It’s also important to point out that the nannies we spoke to buy gifts for their employers too! One nanny touchingly stated, ‘I don’t expect anything but when you are a nanny and caring for these kids every single day you become part of their family and how could I therefore NOT buy them anything as I would my own family members?’ Whilst another said ‘Last year I bought them a personalised mat for their front door’. Pretty cool, heh?
Nannies ultimately see themselves as part of the family and it’s nice to feel valued. Whether you decide to do that with a small gift, a bonus or by showing appreciation for the hard work they do, it’s up to you!
Tamarins are monkeys who parent in family groups – like a village – helping each other while children are small.
Are you ready to join our village?
Parents sign up here to begin your nanny search.
Nannies sign up here to find your next family. Alternatively, you can send your CV to hello@mytamarin.com and we will be in touch!
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