Adjusting hours - wwyd?

[Anonymous]

I've been with this family for 3 years and this has never come up before, so I don't know what I should do.

A little background - the parents are divorced and the kids spend about 4 weeks at their dads house (in another state) during the summer.
I'm off during that time (and paid).
During the school year I work a split shift (before and after school, so 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon)
I work extra hours here and there and get paid for every hour outside of my "base hours."

Last night I got a text from my MB telling me she would like to adjust the hours for the no camp weeks.
She asked me to work 2-6p.m. instead of 7-9a.m. and then 4-6p.m.
I said ok, because honestly these hours work better for me anyway - I can sleep in and I don't have to drive to work twice a day.
But now I'm thinking that it might be the beginning of a job creep.
I get that she won't need me in the morning because the kids are old enough to be in the house by themselves and they will probably sleep until noon.

Normally I would tell her that those two hours between 2 and 4 were outside of our agreed hours and she would have to pay me for them.
But it's so hard in this case, because I will be off all July and paid for doing nothing. That's a lot of vacation time.

Wwyd?
On one hand I want to help her and just make it easier for her, but then I'm afraid if I do, she will start "adjusting hours" for random days that she is off or whatever.
I guess it's too late now, because I already said I would do it.

Have any of you been in this situation before?

I have to admit that this has never happened before - if I wasn't needed in the morning, I didn't have to make up that time later in the day.
It's a new situation and don't know how to deal with it.

[Anonymous]

I think that if you have 3 years of history with this family, of them being fair and straightforward and generous (a month of paid leave during the summer!), and that the MB asked to adjust your schedule during the no camp weeks, that this seems fine.

It reads like you are looking for suspicious intent, when you only have a great track record thus far in an extended tenure.

See this out and then see if she starts wanting to change things regularly. I think it's at least a solid bet that she won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that if you have 3 years of history with this family, of them being fair and straightforward and generous (a month of paid leave during the summer!), and that the MB asked to adjust your schedule during the no camp weeks, that this seems fine.

It reads like you are looking for suspicious intent, when you only have a great track record thus far in an extended tenure.

See this out and then see if she starts wanting to change things regularly. I think it's at least a solid bet that she won't.

OP here.
I hope you're right.

There was one situation I just remembered that happened maybe 2 years ago - not quite the same, but this is what happened.
One of the children was sick and I stayed home with her all day.
MB came home at 4. Remember my regular hours are 7-9 and then 4-6. So if I stay home with a child all day, the hours between 9 and 4 count as extras.
When she was paying me at the end of the week, she seemed a little confused and tried to pay me for 5 extra hours instead of 7, claiming she came home 2 hours early.
I explained to her that those were my guaranteed hours and anything outside of them was extra and I had to be paid for them. She agreed and I got paid.

[Anonymous]

How is that job creep? She is asking you to change your hours and will pay you for them. She is not asking you to scrub the toilets. Quit, you sound like too much trouble for the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is that job creep? She is asking you to change your hours and will pay you for them. She is not asking you to scrub the toilets. Quit, you sound like too much trouble for the family.

You're right, but it sounds more like a troll post to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is that job creep? She is asking you to change your hours and will pay you for them. She is not asking you to scrub the toilets. Quit, you sound like too much trouble for the family.

OP here.
It's not a job creep yet, but isn't it how it usually starts?
For some people it starts with a mug left in the sink and for some they demand increased flexibility.
With my part time hours, anything extra counts. I have a dog-walking job during the day to supplement my income.
I'm a little upset that MB texted me that after 10 p.m. last night. I didn't see it until 6 a.m. this morning when I got up to get ready for work.
And it's effective immediately. I guess I'm just bothered by the last minute decisions. I still don't know when the camps are. I've been trying to find out from MB on Friday if the kids had any camps this week or next week. She said she didn't remember, even though she signed them up at the beginning of last week, so only a few days before I asked her.
Maybe it's a personality clash - they are ok with a last minute things and I like to know in advance so I can plan for it.

[Anonymous]

MB here- tell her it's fine, but you need to know definitively what date you will be going back to the old schedule 7-9am and 4-6pm, because you need to rearrange your schedule accordingly.

Don't balk at the 2-6, it works for you and saves you commute time. Don't be difficult for no reason, but absolutely tell her you need at least 2weeks (or however long is reasonable to you) advance notice in order to change your schedule around.

[Anonymous]

OP here again.

I guess this is the problem with families who have older kids - their needs are changing because the kids become independent so fast.
I need to keep this in mind for next year and right now I'm going to enjoy sleeping in during camp weeks (which should be only until the end of June and 2 weeks in August).
And I hope this "trading hours" situation won't happen on a regular basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here- tell her it's fine, but you need to know definitively what date you will be going back to the old schedule 7-9am and 4-6pm, because you need to rearrange your schedule accordingly.

Don't balk at the 2-6, it works for you and saves you commute time. Don't be difficult for no reason, but absolutely tell her you need at least 2weeks (or however long is reasonable to you) advance notice in order to change your schedule around.

OP here.
That's what I'm going to do.
I really don't mind helping her out and this 2-6 scenario works for a lot of reasons.

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

I'd love that 2-6 schedule. If it's something you like then just ask her if she needs that for the summer, or just these weeks. Then you'll have an idea. Just let her know you need some notice.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for an addendum to the contract saying from date X through date y base hours are from 2-6 and return to the split hours on date z.
I'm not a nanny but I would do this for mine if that was the case.

[Anonymous]

Next time there's a "last minute" change in your work hours, tell her you'll let her know tomorrow if you're able to reschedule your other commitments.

[Anonymous]

Just take it, since you said it's better for you. But then talk with her before school starts to nail down the new schedule.

[Anonymous]

Or just say no. She probably doesn't want you there while everyone is sleeping, and thought it would be an easier schedule for you. But if you're so paranoid that a family who has treated you well for 3 years would suddenly stop doing so, then, yes, I suggest you don't give them an opening to ask you about changing something with plenty of notice that works better for you in the future.

[Anonymous]

I would agree to do it for now since like you stated, works out better for you now anyway.

Plus a whole month of paid time off is a great deal!!

Just always have your guard up inside, knowing it is a possibility that she may ask for an hours change later down the road.

If you remain prepared, then she will not be able to catch you off guard again.

Good luck!