Advice needed

[Anonymous]

Hi there! I have two dilemma I do not know how to de with and would love some input. No judgments or mean comments please. Thank you.
First I nanny very part time for a family about 15 hours per week on 3 days a week. For some personal reasons to the family I won't discuss here, the parents are deciding to cut the hours down to 4 hours for a couple of weeks (Maybe 2 or 3 weeks), and it started this week. So my issue is that I still depend on the income for some bills, we do not have any contracts, and they are expecting me to start working again normally when they will be ready. But in the meantime I am debating if I should just find something else or ask them to pay for those hours since they are expecting me to keep my hours for them. They do not have any financial issues, so that's not the reason why they reduced my hours for a couple of weeks. I have been with them for over a year and they pay me $20 per hour. What would you do?
Dilemma two is that I have been babysitting on a regular basis for a family, (I was also a part time any for them) for over 2 years, and they pay me $12 an hour for 2 kids since I have been with them. My issue is that I accept days with them in advance and later other families that pay me between $15-$25 an hour contact me, I do not cancel (I already made the commitment and I love the kids), but it is still work and sometimes I feel like I could use the money others are offering. I am not good with money discussions, so should I ask them to increase my base rate to at least $15? Other families just automAtically raise my base rate each year, even if it is occasionally babysitting. My question. Is what would you do? Thank you for your input?

[Anonymous]

On #1 - yes, I would ask for the first family to cover the hours you will not be working IF they want you to hold those hours open for them at a later date.


And on #2, yes, I would ask for a raise and explain why. If they cannot meet the $15 an hour rate change than I would offer to sit for them on a last minute basis only.


And on a side note, I don't know anyone with LIKES to talk about money/raises but it is something we all must learn to do.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. Nothing really to add. Just explain to #1 that you count on the money and either need to paid compensated for the hours or you'll need to find something else.

Tell #2 you've raised your rate to be in line with market rates and you've turned down other higher paying jobs and can't afford to continue doing so. Like PP said you can either do last minute work only or request market rate if they want to book in advance.

[Anonymous]

#1 Your financial issues are not their concern. You don't have guaranteed hours and you only work a few hours a week. You are not entitled pay for work not provided.

#2 I have 5 or 6 families that regularly call on me for babysitting, the ones that I have stuck with being ones I enjoy working for, but they all pay different amounts that I am comfortable with. Now I wouldn't bail on a $15 an hour job for a $16 an hour, but I did tell the $15 an hours that I do have to give priority to people paying more and they were totally understanding and continue to call on me numerous times.

[Anonymous]

#1- Sure, you can ask, but be prepared to look for another job. Guaranteed hours are not common in P/T jobs. They may agree in your case, since they know you and like you, but it is unusual.

#2- Sure, you can change your base rate, but if you are an occasional sitter, they may not hire you anymore. That doesn't sound like bad news for you, since you are turning down other higher paying jobs for them. I commend you for not canceling on the $12/hr family for more money. That's a great sign of your commitment.

Why don't you take some of those high paying jobs during the two weeks your hours are reduced from family in dilemma 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On #1 - yes, I would ask for the first family to cover the hours you will not be working IF they want you to hold those hours open for them at a later date.


And on #2, yes, I would ask for a raise and explain why. If they cannot meet the $15 an hour rate change than I would offer to sit for them on a last minute basis only.


And on a side note, I don't know anyone with LIKES to talk about money/raises but it is something we all must learn to do.

+1 Most sensible advice so far.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you for all the sincere and genuine responses. I think I will talk to both of the families. Thank you again