Starting to feel that my employer will break our contract soon....

[Anonymous]

Warning To start, most of this post will be filled with ranting/venting because I am getting tired of this.

Job details: weekday (M-F ) live in position, work 15 hours per week, paid for 35 regardless if I work my 15 or not.

Problem: if it wasn't for the kids, I am sure this couple would be divorced, they do not communicate at all ! Tonight, mom told me cleaning people will arrive at 11a so leave the door unlocked if I'm heading out. Dad texted me, workers will come to fix fireplace at 12, be home to let them in. 1. Kids are in school during the day so I am typically free so I make use of my time during the day to get things done (cancer survivor so I always have follow up dr appts.) run errands or whatever.. Kids are in school until 4pm. They hired me because their past nanny 1. Didn't have a car so they had to hire a sitter to take kids around and 2.was always home so they wanted someone active, but recently time after time I'm told last minute like tonight that I need to sit around and cancel my day plans (without asking what I have going on.

Last week, wife didn't tell husband she had Thursday and Friday off so I was going home Wednesday night. He wasn't aware so he didn't write me a check. When I asked, he basically didn't feel he needed to pay me since I had only had to work Wednesday (mom ended up being off Monday and Tuesday due to snow) so I was off those days as well. Wife is also off this Thursday and Friday so I'll let her husband know so he can write me a check on time and hopefully I don't have to tell him that my bills doesn't care that it snowed and are still due like I had to explain to him last week.

Their communication problems are getting in the way of my weekly checks and it is start to bother me ! On top of that, the contract clearly states if I didn't cancel, and I am able / available to work, pay me for my full 35 hours. With the past couple of weeks and coming weeks, the mom has a lot of time off so I'll be off and I just don't want this to continue to happen. Also, when boys are in school, I am free to do as I please. I've told them to let me know ahead of time if workers will come by because a lot of time during the day, I'm typically out and about. So I just feel as tho, They don't respect my free time. This isn't the first or even 5th time, it's becoming a "thing" whether day or evening that I am canceling my plans because they couldn't coordinate their schedules with each other

Rant over.

[Anonymous]

wait you work 15 of 35 paid hours?

[Anonymous]

I'd suck it up since I'm getting paid for so little work.

[Anonymous]

What hours are you require to be available for the 35 per week? If the workers are coming within the 25, they don't have to give more notice than it would take for you to get back to the house. If it's not during the availability, that's different.

As to the payment issue, yes, you are available, MB is cancelling. Are you required to remain there and available, or does your contract allow you to make plans? It doesn't matter if the family uses 2 hours or 35, you have 35 guaranteed, so unless you are unavaiable to work, you should be paid.

[Anonymous]

OP HERE: I am to get the kids up and ready for school and pick them up from school, or get them from the busstop (depending on the day) and take to activities ect. So 1 hr in the morning and roughly 2 hrs after school.
Sometimes, I do work until 9p or 11pm but that's only once every other week. Outside of these hours, I'm free to do as I please (according to them). 00:12, I have no problem staying here if needed, but the MB will say you can go home such and such day, I won't need you. I guess I should start asking the dad should I stay around so I can get my full pay without any problems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE: I am to get the kids up and ready for school and pick them up from school, or get them from the busstop (depending on the day) and take to activities ect. So 1 hr in the morning and roughly 2 hrs after school.
Sometimes, I do work until 9p or 11pm but that's only once every other week. Outside of these hours, I'm free to do as I please (according to them). 00:12, I have no problem staying here if needed, but the MB will say you can go home such and such day, I won't need you. I guess I should start asking the dad should I stay around so I can get my full pay without any problems

So if school hours are definitely not part of the contract, I would agree that the last minute notice about workers coming over isn't acceptable. I see where the miscommunication is happening. MB tells you that you won't be working certain days and you can leave, DB expects you to be available and ready to work if he's going to pay you. It sounds like you need to address communication between the three of you, and you need to ask for clarification about your requirements for availability in order to be paid in a timely manner for your guaranteed hours.

Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

In your shoes I would communicate with both of them rather than expecting them to get on the same page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE: I am to get the kids up and ready for school and pick them up from school, or get them from the busstop (depending on the day) and take to activities ect. So 1 hr in the morning and roughly 2 hrs after school.
Sometimes, I do work until 9p or 11pm but that's only once every other week. Outside of these hours, I'm free to do as I please (according to them). 00:12, I have no problem staying here if needed, but the MB will say you can go home such and such day, I won't need you. I guess I should start asking the dad should I stay around so I can get my full pay without any problems

So if school hours are definitely not part of the contract, I would agree that the last minute notice about workers coming over isn't acceptable. I see where the miscommunication is happening. MB tells you that you won't be working certain days and you can leave, DB expects you to be available and ready to work if he's going to pay you. It sounds like you need to address communication between the three of you, and you need to ask for clarification about your requirements for availability in order to be paid in a timely manner for your guaranteed hours.

Good luck, OP!

Yes, I'm going to speak with both of them this evening and this ( should ) our problems. Thanks guys !!

[Anonymous]

You need to sit down with them. It sounds like your version of "free to do what you please," and theirs are different, since they are paying you for so many more hours than you actually work.

My guess is that they see you as "on call," but mean that you don't have to sit around the house every day while you're on call.

Report back and let us know what they said!

[Anonymous]

Op I worked in a similar situation and they consider you on call. Yea you are free to do what you please but it means that during those hours if something comes up your job and charges should be prioritized over other things. You all are wrong and need to sit down and sync up a way to use the calendar. A simple solution would be for them to put down things that are occurring while the kids are in school so that you know ahead of time.

For instance if one of your charges were to develop a fever or bug while at school wouldn't YOU have to be the one available to pick them up early no matter what time and Carr for them? That's why they are paying you extra hours and not just worked hours. So I'm their mind if you are supposed to be available if school closes or illness occurs then you should also be available for things like letting pest control in etc. not saying it's right, but sure that's how they see it.

Why don't you just tell them that you only want to be "on" when you have the kids, forfeit the pay for none working hours, accept rooms and board and agree to have the kids and get paid for it if that occurs? That way you are always able to truly do what you need to do and if you aren't available for the kids then they have to make other arrangements and you don't get the money for it

[Anonymous]

Pp here please ignore phone typos lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op I worked in a similar situation and they consider you on call. Yea you are free to do what you please but it means that during those hours if something comes up your job and charges should be prioritized over other things. You all are wrong and need to sit down and sync up a way to use the calendar. A simple solution would be for them to put down things that are occurring while the kids are in school so that you know ahead of time.

For instance if one of your charges were to develop a fever or bug while at school wouldn't YOU have to be the one available to pick them up early no matter what time and Carr for them? That's why they are paying you extra hours and not just worked hours. So I'm their mind if you are supposed to be available if school closes or illness occurs then you should also be available for things like letting pest control in etc. not saying it's right, but sure that's how they see it.

Why don't you just tell them that you only want to be "on" when you have the kids, forfeit the pay for none working hours, accept rooms and board and agree to have the kids and get paid for it if that occurs? That way you are always able to truly do what you need to do and if you aren't available for the kids then they have to make other arrangements and you don't get the money for it

School is in session 7-8 hours per day. That's 35-40 hours on call per week, and doesn't include any worked hours in the morning or afternoon. That is not what OP described.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op I worked in a similar situation and they consider you on call. Yea you are free to do what you please but it means that during those hours if something comes up your job and charges should be prioritized over other things. You all are wrong and need to sit down and sync up a way to use the calendar. A simple solution would be for them to put down things that are occurring while the kids are in school so that you know ahead of time.

For instance if one of your charges were to develop a fever or bug while at school wouldn't YOU have to be the one available to pick them up early no matter what time and Carr for them? That's why they are paying you extra hours and not just worked hours. So I'm their mind if you are supposed to be available if school closes or illness occurs then you should also be available for things like letting pest control in etc. not saying it's right, but sure that's how they see it.

Why don't you just tell them that you only want to be "on" when you have the kids, forfeit the pay for none working hours, accept rooms and board and agree to have the kids and get paid for it if that occurs? That way you are always able to truly do what you need to do and if you aren't available for the kids then they have to make other arrangements and you don't get the money for it

School is in session 7-8 hours per day. That's 35-40 hours on call per week, and doesn't include any worked hours in the morning or afternoon. That is not what OP described.

What are you talking about? If her charges wake up sick and can't go to school I'm assuming she would be the one that is supposed to be responsible. If her kids get sick at school I'm assuming the school or parents would call HER to pick them up. If there is a teacher work day I'm sure the parents assume she would be the one to keep them that day. Pretty sure that's why they are paying her for more than just the short hours she is actually doing something. Then she probably is allowed to be done a bit earlier those days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op I worked in a similar situation and they consider you on call. Yea you are free to do what you please but it means that during those hours if something comes up your job and charges should be prioritized over other things. You all are wrong and need to sit down and sync up a way to use the calendar. A simple solution would be for them to put down things that are occurring while the kids are in school so that you know ahead of time.

For instance if one of your charges were to develop a fever or bug while at school wouldn't YOU have to be the one available to pick them up early no matter what time and Carr for them? That's why they are paying you extra hours and not just worked hours. So I'm their mind if you are supposed to be available if school closes or illness occurs then you should also be available for things like letting pest control in etc. not saying it's right, but sure that's how they see it.

Why don't you just tell them that you only want to be "on" when you have the kids, forfeit the pay for none working hours, accept rooms and board and agree to have the kids and get paid for it if that occurs? That way you are always able to truly do what you need to do and if you aren't available for the kids then they have to make other arrangements and you don't get the money for it

School is in session 7-8 hours per day. That's 35-40 hours on call per week, and doesn't include any worked hours in the morning or afternoon. That is not what OP described.

What are you talking about? If her charges wake up sick and can't go to school I'm assuming she would be the one that is supposed to be responsible. If her kids get sick at school I'm assuming the school or parents would call HER to pick them up. If there is a teacher work day I'm sure the parents assume she would be the one to keep them that day. Pretty sure that's why they are paying her for more than just the short hours she is actually doing something. Then she probably is allowed to be done a bit earlier those days.

It doesn't work like that. I've had positions which were split shift. If and when they had schooled cancelled due to weather or got sick, I was called, but was NOT expected to automatically be available. Any hours during the pay were extra. OP said the following:

"OP HERE: I am to get the kids up and ready for school and pick them up from school, or get them from the busstop (depending on the day) and take to activities ect. So 1 hr in the morning and roughly 2 hrs after school.
Sometimes, I do work until 9p or 11pm but that's only once every other week. Outside of these hours, I'm free to do as I please (according to them)."

1 hour in the morning, and available in the afternoon/evenings for 6 hours, which is 35 hours per week. Whether they use all the hours or not is their business, not hers.