Congrats, OP! Great choice!

OP here. I've told Job #3 that I'm accepting another position. I like the option of bringing my son in an emergency, which would only ever be if I were called in to work a day when child couldn't go to school.

I'm taking #1!

Thanks for the advice!

I would most definitely choose the first job, Job #1 because you will be making the most hourly for only one child which is awesome AND they are allowing you to bring you own child if need be which is a HUGE perk and one less stress for you to have to worry about. Also, you get guaranteed pay and a six yr. old is pretty easy to care for. They can feed themselves and use the restroom alone, you most likely will just need to supervise them and play w/them.

Which one do you feel is the best fit for you? Which one do you see yourself at for quite some time? Which one do you and the parents gel the most and have similar philosophies on children?

Job #1.

Anonymous wrote:How old is your son? How often have you needed to bring him to work in the past year?

He is 10 months old. I have never had to bring him to work, I've been running a home daycare since before he was born. I have family members able to watch him any time during the week and they are very reliable.

#1

Guaranteed pay and the option to bring your own child in an emergency gives it the edge over #1

and #3 has way more hours at a lower rate, plus no option to bring your own child.

Paid vacation isn't typically a benefit for part time work anyway so I don't see that as so much of a negative about #1

Definitely #1 for me. #3 is not paying high enough. And you are getting paid the same rate for 1 kid instead of the 3 kids in job #2.

Guaranteed hours is always more valuable for me than paid time off. You never know how many days the family won't need you so it's nice to know you will always be paid. If you can't afford unpaid time off, don't take vacation. If you need more hours, find someone who is looking for morning help. And bringing your son sounds like a nice bonus, just in case you need to do so.

Anonymous wrote:Please help me decide

Job 1: 1 child (6)
-25 hours/week (5 afternoons)
-$500 gross ($20/hour)
-Paid vacation and holidays only if the parents can accommodate getting the time off (red flag since they won't commit outright to PTO. It seems that this could easily turn into them saying they can't get the time off any time I schedule a vacation)
-guaranteed pay
-can bring my son if I'm ever in a bind for childcare.

Job 2: 3 kids (5,5,7)
-30 hours/week (5 afternoons)
-$600 gross ($20/hour)
-2 weeks paid vacation (1 my choice, 1 theirs) and whatever paid holidays the parents get.
-Guaranteed pay is being negotiated but it doesn't seem likely.
-can never bring my son.

Job 3: 1-2 kids (1 year old mostly 7 year old in the afternoon)
-33 hours/week (3 consequent ice 11 hour days)
-$495/gross ($15/hour)
-offering a "generous amount of vacation, more than most". But won't say how much (red flag?). Same paid holidays as parents.
-guaranteed pay is being negotiated and likely.
-can never bring my son.
-will have both kids on school vacations and summers for no extra pay. (Weekly salary is non negotiable)

Go!

MB here. Job 3 seems kind of low pay for having to take care of an additional child even in the afternoon. It would seem that the other two options pay better and might be less work taking care of older kids.

Why does job 2 not guarantee your hours/pay? This seems ridiculous. You need to be able to make a living. With respect to the vacation schedule for Job 1, I would tell them that they need to let you have the same as being offered with job 2. Get this all in writing. In a polite but respectful manner tell them you have been offered another job for more guaranteed hours and the vacation schedule. You would like to accept their offer; however, you may have to take the other position.

See if you can negotiate guaranteed pay for job 2. I would tell them that you are being offered the same rate for just 1 kid. All things being equal, I'd probably take 2 b/c it probably wouldn't be that much more work for kids that age and you're being offered more hours (but only if the pay is being guaranteed).

Good luck.

Good luck.

How old is your son? How often have you needed to bring him to work in the past year?

Anonymous wrote:Please help me decide.

Job 1: 1 child (6)
-25 hours/week (5 afternoons)
-$500 gross ($20/hour)
-Paid vacation and holidays only if the parents can accommodate getting the time off (red flag since they won't commit outright to PTO. It seems that this could easily turn into them saying they can't get the time off any time I schedule a vacation)
-guaranteed pay
-can bring my son if I'm ever in a bind for childcare.

Job 2: 3 kids (5,5,7)
-30 hours/week (5 afternoons)
-$600 gross ($20/hour)
-2 weeks paid vacation (1 my choice, 1 theirs) and whatever paid holidays the parents get.
-Guaranteed pay is being negotiated but it doesn't seem likely.
-can never bring my son.

Job 3: 1-2 kids (1 year old mostly 7 year old in the afternoon)
-33 hours/week (3 consecutive 11 hour days)
-$495/gross ($15/hour)
-offering a "generous amount of vacation, more than most". But won't say how much (red flag?). Same paid holidays as parents. bonus consideration.
-guaranteed pay is being negotiated and likely.
-can never bring my son.
-will have both kids on school vacations and summers for no extra pay. (Weekly salary is non negotiable)

Go!

Added info and corrections in bold.

Please help me decide

Job 1: 1 child (6)
-25 hours/week (5 afternoons)
-$500 gross ($20/hour)
-Paid vacation and holidays only if the parents can accommodate getting the time off (red flag since they won't commit outright to PTO. It seems that this could easily turn into them saying they can't get the time off any time I schedule a vacation)
-guaranteed pay
-can bring my son if I'm ever in a bind for childcare.

Job 2: 3 kids (5,5,7)
-30 hours/week (5 afternoons)
-$600 gross ($20/hour)
-2 weeks paid vacation (1 my choice, 1 theirs) and whatever paid holidays the parents get.
-Guaranteed pay is being negotiated but it doesn't seem likely.
-can never bring my son.

Job 3: 1-2 kids (1 year old mostly 7 year old in the afternoon)
-33 hours/week (3 consequent ice 11 hour days)
-$495/gross ($15/hour)
-offering a "generous amount of vacation, more than most". But won't say how much (red flag?). Same paid holidays as parents.
-guaranteed pay is being negotiated and likely.
-can never bring my son.
-will have both kids on school vacations and summers for no extra pay. (Weekly salary is non negotiable)

Go!