PARK SLOPE — Nannies in Park Slope make better money than the average New York City caregiver, but most don't receive the overtime pay required by state law, a new survey shows.
Nannies caring for neighborhood children make a median wage of $16 an hour — up from $15 in 2013, according to a survey released Thursday by the parenting resource group Park Slope Parents.
Citywide, median hourly pay for children's caregivers is $12.44, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many parents who took the survey said they pay their nannies above average wages because the nanny teaches their child a second language, or because they have "good chemistry" with the nanny.
One parent said they paid more because they want their nanny to "feel valued," while another declared, "We want to pay a fair, living wage and are able to."
But despite the talk of good intentions, the vast majority of Park Slope parents fail to follow basic employment rules.
► 88 percent of nannies don't receive legally required overtime pay. State law says nannies are supposed to receive overtime pay that's 1.5 times greater than their regular hourly rate when they work more than 40 hours a week.
While 64 percent of families said their nannies work more than 40 hours a week, most of them — 88 percent — pay the same rate for the extra hours.
► 58 percent of families pay their nannies completely off the books. That's an improvement since 2008, when 79 percent did. Nannies paid under the table aren't eligible for unemployment benefits if their jobs ended, and can't receive worker's compensation if they're injured on the job.
Despite those failings, families provide some perks to nannies.
► 87 percent of nannies receive a yearly bonus, typically one week's pay.
► Most get a full day's pay even if they're dismissed early, and most get cab fare home after dark.
Park Slope Parents founder Susan Fox said the survey results showed improvements in some areas.
"One of my takeaways is that more people are signing work agreements — that's up 20 percent since 2008," Fox said. "That's really good news because that means there are more things going down on paper."
Fox said the survey also showed that more parents were aware of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, the state law passed in 2010 to ensure rights such as overtime pay for nannies.
Many parents are unaware of the law and in 2014 the group Hand in Hand launched an awareness campaign to educate families about the law.
