Payments and Perks for Nannies in the UK

Nannies working in the United Kingdom should receive a fair wage for their labour and many receive a number of perks as well. This holds true regardless of whether a nanny is live in or live out, though the perks are generally proportional to the amount of time a nanny works for the family per week and has been with the family. At no time should perks be considered a form of payment, nor should they ever take the place of an agreed upon wage. For more information on working as, or employing, a nanny in the United Kingdom contact the Professional Association of Nanny Nurses.

Payment for Nannies

Payment for nannies depends upon whether they are live in or live out. All nanny salaries must conform to national minimum wage standards, and employers should pay tax and National Insurance for the nanny as needed. Very often a nanny's salary is broken down into weekly sums. For live in nannies, average weekly wages are such that nannies in central London make the highest amount (over £300), followed by nannies in other areas of London and the surrounding counties (approximately £280), followed by nannies in the rest of the country (approximately £260). For live out nannies, nannies in central London again make the highest amount (approximately £400), followed by nannies in other areas of London and the surrounding counties (approximately £350), followed by nannies in the rest of the country (approximately £300).

Perks for Nannies

Live in nannies could be considered to have the greatest perks, given that their accommodation and food is taken care of for them. However, all nannies share a number of similar perks. Flexible hours, a limited number of children to care for, setting their own rules and being able to work relatively unsupervised are all perks that come with most nanny jobs. Nannies also have access to their employers' homes and utilities, many have access to a car provided by the employer or transportation costs covered by the employer, many have access to country clubs or social clubs provided by the employer, and many travel with their employers as needed. Mobile phones and other communication devices are also fairly standard nanny perks. Some nannies even work in a household in which there are other employees such as cooks and drivers who may be at the disposal. Being given extra time off when a parent is home, having an amount of "kitty" money that they can count on and being praised for their work are also perks of being a nanny. At the holidays, nannies are usually also gifted with an appropriate bonus or holiday present. On the more abstract side, enjoyment of the work, personal fulfillment and self-satisfaction also rank high as perks of being a nanny.

Being a nanny is a tough job and it certainly doesn't suit everyone. Nannies take on a lot of responsibility, so their payment and perks should reflect this. Employers should remember that childcare is limited right now and good nannies have a lot of options. Offering a competitive salary and a number of perks is one way to enticing great nannies - and being a decent, fair and respectful employer is another.