Guaranteed Schedule Equals Guaranteed Pay
A guaranteed schedule means no work cancellations, no pay cuts — and it also ensures the nanny receives her normal wages even when she is not working.
One of the worst situations for a nanny is receiving a reduced paycheck because the family took a vacation. The worst surprise for a family is their nanny leaving — and most of the time, this happens when her income becomes unstable.
With a guaranteed schedule, the nanny is promised her regular wages for the following events, whether she works or not:
Paid personal days and jury duty
Paid sick days
Paid holidays
Paid nanny vacation days
Days when the family is away and the nanny is not needed
Times when parents send the nanny home early
Nannies have their own households to maintain, too. When they leave work, they go home to do laundry, cook, clean, shop for groceries, and often care for their own children, partners, or aging parents. They have rent or mortgage, utilities, credit card payments, insurance, medical bills, personal needs, vehicle expenses, and unexpected emergencies — just like any other professional.
When parents do not provide fair and consistent pay, nannies can quickly fall into debt. Some must rely on credit cards to meet basic living expenses.
Clarifying Weekly Pay
The employment agreement should clearly state how and when a nanny will be paid, and the employer must honor the compensation clause as written. If a payroll company is used, the nanny should be informed before the job begins whether the first week’s wages will be paid at the end of that week or delayed to the following paycheck.
Without this clarification, misunderstandings can occur. A nanny expecting to be paid weekly might be surprised to learn that her first week’s pay is withheld by the payroll system, creating unnecessary financial strain.
In my recent experience, this lack of upfront explanation led to a dispute over whether a first‑week payment was part of my contracted salary or considered an “advance” to be repaid. This situation could have been avoided entirely with clear communication from the start.
Families: Be transparent and respectful about payroll procedures. It is your responsibility to compensate your employee for completed work. Never refer to a nanny’s wages as a “loan,” and never frame payment for labor as “help.”
Nannies: Document every minute you work after each shift. By the end of the week, you may be surprised how much extra time has been given — and you deserve compensation for all of it.
