OP here. I never expected to be reimbursed for mileage to/from work. I said that after calculating all mileage, in order for the job to feel worth it to me, I would prefer $25/hr as this was one hour in the morning and one in afternoon, but I would never have told the parents that.

I absolutely know I handled the situation poorly and would not at all blame the parents for leaving negative feedback. I spoke to the mom yesterday and apologized. She told me she appreciated me letting her know one day after the interview and not later on down the line and asked if I could sit this Friday ( I had mentioned I provide care for evenings regularly) so I don't think they hate me.

I appreciate all the comments.

Hope you've said something by now. The longer you wait the more unprofessional you become and the more likely it will be you get a bad review.

I would fire you if you asked for a 25% increase in pay before you'd even started. You should have checked the mileage before beginning salary negotiations.

No one asks to be reimbursed for the commute to and from work. Well I'm sure there are a few but it is rare. How old are you ? You need to be more professional. What a joke

OP I don't understand why you need $25/hr PLUS gas/mileage?

The reasonable thing is to accept the $20/hr and ask for an additional IRS mileage reimbursement on top of it (explaining that after calculating the total mileage for on-the-job driving blahblahblah). Asking for an increased hourly rate AND extra gas/mileage compensation would warrant you a negative review in my opinion.

I don't understand why you expect to be reimbursed for the drive from your house to theirs. You sound incredibly unprofessional and unreasonable. I'm not an MB, but if I was this MB, I would definitely leave you a negative review.

I'm an MB. I would expect to pay you what we agreed upon, plus the IRS rate for all mileage incurred during work hours (ie transporting kids etc...).

I would not reimburse you for mileage to/from work. Nor would I consider a 25% increase after you had accepted the position, based on the justification you've outlined here.

If you came to me with this request I would tell you this clearly wasn't a good fit, wish you well in finding something better, and I might leave negative feedback for you. I think you handled this VERY poorly and unprofessionally indeed.

OP. Yes I'm aware, so I will just try o find a way to decline.

You are crazy if you think it's ok to ask for that big of an increase. It's more reasonable to renegotiate the gas aspect to ask to be compensated at the IRS mileage rate.

OP. I'm speaking in regards to the IRS rate. I would be fine with being compensated $20 a week for gas, but I mentioned IRS rate as the pps above suggested it. I have never been compensated for gas expenses in my previous position, so calculating this is new for me.

OP, I think you're being ridiculous. 70 miles a week would equal less than 4 gallons of gas for most people, that's even calculated on the high side at $16.

OP. I checked the IRS gas rate calculations, and 14*5 days a week would be 70 miles. With 56 cents per mile, gas costs would be about $39.00 and I truly feel now that in order for me to feel financially comfortable and secure, I would like $25/hr for the job itself, and parents reimburse for gas expenses separately. This would come out to $250 per week plus $40 for gas, so about $290 a week. I'm just not sure that they would be okay with me asking for almost 50% weekly increase. I asked to be paid on the books as well, and since they have never done that before, it would be an even higher cost for them.

I'm also dreading speaking to them because I met them through a sitter site and if they left me negative feedback over this (which they would have a right to), obviously it would reflect poorly on me. This is so stressful, but I know I need to suck it up as this is all on me for thinking in my head about the higher than area hourly rate and not the cost factors overall.

You could ask for $20/hour, and to be reimbursed at the IRS rate for any on the job driving. Tell them you underestimated the cost of all the driving, and that this is what you need for the job to be worth it. I agree with the PP to give them two weeks to find a replacement if they decline.

Just tell them that you are sorry, but after estimating the mileage you would need the rate to be at $25/hr to continue. I would offer to stay for 2 weeks at the agreed price to allow then to find another candidate.

I accepted a position for school drop off and pick up transportation. It would be 2 hours a day at $20 an hour including gas costs. I checked distance from home of the family to the school and it's about 7 miles, so 14 miles a day or 70 miles a week used for the job. I made a mistake as I feel now that the rate is too low and would like to ask to have the rate increased to $25 an hour, but I already agreed to $20, so how could I tactfully ask without seeming greedy or flaky?

If the parents decline to increase the rate, I think I will have to back out as the opportunity costs would not be worth it to me. The residence is already 10 miles away from my home, so I don't want to spend a ton on gas out of pocket. I know, I know - should have checked everything out sooner and all.