Have you ever canceled a date-night babysitting job for another one that pays better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay ladies, remember your holier than thou attitudes next time someone wants to let their nanny go without notice, or you want to argue against guaranteed hours, or that its not your concern if nanny can live on the wage you pay her. Then, I'm sure its just business, right?

Again, nobody here is talking about cancelling without notice.

That's not the point. Have you ever tried to find a babysitter with only 2 or 3 days notice? It's not so easy to do. And don't start giving me the whole, "babysitters get cancelled on with only 2 or 3 days notice all the time." There was only 1 time I cancelled on a babysitter because DC was too sick to leave with a sitter and I paid her the full amount anyway.

That's you though. Its been discussed on here many times and most nannies and MBs agree that more than 48 hours notice is time enough to cancel without owing payment. It goes both ways.

The different attitudes on display in this thread are interesting:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/279722.page

Actually reading that thread there was only one MB who said she wouldn't pay a cancellation fee if she cancelled (at all - but noted she always gives a few days notice). I am not defending that position but it seemed she tends to hire babysitters for whom the arrangement is much more casual anyway - which probably goes both ways. However, most MBs on that thread and this one don't object to cancellation fees and made it clear they would cancel for emergencies - sick child, death in the family - not just because they found cheaper sitter. I did notice one sitter on that thread mentioned she didn't charge a cancellation fee but would just stop sitting for families who cancelled often, which makes sense to me. I'd stop using a sitter who cancelled often too. So yeah, if you do it once or twice in ten years and get away with it - congrats on screwing someone over and making more money! But sitters who do it regularly - as some on this thread suggested they would - are going to find themselves with many fewer jobs in the long run. Better solution - why don't you just decide your rate and only accept jobs that pay it?

Most on that thread said under 48 or 24 hours notice and they'd pay a cancelation fee. More notice than that was deemed enough notice to find a replacement. There are other threads, I just don't feel like finding them. Everyone knows that last minute cancelations suck, but if a sitter rarely cancels and gives ample notice, sure you can't opt not to use her again, but I just don't get the argument that she's committed some horrible wrong or that its endangering her future. Its really just not that big of a deal.

[Anonymous]

To 1312:
No one said that it was a horrible offense that would ruin a sitter's future. What the vast majority of people have said is that it is unprofessional. And it is. Lack of professionalism is not a horrible thing. I would put this offense on par with stealing office supplies from work. It's the kind of thing lots of people might find tempting, it's the kind of thing that could easily fly under the radar if you do it only once or twice, but it is also the kind of thing that could really impact your reputation if it becomes a regular practice. If you do this only rarely, then it is unprofessional nonetheless but probably not a big deal ultimately. If you do this regularly, then you are displaying a pattern of unprofessional behavior and will probably not be treated as a professional by the people who hire you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 1312:
No one said that it was a horrible offense that would ruin a sitter's future. What the vast majority of people have said is that it is unprofessional. And it is. Lack of professionalism is not a horrible thing. I would put this offense on par with stealing office supplies from work. It's the kind of thing lots of people might find tempting, it's the kind of thing that could easily fly under the radar if you do it only once or twice, but it is also the kind of thing that could really impact your reputation if it becomes a regular practice. If you do this only rarely, then it is unprofessional nonetheless but probably not a big deal ultimately. If you do this regularly, then you are displaying a pattern of unprofessional behavior and will probably not be treated as a professional by the people who hire you.

Obviously...which is why nearly every nanny who has commented on this thread has said they rarely do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay ladies, remember your holier than thou attitudes next time someone wants to let their nanny go without notice, or you want to argue against guaranteed hours, or that its not your concern if nanny can live on the wage you pay her. Then, I'm sure its just business, right?

Again, nobody here is talking about cancelling without notice.

That's not the point. Have you ever tried to find a babysitter with only 2 or 3 days notice? It's not so easy to do. And don't start giving me the whole, "babysitters get cancelled on with only 2 or 3 days notice all the time." There was only 1 time I cancelled on a babysitter because DC was too sick to leave with a sitter and I paid her the full amount anyway.

That's you though. Its been discussed on here many times and most nannies and MBs agree that more than 48 hours notice is time enough to cancel without owing payment. It goes both ways.

The different attitudes on display in this thread are interesting:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/nanny-forum/posts/list/279722.page

Actually reading that thread there was only one MB who said she wouldn't pay a cancellation fee if she cancelled (at all - but noted she always gives a few days notice). I am not defending that position but it seemed she tends to hire babysitters for whom the arrangement is much more casual anyway - which probably goes both ways. However, most MBs on that thread and this one don't object to cancellation fees and made it clear they would cancel for emergencies - sick child, death in the family - not just because they found cheaper sitter. I did notice one sitter on that thread mentioned she didn't charge a cancellation fee but would just stop sitting for families who cancelled often, which makes sense to me. I'd stop using a sitter who cancelled often too. So yeah, if you do it once or twice in ten years and get away with it - congrats on screwing someone over and making more money! But sitters who do it regularly - as some on this thread suggested they would - are going to find themselves with many fewer jobs in the long run. Better solution - why don't you just decide your rate and only accept jobs that pay it?

Most on that thread said under 48 or 24 hours notice and they'd pay a cancelation fee. More notice than that was deemed enough notice to find a replacement. There are other threads, I just don't feel like finding them. Everyone knows that last minute cancelations suck, but if a sitter rarely cancels and gives ample notice, sure you can't opt not to use her again, but I just don't get the argument that she's committed some horrible wrong or that its endangering her future. Its really just not that big of a deal.

Are you reading the thread you posted? Most posters were nannies and sitters who said they'd CHARGE a cancellation fee within 48 hours. Only two MBs posted. One said she's pay a fee and gave no time frame. The other said she'd never pay a fee (and I addressed her response above). Perhaps there are other threads but the one you cited does not say what you claim it says.

[Anonymous]

We let our sitter do it once but after the second request we ceased to use her for anything.