Does your occasional care sitter have a cancelation policy?

[Anonymous]

This is her job. If you book her for Saturday night. She’s counting on that $100 or whatever for her income. She has bills to pay. Some people will think it’s worth it, others not.

[Anonymous]

What I see here is again, the frustrating notation that caring for other peoples children is not true work, and certainly not work that demands a professional relationship and professional courtesies.

She sounds like he’s smart, and running her business in such a way to weed out clients who don’t take her time or efforts seriously. I would fully support someone like this, because she is also likely to give good care as to not jeopardize that business or reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I might be ok with this for my best sitter, who is truly exceptional. When I cancel with sitters I tend to book a rain check day - "let's do next week instead," etc.

So what? Your sitter still missed income for the day you canceled.

Y’all suck. If I cancel on anyone providing a service for me at a point where they can’t fill that time slot, I pay 100%. Based on folk’s reactions, I am clearly in the minority.

Does this include your Dr?

If I cancel a Dr's appointment after their STATED cancellation period, yes, I pay the stated fee they may charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I might be ok with this for my best sitter, who is truly exceptional. When I cancel with sitters I tend to book a rain check day - "let's do next week instead," etc.

So what? Your sitter still missed income for the day you canceled.

Y’all suck. If I cancel on anyone providing a service for me at a point where they can’t fill that time slot, I pay 100%. Based on folk’s reactions, I am clearly in the minority.

Does this include your Dr?

If I cancel a Dr's appointment after their STATED cancellation period, yes, I pay the stated fee they may charge.

Yep, this is listed in many offices now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I might be ok with this for my best sitter, who is truly exceptional. When I cancel with sitters I tend to book a rain check day - "let's do next week instead," etc.

So what? Your sitter still missed income for the day you canceled.

Y’all suck. If I cancel on anyone providing a service for me at a point where they can’t fill that time slot, I pay 100%. Based on folk’s reactions, I am clearly in the minority.

Does this include your Dr?

If I cancel a Dr's appointment after their STATED cancellation period, yes, I pay the stated fee they may charge.

Which is what? $20? Way less than your Dr would bill for should you have shown up. I guarantee you are not billed for the full appointment cost.

While your Dr may not be an hourly employee, they are likely compensated based on their productivity.

[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?

Your friend is cheap. Also, you should not give sitter's name and contact info without first asking her permission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I see here is again, the frustrating notation that caring for other peoples children is not true work, and certainly not work that demands a professional relationship and professional courtesies.

She sounds like he’s smart, and running her business in such a way to weed out clients who don’t take her time or efforts seriously. I would fully support someone like this, because she is also likely to give good care as to not jeopardize that business or reputation.

This. I used to do babysitting as an adult. I treated it like a part-time jon and took it as seriously as my full time job. To my families, I was worth my weight in gold.

If you want to use high schoolers, you can treat them however and they’ll probably just deal. But I was in high demand and could be picky because of that. I never wanted for jobs with great families who treated me with respect.

[Anonymous]

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

Why shouldn't she have such a requirement? Doctors have similar cancellation policies. I will never understand why so many people think they deserve the best childcare for the lowest price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I see here is again, the frustrating notation that caring for other peoples children is not true work, and certainly not work that demands a professional relationship and professional courtesies.

She sounds like he’s smart, and running her business in such a way to weed out clients who don’t take her time or efforts seriously. I would fully support someone like this, because she is also likely to give good care as to not jeopardize that business or reputation.

This. I used to do babysitting as an adult. I treated it like a part-time jon and took it as seriously as my full time job. To my families, I was worth my weight in gold.

If you want to use high schoolers, you can treat them however and they’ll probably just deal. But I was in high demand and could be picky because of that. I never wanted for jobs with great families who treated me with respect.

Ok. And if you end up sick the day before your colonoscopy, please remit $1500 to your Dr for his unfilled endoscopy room time. Otherwise you are cheap and don’t respect his time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having a cancellation policy is reasonable. But her particular cancellation policy is not reasonable. She is require 100% fee in exchange for zero work. Perhaps 50% if her minimum fee, but 100%, hard no. If I was your friend, I wouldn’t have criticized though- I’d say thank you and then keep looking for a different sitter

She very likely turned down other jobs because you had scheduled her for a particulate and hours. You can El and she is out the money she would have earned
You are cheap and entitled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly can't think of any service provider that I use for cleaning, hair, medspa, etc. that has a 100% service fee if you cancel. Babysitter asking for 4 hrs pay PLUS 48 hrs notice is extreme. Fine if you don't mind, but I do and wouldn't hire her.

I’m in one of those service professions and absolutely have a 100% late cancel policy for less than 24hr notice. If I can rebook the time or it’s a true emergency/illness I waive fee, but def case by case. It’s easier to rebook those services than sitting. 48hr seems reasonable to me, with the suggestion that if it’s due to illness it be 50% instead - inclusive of child illness - I don’t ask sitters to watch my barfy kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Your friend is cheap. Also, you should not give sitter's name and contact info without first asking her permission.

Someone didn't read through the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I see here is again, the frustrating notation that caring for other peoples children is not true work, and certainly not work that demands a professional relationship and professional courtesies.

She sounds like he’s smart, and running her business in such a way to weed out clients who don’t take her time or efforts seriously. I would fully support someone like this, because she is also likely to give good care as to not jeopardize that business or reputation.

This. I used to do babysitting as an adult. I treated it like a part-time jon and took it as seriously as my full time job. To my families, I was worth my weight in gold.

If you want to use high schoolers, you can treat them however and they’ll probably just deal. But I was in high demand and could be picky because of that. I never wanted for jobs with great families who treated me with respect.

Ok. And if you end up sick the day before your colonoscopy, please remit $1500 to your Dr for his unfilled endoscopy room time. Otherwise you are cheap and don’t respect his time

Oh drama llama….with the scoots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I might be ok with this for my best sitter, who is truly exceptional. When I cancel with sitters I tend to book a rain check day - "let's do next week instead," etc.

So what? Your sitter still missed income for the day you canceled.

Y’all suck. If I cancel on anyone providing a service for me at a point where they can’t fill that time slot, I pay 100%. Based on folk’s reactions, I am clearly in the minority.

Does this include your Dr?

If I cancel a Dr's appointment after their STATED cancellation period, yes, I pay the stated fee they may charge.

Which is what? $20? Way less than your Dr would bill for should you have shown up. I guarantee you are not billed for the full appointment cost.

While your Dr may not be an hourly employee, they are likely compensated based on their productivity.

Doctors and babysitters are apples and oranges. Babysitters are not bringing home half a million dollars a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I see here is again, the frustrating notation that caring for other peoples children is not true work, and certainly not work that demands a professional relationship and professional courtesies.

She sounds like he’s smart, and running her business in such a way to weed out clients who don’t take her time or efforts seriously. I would fully support someone like this, because she is also likely to give good care as to not jeopardize that business or reputation.

Thank you, well stated.