I assume you live in NYC or something since you refer to what seems like a different area.

When we return from an evening date, we pay the sitter extra $ for the metro (we are in DC). This amounts to about $5 or $10. If we give her a ride, we obviously don't pay for the metro.

I feel like a hell of a jerk showing up late in the evening and saying "Thanks for coming!," handing her $45 or so, and knowing damn well she's going to spend $5-$10 on the train ride to get to and from our place. That just seems rude.

For some reason, when it's a date time job, I don't usually offer metro $ or a ride because it's less dangerous, she can walk, she can run errands because places are open, and the whole commuting herd is out. We often don't have day time sitters though.

Taking a cab home may be a nanny's strategy, but it is her strategy to pay for.

As I said, it's fine to add a surcharge, but thinking parents should automatically have to pay a cab fare for the nanny is sort of foolish.

As long as the sitter is upfront about it, families can be upfront about deciding whether its worth it to provide the extra of cab fare home on top of the rate, free dinner, and tip the sitter already expects.

For me, I would not pay the extra $15 a PP says she charges (another hour of sitting) to cab her home. I'd rather hire a sitter who drives. YMMV.

Anonymous wrote:No. If you take a job that ends when public transit ends, it's on you to have a strategy to get home.

That said, I would respect a sitter who added a surcharge and explained why. I might not hire her, but I would respect her.

Most parents can't tell you down to the minute when they'll be home. Taking a cab home IS a strategy to get home, and telling parents when public transit ends gives them the choice to either get home before them, or pay the cab fare fee. It sounds as though the area OP works in doesnt lend itself well to travel by car, so my guess would be that most sitters would take public transport to these parents house. If it were a job in the suburbs that'd be a different story, and a cab fare fee might not be competitive.

No. If you take a job that ends when public transit ends, it's on you to have a strategy to get home.

That said, I would respect a sitter who added a surcharge and explained why. I might not hire her, but I would respect her.

Anonymous wrote:I normally use public transport to get to and from work (it's ridiculous to drive in my area because of insane traffic and no parking, and I don't own a car). I often have to stay well into the night (midnight and later), and by that time there is no metro or bus service. Some families I sit for offer to pay for my cab ride, some don't. Funnily enough people who tend to come at like 4 am tend to not offer.

Do you think that it is the family's obligation to pay for your cab if there are no other means of getting home? Does it matter if it's a babysitter or a full-time nanny?

Just let them know that you take public transit and buses stop running at x time. They'll either need to be home at that time or get you a cab/ drive you.

My NF don't pay for my gas in my car to drive home, so no they shouldn't have to pay for you to get home.
That is your responsibility.

Yep - before I had a car, I would tell families that after 11pm (when the busses started coming only once every half hour) I charged an extra $15 for cab fare.

Agree with what all PPs are saying. Unfortunately you may lose out on some jobs if they have other baby sitters that have cars.

The next time they ask you to babysit, just politely say that due increased transportation costs, you now charge a fee of $XX for relieving you after 11 PM.

I think a surcharge for late night is very reasonable, and a flat fee is more professional than getting into what mode of transportation you use, reimbursing costs, etc.

Anonymous wrote:They are not obligated. If I were you I would say to parents that you charge $xx an hour and after midnight or when mass transit stops they have to pay for a taxi, which costs xx amount.

This. If I am taking public transport to a job, I let them know when the last train/bus leaves, and that if they will be home after that I will either need a ride or cab fare.

They are not obligated. If I were you I would say to parents that you charge $xx an hour and after midnight or when mass transit stops they have to pay for a taxi, which costs xx amount.

If you were nearby, I would absolutely drive you home. I would just put the cost of a cab ride in your fee and let them know it is higher due to transportation.

Anonymous wrote:No, I don't think it's anyone's responsibility to pay for your transportation unless it's committed to up front when negotiating the rate of pay. Very few jobs include compensation for getting to and from work.

This. It is very nice of some of the families to pay for you to get home, but I don't think it makes the other families bad. You either have to work it into your agreement if you need to take a cab home, or stop taking jobs where the parents come home at 4am.

No, I don't think it's anyone's responsibility to pay for your transportation unless it's committed to up front when negotiating the rate of pay. Very few jobs include compensation for getting to and from work.

I normally use public transport to get to and from work (it's ridiculous to drive in my area because of insane traffic and no parking, and I don't own a car). I often have to stay well into the night (midnight and later), and by that time there is no metro or bus service. Some families I sit for offer to pay for my cab ride, some don't. Funnily enough people who tend to come at like 4 am tend to not offer.

Do you think that it is the family's obligation to pay for your cab if there are no other means of getting home? Does it matter if it's a babysitter or a full-time nanny?