When do I start counting hours?

[Anonymous]

I recently picked up a temporary afternoon babysitting job. I pick the children up from pre-k and stay with them for a few hours 3x per week.
I have to arrive at their home to pick up car seats and install them in my car prior to picking the children up at 2:00pm. I arrive to do this around 1:30.
I got an email from the mother and she mentioned that I would be paid from 2:00, not 1:30. It should be from 1:30, yes?
I haven't responded to the email yet, but just want to make sure I'm correct on this.
Please don't be mean or nasty. This is an honest question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently picked up a temporary afternoon babysitting job. I pick the children up from pre-k and stay with them for a few hours 3x per week.
I have to arrive at their home to pick up car seats and install them in my car prior to picking the children up at 2:00pm. I arrive to do this around 1:30.
I got an email from the mother and she mentioned that I would be paid from 2:00, not 1:30. It should be from 1:30, yes?
I haven't responded to the email yet, but just want to make sure I'm correct on this.
Please don't be mean or nasty. This is an honest question.

Yes you should be paid from 1:30 since that's when you have to be at their house.

-an MB

[Anonymous]

Another MB. Yes, you need to be there at 1:30pm, so they should pay you from 1:30pm.

If they want to pay you starting at 2pm, they could always leave the car seats at pre-k. I wouldn't suggest this unless they absolutely refuse to pay you from 1:30, as its a bigger pain in the neck. But I know a lot of families do this at our preschool.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you. I emailed her and told her that I'd be happy to do this but she'd need to pay me from 1:30 on. If she has an issue with this, she can find a new sitter. I refuse to be nickel and dimed.

[Anonymous]

Another MB agreeing with the above. You should be paid from 1:30pm if that's when you need to be at their home.

[Anonymous]

Tell her that's fine if she wants you to keep the carseats, otherwise you start working for them at 1:30.

But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

You are joking, right? Nobody needs to buy several sets of car seats for every caregiver in the children's lives. First of all, those things are extremely expensive. Second of all, the landfills are filled with discarded crap that is still completely usable because people buy way more than they actually need. Borrowing instead of buying or buying used instead of buying new are really big concepts these days exactly for that reason. And third, why would the OP want to have the entire backseat of her car blocked all the time if she needs to use the seats only three times a week?

OP, you should be paid from 1.30pm because that's when you have to be at their house. What did the mom reply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

You are joking, right? Nobody needs to buy several sets of car seats for every caregiver in the children's lives. First of all, those things are extremely expensive. Second of all, the landfills are filled with discarded crap that is still completely usable because people buy way more than they actually need. Borrowing instead of buying or buying used instead of buying new are really big concepts these days exactly for that reason. And third, why would the OP want to have the entire backseat of her car blocked all the time if she needs to use the seats only three times a week?

OP, you should be paid from 1.30pm because that's when you have to be at their house. What did the mom reply?

She replied that it was an oversight on her part and that I "of course, should be paid from 1:30."

[Anonymous]

most people in this situation are paid a fix amount per day so are not counting minutes. some days you win, some days you lose, some days you don't even work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:most people in this situation are paid a fix amount per day so are not counting minutes. some days you win, some days you lose, some days you don't even work.

What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

You are joking, right? Nobody needs to buy several sets of car seats for every caregiver in the children's lives. First of all, those things are extremely expensive. Second of all, the landfills are filled with discarded crap that is still completely usable because people buy way more than they actually need. Borrowing instead of buying or buying used instead of buying new are really big concepts these days exactly for that reason. And third, why would the OP want to have the entire backseat of her car blocked all the time if she needs to use the seats only three times a week?

OP, you should be paid from 1.30pm because that's when you have to be at their house. What did the mom reply?

We have multiple cars seats per child and spares. If op does not mind, it is much easier and safer given if she gets the install wrong. We have them in each of our cars and grandparents cars for emergencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

You are joking, right? Nobody needs to buy several sets of car seats for every caregiver in the children's lives. First of all, those things are extremely expensive. Second of all, the landfills are filled with discarded crap that is still completely usable because people buy way more than they actually need. Borrowing instead of buying or buying used instead of buying new are really big concepts these days exactly for that reason. And third, why would the OP want to have the entire backseat of her car blocked all the time if she needs to use the seats only three times a week?

OP, you should be paid from 1.30pm because that's when you have to be at their house. What did the mom reply?

Outgrown car seats are something most people donate or sell, you don't throw them away. And the difficulty and hassle of installing car seats and the risk of someone half passing it in a hurry makes it worth buying multiples. The ones for your caregiver to shuttle the kids between home and school don't need to be $600.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

You are joking, right? Nobody needs to buy several sets of car seats for every caregiver in the children's lives. First of all, those things are extremely expensive. Second of all, the landfills are filled with discarded crap that is still completely usable because people buy way more than they actually need. Borrowing instead of buying or buying used instead of buying new are really big concepts these days exactly for that reason. And third, why would the OP want to have the entire backseat of her car blocked all the time if she needs to use the seats only three times a week?

OP, you should be paid from 1.30pm because that's when you have to be at their house. What did the mom reply?

She replied that it was an oversight on her part and that I "of course, should be paid from 1:30."

Hmm...."Oversight...??"

I smell a rat.

I think she is lying.

But whatever. Take this as a red flag OP. Just be careful in the future. This MB may not be the most honest person to work for plus she may try to nickel & dime you in future situations.

Keep your eyes open at all times and be smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But honestly that should have been a sign from the beginning. Any family that can't afford to buy extra carseats for their nanny/part-time babysitter is probably going to be annoying to work for. Plus installing carseats everyday is a real pain. I only took my charges seats out maybe once a month to use my backseat or clean out the car and I hated dealing with the seats.

You are joking, right? Nobody needs to buy several sets of car seats for every caregiver in the children's lives. First of all, those things are extremely expensive. Second of all, the landfills are filled with discarded crap that is still completely usable because people buy way more than they actually need. Borrowing instead of buying or buying used instead of buying new are really big concepts these days exactly for that reason. And third, why would the OP want to have the entire backseat of her car blocked all the time if she needs to use the seats only three times a week?

OP, you should be paid from 1.30pm because that's when you have to be at their house. What did the mom reply?

She replied that it was an oversight on her part and that I "of course, should be paid from 1:30."

Hmm...."Oversight...??"

I smell a rat.

I think she is lying.

But whatever. Take this as a red flag OP. Just be careful in the future. This MB may not be the most honest person to work for plus she may try to nickel & dime you in future situations.

Keep your eyes open at all times and be smart.

Oh for god's sake. The nanny emailed the MB and stated she needed to be paid. The MB replied, of course. Stop trying to make drama out everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:most people in this situation are paid a fix amount per day so are not counting minutes. some days you win, some days you lose, some days you don't even work.

What?

We pay our after-school nanny the same way. A daily rate. We pay $XYZ a day when she comes over - she gets the children at 2 or 3pm, watches them and finishes chores (does whatever items on the list for the day -start dinner, groceries, laundry, clean something specific, vacuum). Some days we get home at 6, other days we tell her ahead of time we are out until 8 or 9pm dinner. Same flat XYZ amount regardless.