$16/hour for 2 year and newborn... Acceptable?

[Anonymous]

A few hours ago, I was contacted by the nanny agency I am with and they asked if I was available for a temporary job (2 weeks 8:30a-6:30p M-F = 50 hrs/week while mom is still home on maternity leave ) Agency told me very minimum details and I asked exactly how old was the infant and when 2 year old go to pre-school, just trying to get an idea of what the schedule would look like, agency said they would call me back once they gathered more info. I was called 2 hours later without the infants age and when the toddler went to school. I asked if I would be compensated more since I'd have both children regardless of mom being home. Apparently, the agency was trying to persuade me that my primary duties were to ONLY care for the 2 year old and then care for the infant when the 2 year old was in pre-school 3 days a week. Am I crazy for asking for more?? I feel like if it was so "easy" mom wouldn't need anyone, she's on maternity leave so she isn't working. I think at least $19/hour would be better especially for just 2 weeks of work. In the end, agency kept trying to persuade me and when I told the agency I couldn't accept the offer, I was hung up on. This is an agency, they have multiple nannies who are readily available and will take the offer; Why is so wrong for me to pass on this opportunity? Families contact them multiple times a week needing last minute care so I am sure someone will need me within a week.

Please share your feedback !! Thanks

[Anonymous]

That "agency" sounds awful.
The infant is obviously a newborn if the mom is home on maternity leave. Under 4 months old.

If you'd get OT pay for anything past 40 hours, it doesn't sound like a bad offer. If you don't want the job then you don't want the job. But $19 is excessive.

[Anonymous]

17:46 again
It could very well be that you'll only have the 2 year old. At that age, infants spend most of their time sleeping or eating. Assuming mom is BFing, you won't have much time with the infant.
When the 2 year old is in preschool (I'd assume 2-3 mornings/week), the mom might want to shower, nap, or run errands. Which is why you'd have the infant.

And even though she's on maternity leave, the mom could very well still spend some time working, depending on her job.

[Anonymous]

The agency is disorganized. I would not trust them if I were you. Look around for better ones.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 17:46, this is why I asked for opinions because I am not trying to get over, but from experience, parents will say that I'd only have 1 child to get me in the door, but have me care for 2 to pay the 1 child rate.. So I was basing this off of that. I also have another family who asked if i was available for 3 days next week, I've known them for 2 years. I'd rather know what I'm getting into before rejecting a job from a family that I trust which is why I asked to be compensated more, I never told the agency the higher rate but $19/hr would have been it if she asked. I would not be paid overtime, just $16/hour.

19:51 I agree, after today's run in, I will look into another agency.

[Anonymous]

What you were being offered was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you were being offered was fine.

Maybe for you it is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks 17:46, this is why I asked for opinions because I am not trying to get over, but from experience, parents will say that I'd only have 1 child to get me in the door, but have me care for 2 to pay the 1 child rate.. So I was basing this off of that. I also have another family who asked if i was available for 3 days next week, I've known them for 2 years. I'd rather know what I'm getting into before rejecting a job from a family that I trust which is why I asked to be compensated more, I never told the agency the higher rate but $19/hr would have been it if she asked. I would not be paid overtime, just $16/hour.

19:51 I agree, after today's run in, I will look into another agency.

17:46 again. It makes sense why you'd be cautious after your past experiences.
The part I put in bold is illegal and I'd run the other direction. I'd also drop that agency.

[Anonymous]

$16/hr for two kids isn't a terrible wage, but what is terrible is the way the agency behaved! I would probably try to see if there was anyone higher up in the agency who you could tell about this, especially getting hung up on! Don't hesitate to move on from them.

[Anonymous]

OP, clearly this agency is poor. I feel for the parents on the other side if this is the way their search is being handled!

FWIW, I don't think $16 is a low wage for the job you're describing, but you can't even fairly assess the employers given how the agency is behaving.

A shame.

[Anonymous]

$16 is probably fine for this job. We don't know how experienced this nanny is, if she is more experienced, then she should probably get more. But it is an average salary for an average nanny.

[Anonymous]

I think it is very unprofessional for an agency to actually hang up on you OP.

Report them to the BBB and as well as give them one star on Yelp.