What is the min you will work on a split shift in the morning ?

[Anonymous]

So i have been working part time for a family (one of two i work for) for a year and four months now. Last year i worked for them one morning a week 7 am - 845 am and was paid for two hours. Then go back in again at 2 for 4 more hours. This year due to school start change the only need someone 720 am - 8 am , they have been adding in an extra morning here or there as well sometimes in advance and sometimes last minutes. They will ask me to do a morning shift the night before and i sometimes work laste for the second family i nanny part time so have had to say no and the dad can stay the extra 40 mins no problem.

I am thinking of giving notice bc of this problem , What is usally the lowest number of hours you will go in for ? Also if the dad is home on vactation (day before thanksgiving , day after xmass ) they will not pay me at all even though i work every Wednesday. I really like the girls i work with but my bills don't go away because they are home for vaction time and due to my other job i dont really have time to make up the hours.

Would you suggest i talk to them and see if they will agree to not have me work mornings (its hard bc the other family has me work til 1 am occasionally and then they want me in for 720 so up before 7 for a 40 minute shift. ) Or should i just start the job search ?

i am the first person they have hired to watch there children besides family so maybe they just dont know , but one would think she is a nurse and he is a higher up at a colllege they would have some common sense and think my bills dont go away bc they are on vacation.

Thanks for any advice

[Anonymous]

It would depend on how long my commute was - my standard minimum is four hours, but I would consider working for a family that was very close to me (5-10 min. away) that wanted me for two hours in the morning. Less than that just isn't worth it to me.

I think you should begin the job search AND talk to them - that way if they're on board with your requests, you're good to stay, and if not, you've already laid the groundwork for finding a new position. I worked for some VERY smart people who had no concept of how to employ a nanny (a lot of what we consider common sense doesn't occur to first-time parents/nanny employers) so hopefully once they hear you out they'll realize they hadn't fully considered your position and will be able to find a solution for you both.

[Anonymous]

Personally I wouldn't do it for anything less than 2 hours. The 40 minutes they have you coming in for wouldn't be worth my time.

If you decide to talk to them I would not mention working late nights for the other family. Your schedule with the other family is between you and that family. Only you can decide how to piece together a work schedule with two p/t families. It shouldn't be used as an excuse for dropping the one morning. The late night can factor into your decision, but giving it as a reason for wanting to drop the morning with the one family may make that family feel that you don't value your position with them as much as the other family.

[Anonymous]

2 hours should be the minimum otherwise it's not quite worth your time and energy.

I would approach the parents and let them know that you need a guarantee of hours even if its a holiday or if you aren't required to work on a given day. They should respect the fact that you are an adult and have bills to pay.

If this arrangement isn't working out for you, just be honest and let them know you need more hours and stability.

Wish you the best!

[Anonymous]

Mine is 2 hours except for one position I took on, it's for 60-90 minutes (they pay for 90 no matter what). I took that because it fit with my other PT job I have that day, I leave one and go straight to the other and I am already close by (15 minutes with bus and walking). I make $30 for that one day per week, whether they need more or not.

ALL of my PT positions are actually guaranteed hours, with a 2-3 hour minimum. I don't do early morning hours, because I don't like it and I hate to do split shifts like that. I also have a set schedule for the most part, there is no parents coming home at 1am if I needed to get up early the next morning. Occasionally I will stay late, either set up in advance or due to traffic (like today, MB was home 30 minutes late but called to let me know). They ASK me if I want to work more, and how late I can. They don't TELL me or come home late without notice.

I just wouldn't be able to work with either of those families if they are having you work extremely late like that (assuming that it's a weeknight) or asking you to come in for 40 minutes in the morning - last minute -when you normally don't even work. All parents I know will sometimes run into an early meeting that they suddenly need coverage that normally doesn't happen, but they usually know more than a few days in advance for these, or won't assume that you can do it.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others about a 2 hour min for a shift to be worth my time. You should look for a new job. Also, jobs that are part time, or very part time, usually don't have paid vacation or holidays. The day after Christmas isn't even a holiday, so you need to set your expectations properly if you are looking for a new situation.