The Seattle Nanny Parent Connection recently put out their yearly report on wages, pay and benefit practices for nannies in the puget sound region. Reports like this one are so important to share the current practices of nannies employers in our region. Although some of our employment practices are governed by labor laws, many are not, and so it is necessary to establish best practices for regional standards for people who employ nannies, and other workers in their homes. This survey shows some positive gains for nannies in the Pacific Northwest, and it also shows where we still have ways to improve. This is particularly true when it comes to the benefits that are essential to all workers, but are sometimes hard to know how to provide to nannies and other domestic workers.
While we recommend reading the full report, below are some highlights:
- The average pay for a nanny with 1 child is $26–$28 per hour.
- The average search time for parents/ guardians to hire a nanny is usually 1 month.
- The majority of nannies surveyed were hired to focus only on childcare. Their job responsibilities do NOT include other tasks like light housekeeping, transportation, or meal prep.
- 74.1% of nannies surveyed were being paid on the books
- 77.7 % of nannies surveyed said that they were given benefits by employers
It was great to see that so many employers are providing some kind of benefits for workers. Most of us know, from our own reliance on benefits like sick days, paid time off, and health insurance are things that we and our families absolutely rely on to stay healthy and alive. Medical debt is the cause of over 60% of bankruptcies in the US and is deeply tied to housing insecurity, and other critical issues. Of those benefits the majority of nannies receive some form of paid sick leave, guaranteed hours, paid federal holidays and paid time off, which are essential benefits to have. Unfortunately only about 35% received a healthcare or medical stipend. For so many of us, healthcare is a benefit for our families that we refuse to go without. Nannies deserve to be able to demand the same for themselves and their families, but that is very difficult in an industry where it is not the standard.
“As a professional nanny, I understand first-hand the importance of having health insurance. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us all of the essential nature of our job and the importance of staying healthy to be able to provide the care and support families rely on. However, many of us nannies have struggled to maintain our health insurance coverage, putting our health and financial well-being at risk. By offering health insurance, parents not only provide essential support to their nannies but also demonstrate that they value their employee’s health and well-being.” -Edy Dominguez, Seattle Nanny Collective
Many employers want to help with medical benefits but don’t know how. Hand in Hand is here to help! Here are some tips for ways to provide these essential benefits to workers.
