Need Opinions: Employers offer no transportation home

[Anonymous]

Before I get flamed re title, let me explain. I work with a family that isn't the best match but its a temp job until my regular MB is off maternity leave. On regular work days I always take care of my own transportation, as any adult should. However, I've babysat on weekend nights ( days I didn't work) until very late. Last night my employers were later than they said and didn't get home until 1am. Instead of offering to get me a taxi, I had to take walk and take a subway. I saw DB staring out the door, saying something to MB, possibly about me heading in the direction of the subway. The last time I had to wait outside for a bus to come and while they both saw me waiting outside at 11:30pm, they turned off their lights and went to bed. I know many people are different but I am used employers at least offering for me to wait inside for a ride or offering to get a taxi when its that late on the night. I live in NYC and isn't always the safest for a young woman to our alone at that time. I do drive but there is very little parking by work and no one drives much here. They seem to not care about my safety, whatsoever. Flame away or add if you agree that employers should offer to get a taxi?

[Anonymous]

I'll bite. I'm an MB and find this ridiculous. Your employers should offer to pay for a taxi if you are coming in on your day off and staying that late. If it wasnt temporary I would quit. I suggest you not babysit late nights or make them aware that you travel alone at that time and how unsafe it is. I would never allow my nanny to walk or take a subway at 1am and we live in a safe neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I expect adult babysitters to take care of their own transportation or refuse an evening sitting job. If you were a high school sitter, that would be different, but you are an adult.

Why can't you call a cab if you are in the rare area of NYC where cabs are not plentiful? Why can't you call Uber?

[Anonymous]

Next time they ask you to babysit tell them you would love to, but just can't afford the cost of taxis and don't feel safe walking and taking the subway after 11pm.

[Anonymous]

In the future, simply decline any requests that involve you having to leave late, telling them you do not feel comfortable or safe walking alone at night.

If they really want you to baby-sit, then they will offer to pay for a taxi before you accept the babysitting gig.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I expect adult babysitters to take care of their own transportation or refuse an evening sitting job. If you were a high school sitter, that would be different, but you are an adult.

Why can't you call a cab if you are in the rare area of NYC where cabs are not plentiful? Why can't you call Uber?

Have you taken a cab recently? Do you know how expensive they are? A cab could very easily eat up everything she made babysitting that night.

[Anonymous]

Just tell them about your time restraints. I mean, you can ask them to pay for uber or a taxi, but I would be fully prepared for them to find another babysitter.

I'll also be honest, I'm 28 and live in the city and have no problem taking public transportation late at night by myself. Most of my friends do it too. I don't really blame the parents for not realizing you are uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

I expect adult babysitters to take care of their own transportation or refuse an evening sitting job. If you were a high school sitter, that would be different, but you are an adult.

Why can't you call a cab if you are in the rare area of NYC where cabs are not plentiful? Why can't you call Uber?


Have you taken a cab recently? Do you know how expensive they are? A cab could very easily eat up everything she made babysitting that night.

I take cabs all the time. I know how expensive they are. If a cab seriously eats up everything she made, then she needs to take jobs closer to home or closer to the subway or bus to make sure she can get home safely and save money. It's unfair to expect that on top of her rate, she is also expecting parents to pay for her apparently expensive commute.

This situation is OP's responsibility, not the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before I get flamed re title, let me explain. I work with a family that isn't the best match but its a temp job until my regular MB is off maternity leave. On regular work days I always take care of my own transportation, as any adult should. However, I've babysat on weekend nights ( days I didn't work) until very late. Last night my employers were later than they said and didn't get home until 1am. Instead of offering to get me a taxi, I had to take walk and take a subway. I saw DB staring out the door, saying something to MB, possibly about me heading in the direction of the subway. The last time I had to wait outside for a bus to come and while they both saw me waiting outside at 11:30pm, they turned off their lights and went to bed. I know many people are different but I am used employers at least offering for me to wait inside for a ride or offering to get a taxi when its that late on the night. I live in NYC and isn't always the safest for a young woman to our alone at that time. I do drive but there is very little parking by work and no one drives much here. They seem to not care about my safety, whatsoever. Flame away or add if you agree that employers should offer to get a taxi?

I do understand that its my responsibility but taxis are expensive. I am 20 and I don't feel comfortable going home that late by myself.

[Anonymous]

You shouldn't have taken the job then. If you knew there was little parking for your car (though why can't you just park farther away?? I've parked over half a mile away for some jobs that don't have parking). If you know they are going to be home later then a certain public transportation, why take the job. yes its temporary but that's something you should have considered. If you took this job you need to figure out the transportation part and if that means walking to the subway, waiting for the bus, or paying for a cab that is on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You shouldn't have taken the job then. If you knew there was little parking for your car (though why can't you just park farther away?? I've parked over half a mile away for some jobs that don't have parking). If you know they are going to be home later then a certain public transportation, why take the job. yes its temporary but that's something you should have considered. If you took this job you need to figure out the transportation part and if that means walking to the subway, waiting for the bus, or paying for a cab that is on you.

In the daytime I don't mind the walking. I agreed to both babysitting jobs because I already work for them. Both times they were suppose to be home at a decent hour for me to get home and both times they were 1-2 hours late. The whole reason this family isn't a good fit is because their manners. MB will be late and give no apologies. I can't wait for this position to end.

[Anonymous]

I think your error is in expecting them to offer something (which they clearly aren't, right or wrong).

Next time they ask you need to say "I'd love to babysit but I really don't feel comfortable taking mass transit home at that hour of the night. The last couple of times I've been quite uneasy waiting alone for the bus and having to transfer, etc... Is it possible for you to include cab fare home, or give me a ride?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the future, simply decline any requests that involve you having to leave late, telling them you do not feel comfortable or safe walking alone at night.

If they really want you to baby-sit, then they will offer to pay for a taxi before you accept the babysitting gig.

This. It sounds like they aren't the most considerate people, I would never expect our nanny to walk and take the subway late at night BUT they aren't mind readers so if you aren't comfortable walking and taking the subway late at night tell them that and decline the job. It's not hard to say, "I'd be happy to babysit but unfortunately I'm not comfortable taking the subway after x time and I can't afford a taxi so if you are going to be home later than x time I will have to decline." If they want to come home later they should offer to pay your taxi fare.

[Anonymous]

OP, how old are you? If you're over 18, I'd personally assume you could take care of your own transportation arrangements.

Telling them it's too late to take the subway and that you can't afford a taxi smacks of someone who's not nearly responsible enough to babysit.

[Anonymous]

Next time they ask you to sit, say you'd love to but will need the cost of the cab ride included in your payment. Don't pose it as a question, don't expect them to draw a conclusion, and don't let people on here convince you that you're crazy. These are your terms, and there is nothing wrong with that. I feel similarly about parents that make me buy my own dinner while sitting for them. Your $50 job just became $30 because I had to order pizza, and now your job isn't worth it.

Parents who have trouble finding and keeping sitters, take note: it shouldn't cost your sitter money to sit for you.