How to bring up the topic of end-of-year bonuses
![How to bring up the topic of end-of-year bonuses]()
How nannies, house cleaners and home care workers can talk about best practices for end-of-year bonuses with their employers
How nannies, house cleaners and home care workers can talk about best practices for end-of-year bonuses with their employers
NDWA and our partner organization, Hand in Hand: the Domestic Employer Network, have released the 2023 guide to year-end bonuses and annual raises for all employers of nannies, housecleaners and home care workers. For 2023, we recommend:
✅ A wage increase of 3-5% to account for inflation and the increased cost of living – or more, if the employer did not give a raise last year, when our recommendation was 8%.
✅ A year-end bonus of at least 1-2 weeks’ pay (or for house cleaners, the pay for 1-2 cleanings).
✅ Guaranteed pay, even if the employer’s schedule changes during the holidays.
✅ At least 2 weeks of paid vacation, to be taken at any time of the year.
There’s never a bad time to ask for a raise, but the end of the year is a particularly good one! While it should be the employer’s responsibility to offer these things, here are some tips for how nannies, house cleaners and home care workers can give them a nudge.
Subject: Domestic employers’ 2023 guide to annual raises and year-end bonuses
Dear [Employer’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. As the year comes to a close, I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to work with you and your family over the past (insert number of years of months). I have genuinely enjoyed being a part of this household and feel grateful to work for you.
I want to make sure you have seen the 2023 guide to annual raises and year-end bonuses that was recently released by Hand in Hand, the Domestic Employers Network, together with the National Domestic Workers Alliance. The main recommendations in the guide are that employers provide a 3-5% cost of living adjustment this year (or more, in the case that a raise wasn’t offered last year), plus a year-end bonus of 1-2 weeks’ pay. The guide also includes some useful recommendations around paid time off, holiday scheduling and more. I hope you’ll take a look! You can download it here: ndwa.us/bonuses
I understand that budget considerations may play a role in whether or not you’ll be able to adopt Hand in Hand and NDWA’s recommendations. I would welcome a conversation with you about this.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to be a part of your household. I hope you enjoy the holidays and we all have a happy and fulfilling new year.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Avoid busy periods or stressful moments, such as during work hours or when they are managing other responsibilities.
Begin the conversation by emphasizing the positive working relationship you have with your employer. Acknowledge the trust your employer has placed in you and lead with your commitment to your responsibilities.
Tell your employer that the guide to annual raises and year-end bonuses was produced by Hand in Hand, a national domestic employers’ organization, together with the National Domestic Workers Alliance. These recommendations are the industry standard. Explain that you hope your employer will join the thousands of other domestic employers all around the country who are using the guide.
If you’re meeting in person, be sure to print out the guide and hand it directly to your employer. The recommendations in the guide are:
✅ A wage increase of 3-5% to account for inflation and the increased cost of living – or more, if the employer did not give a raise last year, when our recommendation was 8%.
✅ A year-end bonus of at least 1-2 weeks’ pay (or the equivalent of the cost of 1-2 cleanings for housecleaners).
✅ Guaranteed pay and hours, even if the employer’s schedule changes during the holidays.
✅ At least 2 weeks of paid vacation time, to be taken at any time of the year.
You may wish to make additional requests that go beyond those recommendations. Think about what you want and need and be prepared to propose it!
Approach the conversation with flexibility and openness to negotiation. Your employer may have budget constraints or may want to discuss alternative forms of recognition, such as extra paid time off or additional benefits.
Maintain a professional demeanor throughout the discussion. Focus on the positive aspects of your work and how a bonus will acknowledge your efforts and a raise will reflect inflation and the rising cost of living.
After the conversation, send a follow-up email or text message to summarize your discussion. If your employer has agreed to a raise, make sure they put it in writing. If you don’t have a written contract with your employer, this can also be a good time to ask for one. Visit our contracts page to get a sample contract and tips on how to use it.