Hot tip: don’t shortchange your covid babysitter

[Anonymous]

I’ve been helping out a family during the day. 7 days a week for 3 hours a day. 4 kids.
They live in NW DC.
The first week they paid well. Last week, $450. For 7 days?? During a quarantine?
I told them I can’t commit to the schedule anymore. Now they are giving me a sob story about not having childcare. Welp... don’t stiff your covid babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t you negotiate an hourly wage before you started? You were nuts not to, OP.

[Anonymous]

At least you’re getting some cash
But yea, you have to ask about the pay before you accept the job lol

[Anonymous]

Presumably you all agreed on a price per hour or a price per week. I’m not sure how you got stiffed.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I’m missing something or read this wrong, but that’s $21/hr. Sounds pretty decent to me, especially if you didn’t negotiate beforehand and sign some kind of formal agreement or contract.

[Anonymous]

Tons of parents are still paying off the books for childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been helping out a family during the day. 7 days a week for 3 hours a day. 4 kids.
They live in NW DC.
The first week they paid well. Last week, $450. For 7 days?? During a quarantine?
I told them I can’t commit to the schedule anymore. Now they are giving me a sob story about not having childcare. Welp... don’t stiff your covid babysitter.

Did you not agree to a rate?

[Anonymous]

Stop taking up for cheap parents. They got what they deserve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I’m missing something or read this wrong, but that’s $21/hr. Sounds pretty decent to me, especially if you didn’t negotiate beforehand and sign some kind of formal agreement or contract.

for part time and 4 kids? heck no

[Anonymous]

They paid $21 an hour. That is reasonable.

[Anonymous]

$21 is reasonable for 1 child at full time hours. For 4 kids and only three hours per day? No way. Total would have to be over $75 daily for it to be worth my commute and still feel like I earned enough to make it worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$21 is reasonable for 1 child at full time hours. For 4 kids and only three hours per day? No way. Total would have to be over $75 daily for it to be worth my commute and still feel like I earned enough to make it worthwhile.

Yes, it is reasonable. $21 for 1 kid is a lot. You don't get paid for your commute.

[Anonymous]

They didn’t stiff you, you idiot. You weren’t professional enough to set your rate up front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$21 is reasonable for 1 child at full time hours. For 4 kids and only three hours per day? No way. Total would have to be over $75 daily for it to be worth my commute and still feel like I earned enough to make it worthwhile.

Yes, it is reasonable. $21 for 1 kid is a lot. You don't get paid for your commute.

$21/hour is not reasonable for four children for full time, let alone only three hours per day. And I didn’t say that anyone would pay for my commute. I said that the daily amount would need to be $75 or more for me to feel it was worth coming in. This is precisely why most nannies (and agencies) set a four hour minimum or minimum pay per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$21 is reasonable for 1 child at full time hours. For 4 kids and only three hours per day? No way. Total would have to be over $75 daily for it to be worth my commute and still feel like I earned enough to make it worthwhile.

Yes, it is reasonable. $21 for 1 kid is a lot. You don't get paid for your commute.

You can’t afford a babysitter. Stay home and watch your own kids.