DB shortchanged me AGAIN!

[Anonymous]

For the second time in three weeks, this DB has shortchanged me on my part-time pay! I only work for this family one day a week and the first time I was shortchanged by eight dollars and yesterday it was by four dollars. These are not simply math errors - he is either paying me literally by the minute or purposely shortchanging me thinking I won't notice. All times prior to these last three weeks the MB paid me (I've had this gig for four months).

Yesterday was the clincher. They initially booked me to work 8 to 4. Then, on Thursday, told me they only needed me from 9 to 4. Fine. I was at their home at nine and they arrived home with the child at 9:15 - and he paid me from 9:15 to 4:00!!!

Congrats, cheapskate - you just lost the best sitter you are ever going to find to save four dollars. I will NEVER work for this family again. I emailed the parents when I got home last night (when I counted my pay) and told them I will not be available to work for them again. No other explanation - they do not deserve one.

[Anonymous]

What your DB did is what we Irish call "a foolish economy". I'd do the same if I were in your shoes, OP. Quit and don't look back.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations for standing up and doing the RIGHT thing.
You get the NANNY of the Day award.

[Anonymous]

Bravo! I hate people like that in general and would never work for them.

[Anonymous]

I remember you posted here about feeling foolish about being upset that you were shortchanged eight dollars and the majority of responses told you to forget about it/let it go.

Good advice or not, you were able to see fairly conclusively what d*cks you've been working for. Find a better job - If I'm remembering correctly you are a nursing student, right? You will have NO problem finding another part-time position!

[Anonymous]

They booked you from 9-4 and paid you for 9:15 - 4? So just tell him "When I got home yesterday I realized you accidentally didn't pay me for the first quarter hour I worked."

Maybe he just doesn't realize - some people have never had an employee before. Way to give the benefit of the doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They booked you from 9-4 and paid you for 9:15 - 4? So just tell him "When I got home yesterday I realized you accidentally didn't pay me for the first quarter hour I worked."

Maybe he just doesn't realize - some people have never had an employee before. Way to give the benefit of the doubt.

I'm not the OP but this is not the first time this has happened. She gave "the benefit of the doubt" with the first eight dollars - only a fool would give it the second time. And honestly, we can assume he's been an employee before - even if he's never been an employer - and I doubt he's put up with being shortchanged two out of three times!

[Anonymous]

I likely would also be pissed, and wouldn't work for them again, BUT I don't recall if you ever said anything to them about your expectations last time.

You gave them the benefit of the doubt last time, but did you ever speak up to say, "Hey DB/MB, in the future, if you choose to book me for a specific block of time, I ask that you please pay me for that entire block. If you choose to book for an unspecified amount of time, I have a X hour minimum. My policy is to accept cancellations, or changes to your booking, up to 24 hours in advanced, but within 24 hours, I will ask to be paid in full for the number of hours that I set aside for you." Obviously, you can nice it up however you like, but you get the point.

If you in fact, got mad last time, let it go, and never spoke to him about it, I'm not sure why you're surprised that he did it again. You essentially told him it was acceptable. We teach others how to treat us by the behavior we accept.

[Anonymous]

I didn't read the entire thread about the 8 dollars, but did she speak to them about the eight dollars? They are not mind readers. They might not have known there was an error.

And emailing them without an explanation? What good does that do ANYONE? They need to know why you won't be working for them. Since you chose to not tell them, for all they know you picked up a different job for more hours.

Silly and short sighted, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read the entire thread about the 8 dollars, but did she speak to them about the eight dollars? They are not mind readers. They might not have known there was an error.

And emailing them without an explanation? What good does that do ANYONE? They need to know why you won't be working for them. Since you chose to not tell them, for all they know you picked up a different job for more hours.

Silly and short sighted, OP.

Again - he underpaid her two out of three times! Two out of three. He doesn't need to be a mind reader to do simple math! How could he possibly make a mistake in simple calculations two times out of three?!!!

I say you did the right thing, OP. You probably have another job by now (less than 24 hours later...)

[Anonymous]

You absolutely did the right thing, OP. Screw telling them why you quit - the DB would only deny shortchanging you or say it was a mistake and you were being over-sensitive. And of course, MB would have to agree with her ass of a husband. You can not prove you were shortchanged since you did not count the money right in front of them but, like any polite person, you trusted them and counted the cash when you were at home. I'd have done the exact same thing.

Besides, it is not your job to instruct and educate the parents. You did you job and you were cheated. I wish you the very best in finding a new job!

[Anonymous]

Rich people don't often get rich by always being honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You absolutely did the right thing, OP. Screw telling them why you quit - the DB would only deny shortchanging you or say it was a mistake and you were being over-sensitive. And of course, MB would have to agree with her ass of a husband. You can not prove you were shortchanged since you did not count the money right in front of them but, like any polite person, you trusted them and counted the cash when you were at home. I'd have done the exact same thing.

Besides, it is not your job to instruct and educate the parents. You did you job and you were cheated. I wish you the very best in finding a new job!

The only person she is screwing, by not telling them why she quit, is the next unfortunate sitter. Next time you find yourself dealing with clueless parents, you can thank their last sitter who never spoke up. You say its not your job to educate them, but if you don't, who will? Idiots, all of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You absolutely did the right thing, OP. Screw telling them why you quit - the DB would only deny shortchanging you or say it was a mistake and you were being over-sensitive. And of course, MB would have to agree with her ass of a husband. You can not prove you were shortchanged since you did not count the money right in front of them but, like any polite person, you trusted them and counted the cash when you were at home. I'd have done the exact same thing.

Besides, it is not your job to instruct and educate the parents. You did you job and you were cheated. I wish you the very best in finding a new job!

The only person she is screwing, by not telling them why she quit, is the next unfortunate sitter. Next time you find yourself dealing with clueless parents, you can thank their last sitter who never spoke up. You say its not your job to educate them, but if you don't, who will? Idiots, all of you.

Seriously, we are "idiots" for not telling our former employers that they were cheating us - but the cheating employers have no responsibility here?! LOL

Does an adult really need to be told to pay a person what they are owed? Didn't you all get that "education" in grammar school?

[Anonymous]

Hi, again - and thank you to those you who gave me your support. To those who think I'm an idiot... what can I say? I'm sorry you feel that way.

My former MB did email me back and wrote that she was "devastated" that I won't be taking care of T___ anymore and she hoped that it wasn't anything J___ or she had said or done to cause me to terminate. She did not ask me a direct question and I feel no need to respond to her email. Sorry if some disagree with this but I won't change my mind - I feel I am doing the right thing.

I went to the job center at my university and lined up two interviews for a new part-time sitter job - one tomorrow and one on Monday afternoon. I'm fairly sure in my telephone conversation with both potential MBs that one of these will work out for me. It seems to be quite the fad now to hire a "baby nurse" for newborns (or in my case a "student baby nurse")

After I graduate in May 2015, I will most likely end up working in a peds unit of a hospital. Maybe go on to get my masters. But I have to say that I will never forget all that I have learned from taking care of other people's children in other people's homes over the last few years. I have the greatest respect for full time nannies. It takes a very loving and good woman to care for another woman's child as their own. I hope someday to have my own children and I can promise you all I will be one of the good MBs and never forget how hard it was to do your job.