Am I responsible for my babysitter's broken car glass?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She sounds immature. I'm surprised she would ask. I'm not trying to be insulting, just honest. I've been a nanny a long time. I see driving and parking at work as my own responsibility. If I worked for a large company and someone broke the glass in my car while it sat at work, why would I expect my job to be responsible for that? I chose to accept the job and I choose to drive my car to work and park it there. None of that is the NF's responsibility. It's part of owning a car, having a job, and going to work. It's called grown-up life. Even if it's a lot of money for her, it's part of life.

So true.

There is no need for the NF to pay anything as it is not their responsibility. I'd be cautious of PP's suggestions to pay half out of some good will because doing that just encourages the nanny's immature and unrealistic expectations of what the NF owes her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'd be asking is what did she have in plain view that caused someone to break the window and risk being caught. Ask her what was stolen and I bet she left her purse, ipod, iPad, laptop, something of that nature in plain view. No one breaks a window unless they know there's a quick payoff.

OP says in the first post that nothing was stolen.

sounds fishy. not even the side view mirror hit, just the window...?...

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing - half is a nice gesture yes, but it also sets a very bad precedent - next its a flat tire, a broken mirror, and cracked iphone screen etc - I might instead tell her you'll provide a one time bonus of XX amount that she can choose to do whatever with - and I'd make it clear you aren't covering this again and she needs better insurance.

[Anonymous]

No, you are not supposed to pay for her broken glass. Legally, morally, you are not obligated. However, if she did ask, you can pay for half as a good gesture if you want to keep working with her. I would think twice about hiring someone who asks employer to be responsible for random accidents, however.

[Anonymous]

Found your babysitter! http://isawyournanny.blogspot.com/2015/05/broken-mirror-while-babysitting.html?m=1

[Anonymous]

If I'm required to have my car there to transport your children, it will be in the contract that any damage within working hours that is *not* my fault is paid by the employer. I don't need a car for myself, so if I have to purchase one to use for a position? There's no way I would be paying for that glass, that or I would pay for it to be fixed, sell it, and the family can provide a work vehicle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Found your babysitter! http://isawyournanny.blogspot.com/2015/05/broken-mirror-while-babysitting.html?m=1

Wow good find ! Op don't pay her anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No you are not "responsible." This could have happened anywhere, to anyone.
If you already pay her gas money or the IRS rate then you are paying for "wear and tear," gas AND INSURANCE premiums. Not your fault if she picked a policy with low premiums and super high ($1k is super high, usually is $250 or $500) deductible.
Did she even shop around to see how much the window replacement costs? Bet it is less than $1k and she shouldn't even horse around with her krappy insurance's claim.

Agree.
If OP goes along the route of control buying something, she should call around a few places for quotes in replacing windows and offer half of what it actually costs. It is NOT $1k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found your babysitter! http://isawyournanny.blogspot.com/2015/05/broken-mirror-while-babysitting.html?m=1

Wow good find ! Op don't pay her anything

Except that's a driver side rear-view mirror, not a window.

[Anonymous]

Ah, babysitter, not nanny, date night, now I see the distinction. Nanny's vehicle and required for work would definitely be NF rasponsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She sounds immature. I'm surprised she would ask. I'm not trying to be insulting, just honest. I've been a nanny a long time. I see driving and parking at work as my own responsibility. If I worked for a large company and someone broke the glass in my car while it sat at work, why would I expect my job to be responsible for that? I chose to accept the job and I choose to drive my car to work and park it there. None of that is the NF's responsibility. It's part of owning a car, having a job, and going to work. It's called grown-up life. Even if it's a lot of money for her, it's part of life.

I wrote the quote above. I thought she did not need her car while on the job. If they require her to have a car on the job for driving the child(ren), then that's a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I'm required to have my car there to transport your children, it will be in the contract that any damage within working hours that is *not* my fault is paid by the employer. I don't need a car for myself, so if I have to purchase one to use for a position? There's no way I would be paying for that glass, that or I would pay for it to be fixed, sell it, and the family can provide a work vehicle.

Good luck with that. I'd never allow that language in the contract. It's ridiculous to think an employer should pay if your car happens to be broken into while parked at the library. The IRS rate is sufficient to cover gas, wear and tear and insurance for using your car on the job. It's your responsibility, as an adult, to sufficiently insure your vehicle.

If you don't like it, don't take a job that requires you to have a vehicle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm required to have my car there to transport your children, it will be in the contract that any damage within working hours that is *not* my fault is paid by the employer. I don't need a car for myself, so if I have to purchase one to use for a position? There's no way I would be paying for that glass, that or I would pay for it to be fixed, sell it, and the family can provide a work vehicle.

Good luck with that. I'd never allow that language in the contract. It's ridiculous to think an employer should pay if your car happens to be broken into while parked at the library. The IRS rate is sufficient to cover gas, wear and tear and insurance for using your car on the job. It's your responsibility, as an adult, to sufficiently insure your vehicle.

If you don't like it, don't take a job that requires you to have a vehicle.

That's why I don't take a job that requires driving too many drama .

[Anonymous]

No, the IRS rate was NOT tailored for damage by untamed children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'm required to have my car there to transport your children, it will be in the contract that any damage within working hours that is *not* my fault is paid by the employer. I don't need a car for myself, so if I have to purchase one to use for a position? There's no way I would be paying for that glass, that or I would pay for it to be fixed, sell it, and the family can provide a work vehicle.

Good luck with that. I'd never allow that language in the contract. It's ridiculous to think an employer should pay if your car happens to be broken into while parked at the library. The IRS rate is sufficient to cover gas, wear and tear and insurance for using your car on the job. It's your responsibility, as an adult, to sufficiently insure your vehicle.

If you don't like it, don't take a job that requires you to have a vehicle.

Or take a job where the family provides one, yep, done.