Does your occasional care sitter have a cancelation policy?

[Anonymous]

We've had the same babysitter going on five years now. She's great. 31, clear criminal and drug background check, non-smoker, has her own transportation, up-to-date on shots. Child care is pretty much her career; has a nanny position but also files and pays taxes on her side families' hours as an independent contractor. Have had her over for date nights, overnights, etc.

Before the Pandemic, she didn't have a cancelation policy but did and does continue to have a four hour minimum for all care dates.
Since Covid, she made a 48hr cancelation policy where if a parent needs to cancel within 48hrs hours, she'd receive 4 hours of pay, regardless of what the cancelation is for; sick/ have Covid/needing to quarantine, weather, event/venue itself canceling, etc. If she ever has to cancel for any reason, she expects $0.

I think this is fair, otherwise, she'd never get hours and always be canceled on in this Pandemic time. A friend asked for sitter referrals so I let her know about mine and included her policy. She thinks it's completely unreasonable and money hungry of the sitter, which really took me aback but I stand firmly on understanding the sitter's perspective.

So, curious if yours has any polices in regards to cancelations as well?

[Anonymous]

I think it's very unusual for an occasional babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's very unusual for an occasional babysitter.

This. But she might be worth it - that’s your call.

[Anonymous]

Hey, time is money. If I order a cake or book a venue, there's a non-refundable deposit to hold the date.Too many people think sitters are just working for "fun money."

[Anonymous]

If this is her business, and she’s able to provide solid references and is up front about her policy, then I think it’s totally reasonable.

A high school kid? I might not agree.

[Anonymous]

Yes it’s fair and standard with good babysitters. She keeps those four hours for you and most likely turns down other jobs. 48 hour cancellation policy is more than fair.

Consider it from her point of view. My hair stylist has the same policy. Our sitter doesn’t but we pay her her four hours regardless of when we cancel (even a week in advance).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've had the same babysitter going on five years now. She's great. 31, clear criminal and drug background check, non-smoker, has her own transportation, up-to-date on shots. Child care is pretty much her career; has a nanny position but also files and pays taxes on her side families' hours as an independent contractor. Have had her over for date nights, overnights, etc.

Before the Pandemic, she didn't have a cancelation policy but did and does continue to have a four hour minimum for all care dates.
Since Covid, she made a 48hr cancelation policy where if a parent needs to cancel within 48hrs hours, she'd receive 4 hours of pay, regardless of what the cancelation is for; sick/ have Covid/needing to quarantine, weather, event/venue itself canceling, etc. If she ever has to cancel for any reason, she expects $0.

I think this is fair, otherwise, she'd never get hours and always be canceled on in this Pandemic time. A friend asked for sitter referrals so I let her know about mine and included her policy. She thinks it's completely unreasonable and money hungry of the sitter, which really took me aback but I stand firmly on understanding the sitter's perspective.

So, curious if yours has any polices in regards to cancelations as well?

Ha ha! I love “money hungry of the sitter”. Yes, because they are rolling in dough.

It’s a fair policy and your friend is a creep.

[Anonymous]

It’s unusual but completely understandable and smart on her.

[Anonymous]

Don’t ever give your friends a sitters information, ask the friend if they want you to give your info to the sitter. You shouldn’t have been playing middle man in any of this. MYOB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t ever give your friends a sitters information, ask the friend if they want you to give your info to the sitter. You shouldn’t have been playing middle man in any of this. MYOB

OP here. Slow your roll. My sitter gave me the go-ahead years ago to refer her to other families looking for care but I still would never give out her number without checking with her first and giving key info (location, age and number of children, etc) to see if she's interested.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t it make you think less of your friend, OP? Calling a hard working woman “money hungry” and unreasonable stinks of entitlement and deep character flaws in your friend.

Our sitter is our nanny and although she has never stated her policy, we absolutely pay her when we have to cancel. It’s sad your sitter had to state a cancellation policy. Clearly parents cancelled on her last minute and she lost needed income.

[Anonymous]

Your friend is a bit*h. Spoiled bit*h.

[Anonymous]

Ours doesn’t have an official policy but if we had to cancel, I would expect to pay.

We recently switched dates and the concert we were going to got cancelled because a band member got Covid. We were just going to cancel but decided we have to pay her anyways so we went out for dinner instead of the concert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t it make you think less of your friend, OP? Calling a hard working woman “money hungry” and unreasonable stinks of entitlement and deep character flaws in your friend.

Our sitter is our nanny and although she has never stated her policy, we absolutely pay her when we have to cancel. It’s sad your sitter had to state a cancellation policy. Clearly parents cancelled on her last minute and she lost needed income. [/quote


+1. Your friend showed her true colors. Team nanny-babysitter here.

[Anonymous]

I love that your sitter is doing this. We always paid our sitter at least 50% if we canceled less than 24hrs for weekend gig. They’ve turned down other jobs and personal plans to set the time aside for you. With pandemic I think the 48 hours cancel fee is very reasonable.