Moving Forward With a Family

[Anonymous]

I took on a part time family (1 day per week). The rate is $17 and they have 3 children. However, I have 1 child (infant) all day and the other 2 children for only 2 hrs. I only do things related to the infant (feed, diaper change, interaction) and I load the dishwasher- I do not put the dishes away and no household chores. When it comes to the older children, for those 2 hours, I either a) let them do whatever they want in the play area or b) take them to the park. Oh and I pickup 1 child from school a few blocks away.

Now, at the top of the year we will revise the contract and I will determine whether or not I want to continue to work for them. My only concern is, I didn’t realize that the 4 yr old will be out of school the whole summer. Although I just work one day per week, if I am required to go on outings with the 4 yr old + the infant, plan activities, and still pick up the other child with both children with me, I feel like I should get paid more.

What do you think? Please, don’t say how I’m already making less than I should. This is a part time job that goes straight to my savings and I have a full time job (nanny share) and the pay is great! I get that they’re paying a full time nanny as well. However, I am qualified and I would think you would pay the same amount... right or wrong? Now, if the full time nanny is making $17 hr then that’s just wrong!

Note: I am fine with the $17 an hr for basically just the one child but if I have to plan a full day for the other children as well... no!

[Anonymous]

$17 is fine for 3 kids. Not happy, quit.

[Anonymous]

How did you not know school will be out for the summer? I don't know ANY 4 yr old who goes to school in the summer...unless they're in daycare which is not school. Kids who go to daycare don't typically have a nanny.

Is it $17 under the table? If so it's a fine rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$17 is fine for 3 kids. Not happy, quit.

Hmm... I don’t think you read my post thoroughly, not once did I mention not being happy. You also didn’t answer my question on whether I should be paid more if I am required to care and plan activities for TWO children (not 3) all day- which also makes me think you didn’t read the post thoroughly. Now, if you’re saying that $17 an hr for 3 children, 11 hours a day, is fine, then you’re crazy but maybe not- do you live outside of Washington D.C.?!

Thanks for your time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did you not know school will be out for the summer? I don't know ANY 4 yr old who goes to school in the summer...unless they're in daycare which is not school. Kids who go to daycare don't typically have a nanny.

Is it $17 under the table? If so it's a fine rate.

It’s a preschool and we use google calendar and when I was putting my vacation time in for next year, I saw that she is out for the summer as well as other days; holidays, conference etc. I do not get paid under the table and am paid bi-weekly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did you not know school will be out for the summer? I don't know ANY 4 yr old who goes to school in the summer...unless they're in daycare which is not school. Kids who go to daycare don't typically have a nanny.

Is it $17 under the table? If so it's a fine rate.

It’s a preschool and we use google calendar and when I was putting my vacation time in for next year, I saw that she is out for the summer as well as other days; holidays, conference etc. I do not get paid under the table and am paid bi-weekly.

Also, they do have 1 child in daycare (who I pick up in the afternoon).

[Anonymous]

I had a brain fart. I just wasn’t thinking clearly and was thinking she was still in daycare but just another one when I started working. I know daycare is all year around which I was like why is she out?! I use to work with 4 year olds in a daycare

[Anonymous]

I would wait and address it one month prior to summer vacation. And yes, I would ask for additional pay over the summer.

[Anonymous]

I think as its one day a week if you like the family and want to keep working for them you just leave it as is.
$17 an hour for 2 kids is not a bad rate, assuming you are working 8 hours thats $136 for the day. For casual babysitting thats a good deal.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you should be paid more.

[Anonymous]

The answer to this is that you can always ask, and they can always say no. As with anything, it's going to depend on how badly they need you.

But, honestly, it sounds to me like once this 4-year-old is out of school, you're dreading the days with them. Maybe it's just too much on top of your full time job.

I'm a MB. I'm willing to pay what the job is worth, and what I need to pay to find someone (which might be more than $17/hr; I don't know). I am not willing to pay a premium because a particular person is only willing to do this job if it makes her enough money to justify giving up her day off. I'll just find someone who doesn't have that issue.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I took on a part time family (1 day per week). The rate is $17 and they have 3 children. However, I have 1 child (infant) all day and the other 2 children for only 2 hrs. I only do things related to the infant (feed, diaper change, interaction) and I load the dishwasher- I do not put the dishes away and no household chores. When it comes to the older children, for those 2 hours, I either a) let them do whatever they want in the play area or b) take them to the park. Oh and I pickup 1 child from school a few blocks away.

Now, at the top of the year we will revise the contract and I will determine whether or not I want to continue to work for them. My only concern is, I didn’t realize that the 4 yr old will be out of school the whole summer. Although I just work one day per week, if I am required to go on outings with the 4 yr old + the infant, plan activities, and still pick up the other child with both children with me, I feel like I should get paid more.

What do you think? Please, don’t say how I’m already making less than I should. This is a part time job that goes straight to my savings and I have a full time job (nanny share) and the pay is great! I get that they’re paying a full time nanny as well. However, I am qualified and I would think you would pay the same amount... right or wrong? Now, if the full time nanny is making $17 hr then that’s just wrong!

Note: I am fine with the $17 an hr for basically just the one child but if I have to plan a full day for the other children as well... no! [/quote]


It doesn't matter that this is a part-time job - you are not making enough!!! Yes, you should definitely ask for more money.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn’t hurt to ask, but if they decline a raise then it could get awkward later on.

But I would try.
And if you are required to do any on-the-job driving, make sure you are getting mileage costs reimbursed.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

What will you do now, OP?

[Anonymous]

How much would you charge for 2 kids? I think typical raise for an extra kid is 1 or 2 dollars so assuming you work 8-10 hours a day, it's just ten extra dollars... would you bother with that? I think I would if I worked 2 or more days, but just for one day I wouldn't even bother.