Traveling with Your Nanny: Pay, Expenses, and What Los Angeles Families Need to Know
Taking your nanny on a family vacation is common in the LA market, particularly for longer trips or international travel. Done right, it works well for everyone. Done wrong, with unclear expectations about pay, expenses, and time off, it creates friction fast. Here is how to structure it properly.
Quick Answer
Taking your nanny on a family vacation is common in the LA market, particularly for longer trips or international travel. Done right, it works well for everyone. Done wrong, with unclear expectations about pay, expenses, and time off, it creates friction fast. Here is how to structure it properly.
Taking your nanny on a family vacation is common in the LA market, particularly for longer trips or international travel. Done right, it works well for everyone. Done wrong, with unclear expectations about pay, expenses, and time off, it creates friction fast. Here is how to structure it properly.
Quick answer: Your nanny is paid for all hours worked and all travel time. All trip expenses are covered by you. Downtime (time they are not working and free to do as they choose) is generally unpaid, but all on-call time is paid. Get the schedule and expectations in writing before you go.Is travel time paid work time?
Yes. Under California law, time spent traveling as part of a work trip, flights, transfers, ground transportation, is compensable work time if the travel takes place during normal work hours or requires the employee to be away from home overnight. Your nanny's travel to and from your destination is paid at their normal hourly rate.
This is a common surprise for families. A five-hour flight that falls during normal work hours is five hours of paid time.
What expenses are you responsible for?
All of them. Your nanny should never be personally out of pocket for a trip they are taking to work for you. This includes:
- Flights or ground transportation
- Accommodation (their own room, not sharing with children)
- Meals during work hours
- Any entry fees, transportation, or costs incurred while working (e.g., taking the children to an activity)
Their own personal meals and activities during off-duty time are their own expense. But anything tied to their work responsibilities is yours.
What about downtime, evenings, rest days?
Time when your nanny is genuinely off duty and free to do whatever they choose does not need to be compensated. But "on call" time, where they need to be available in case you need them, is compensable. The line matters.
Be specific before you leave: "You are off from 7pm each night unless we call on you" is clear. "Just be available" is not, and creates pay disputes. If you need flexibility, structure it as a daily on-call rate for those hours.
California overtime applies on the road too
California's daily and weekly overtime rules do not pause because you are in another state or country. If your nanny works more than 8 hours in a day while traveling, overtime applies. Extended work days during travel are common, plan for this in the budget.
What about international travel?
Same principles apply. Budget carefully, international trips with long workdays can run significantly higher than expected once overtime is factored in. Passport and any travel documentation the nanny needs for the trip are your responsibility to arrange and fund.
If your nanny does not have a passport, build in enough lead time for them to get one. You can offer to cover the cost as part of the trip, it is standard practice.
How to set expectations before you go
Put it in writing. A simple travel addendum to the work agreement covering: daily work schedule, off-duty hours, expense coverage, how overtime will be tracked, and what happens if plans change. This takes 20 minutes and prevents almost every dispute that comes up mid-trip.
What if the nanny does not want to travel?
They are entitled to decline. Travel is not an implied part of a standard nanny role, if it is a regular requirement of the job, it should be in the original work agreement. Springing a three-week international trip on someone who signed up for a local role is not reasonable.
If travel is likely to be part of your arrangements, be upfront about it in the hiring process. Candidates who enjoy travel, and there are many, will self-select in.
Los Angeles Nannies
Looking for a nanny who is comfortable with travel?
We match families with candidates who fit their lifestyle, including families who travel frequently. We also help structure work agreements that address travel clearly from day one.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I give my nanny a raise?
Annual raises are standard. In Los Angeles, experienced nannies typically receive $1 to $2 per hour annually or 3 to 5% of their current rate. If their pay has fallen below market rate, a one-time adjustment to market followed by annual increments is appropriate.
What is the most common reason nannies leave?
Pay that has not kept pace with market rates, scope creep without compensation adjustment, consistent boundary violations like routine overtime or last-minute schedule changes, and feeling that their work is not acknowledged. Most of these are preventable.
How do I handle a disagreement with my nanny?
Address it directly and privately, as soon as possible. Be specific about the behavior you observed, not a character judgment. Most nannies respond well to direct, respectful feedback. Letting issues build without addressing them is the most common source of sudden resignations.
Should I give my nanny paid vacation?
California requires a minimum of 5 paid sick days per year. Paid vacation is not legally required but is standard for long-term placements in Los Angeles. Most families offer one to two weeks of paid vacation after one year. Accrued vacation must be paid out upon termination.
How do I prevent nanny burnout?
Define the role clearly, maintain reasonable and predictable hours, give advance notice for schedule changes, recognize good work specifically and regularly, and conduct structured check-ins where the nanny can raise concerns safely. Burnout builds slowly from accumulated small things, not one dramatic event.
What should I do if my nanny and child are not bonding?
Most children take two to four weeks to warm up to a new nanny. If there is no genuine connection by six weeks, have a direct conversation about what you are observing and what they can try differently. If the pattern continues, involve your placement agency before the guarantee window expires.
How do I keep a great nanny long-term?
Competitive pay, consistent communication, clear boundaries, and genuine appreciation are the biggest factors. Annual raises (3 to 5% is standard), acknowledging milestones, and giving adequate notice of schedule changes all contribute to long-term retention.
When should I give my nanny a raise?
Annually is the standard. A 3 to 5% increase is typical; more if their responsibilities have expanded or the market rate has moved. Cost of living in Los Angeles means staying competitive is important to retain experienced candidates.
What are the signs of nanny burnout?
Reduced engagement with the children, increased sick days, shorter communication, arriving late or leaving early. Burnout often stems from unclear expectations, insufficient breaks, or feeling undervalued. Early conversations usually resolve it before it becomes a resignation.
How do I handle disagreements with my nanny professionally?
Address issues directly and early rather than letting them build. Use a private setting, focus on specific behaviors not character, and listen to their perspective. Many families benefit from a written work agreement that covers expectations in advance.
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