Our caregiver’s hours were cut back this year because my kids are now both in school. Do I still give her the same holiday bonus? I know she depends on it, but we also have a more limited budget and she is working less. Is there a fair compromise I can make?

It depends on when you cut back her hours. If it was in the last quarter of the year and she worked full-time until then, I’d give her the full bonus. If she worked her new limited schedule for most of the year, you could say, “Since you started working half-days in march, we reduced your bonus by 30 percent (or whatever).” By making it as mathematical as possible, you avoid letting it reflect any implied dissatisfaction. In addition to the smaller-than-usual bonus, you could throw in a little something else—chocolates, a small gift card—to soften the blow.