Anonymous
03/26/2016 13:05
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
I would do this trip for little or no compensation. When I go on trips with families (which isn't often) my only stipulation is I don't lose money; so if I have a regular gig on Fridays for example, and I have to cancel that, then I ask to be compensated for that. I feel like I tend to be a lot more flexible than a lot of nannies on this board though.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 11:49
Subject: Re:Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anonymous wrote:I know the norm on this website is to pay a babysitter her normal rate for all hours worked plus her expenses. However, everyone I know in real life does not pay their occasional babysitter in addition to paying her expenses for the trip. Particularly when the kids are older, there is a decent amount of free time, and it's a trip somewhere adults and kids enjoy, like Disney. (It's obviously different if you are expected to leave the park and take a baby for a nap, or you are going to grandma's beach house with extended family).
If you don't want to go on this trip if you aren't getting paid, then don't go. But just be aware that is the position you are putting yourself in by asking for compensation.
Your experience seems limited to what you like to pay.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 10:51
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
You are being screwed.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 10:43
Subject: Re:Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anonymous wrote:I know the norm on this website is to pay a babysitter her normal rate for all hours worked plus her expenses. However, everyone I know in real life does not pay their occasional babysitter in addition to paying her expenses for the trip. Particularly when the kids are older, there is a decent amount of free time, and it's a trip somewhere adults and kids enjoy, like Disney. (It's obviously different if you are expected to leave the park and take a baby for a nap, or you are going to grandma's beach house with extended family).
If you don't want to go on this trip if you aren't getting paid, then don't go. But just be aware that is the position you are putting yourself in by asking for compensation.
I think it comes down to occasional babysitter vs. family's FT nanny, how much time will be work hours, whether OP will have a private or shared room and the age of the kids. With 8 and 13 year olds, OP's more likely to have fun doing what she may choose to do if by herself. If there's a decent amount of time off, she'll be able to do things without kids in tow. As long as she has a private room, she's only on when she's working. Finally, she's an occasional sitter, not the family's FT nanny, so there's no assumption that the family has to pay whether she works or not.
OP, you can try to negotiate for a small amount of pay ($100-400, maybe?), but the reality is that your situation is not the same as a FT or PT nanny going with their NF, guaranteed hours whether she goes or not.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 09:55
Subject: Re:Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
I know the norm on this website is to pay a babysitter her normal rate for all hours worked plus her expenses. However, everyone I know in real life does not pay their occasional babysitter in addition to paying her expenses for the trip. Particularly when the kids are older, there is a decent amount of free time, and it's a trip somewhere adults and kids enjoy, like Disney. (It's obviously different if you are expected to leave the park and take a baby for a nap, or you are going to grandma's beach house with extended family).
If you don't want to go on this trip if you aren't getting paid, then don't go. But just be aware that is the position you are putting yourself in by asking for compensation.
If you don't want to go on this trip if you aren't getting paid, then don't go. But just be aware that is the position you are putting yourself in by asking for compensation.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 08:41
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Look, that's fine. We are very clear on exact hours and compensation upfront. We've never travelled with a ft nanny who was losing work time. Just with occasional sitters who had the ability to get away for a week and did consider true "time off" on vacation part of the compensation.
Point is, OP is getting royally screwed. No question about it.
pP here again. Totally agree.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 08:39
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anonymous wrote:I am a babysitter for this family of an eight yr old girl and a thirteen ur old boy.
I babysit for them on occasion when the parents go on the occasional date night or they need to run an important errand. We've known each other about three years thus far.
They planned a Spring Break trip for next week. They (Dad, Mom + the 2 kids) are going to Orlando, FL to Epcot Ctr., Universal Studios and Sea World park.
Originally the MB's sister (children's aunt) was going with them to help out with the kids for times when the parents wanted to go off and do some activities on their own.
But she is homebound now in bed with a bad flu that most likely will not be gone when they leave bright & early Monday morning to catch the plane.
So this morning my MB calls me all excited!! She asked me if I had any plans for next week and I told her I didn't. Then she told me I just won a "vacation lotto" and told me about how her sister fell ill and cannot make the trip so she offered me a "free all expenses paid" vacation with their family if I wouldn't mind caring for the kids on occasion. I gleefully accepted.
She told me she would get a plane ticket in my name and will cover the cost of flying (from WA state, not D.C.), Über to +from the airport, hotel and meal expenses. She even offered to cover the costs of my entry tickets for the three different parks.
She told me on the plane she wants to unwind so she jokingly said my first duty would be entertaining her daughter on the plane so she could read her brand-new Kindle. She laughingly advised me to get a good nights rest the night prior as it is a five hr. plane ride.
When I told my cousin who is a nanny she told me I didn't win any lottery at all!! She told me that when a caregiver accompanies a family on vacation, it is expected that they will pay for plane, hotel, meal and admittance fees to all the attractions/venues attended.
She also said I should be paid for my child care services. I told her they are offering me this once-in-a-lifetime vacation and that is good enough for me.
She scoffed that I was being taken advantage of if I really believed that them covering every cost meant they were doing me a favor.....After careful thought on the matter I sent the MB a text, inquiring if I would be compensated financially for providing babysitting (beginning on the plane ride over.)
My text was read (we both have iPhones) but so far radio silence....Crickets.
Am I being selfish for requesting pay from them when they are offering me ALL this?? Ugh!
This is going to be a learning experience for both you and your employer OP. At this point an offer was extended an OP you accepted.
It is true a nanny that goes on vacation with the family will accumulate alot of working hours pluss overtime, the family is on vacation the nanny is not.
OP you could try to go back to the employer, using a positive tone and try to re-negotiate but be prepared for a big push back. My advice go with the family as again you have agreed to it and hope the family treats you fair. It may turn out to be super fun and if not you can use this experience to better prepare yourself if it comes up again.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 07:35
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anonymous wrote:Look, that's fine. We are very clear on exact hours and compensation upfront. We've never travelled with a ft nanny who was losing work time. Just with occasional sitters who had the ability to get away for a week and did consider true "time off" on vacation part of the compensation.
Point is, OP is getting royally screwed. No question about it.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 07:20
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Look, that's fine. We are very clear on exact hours and compensation upfront. We've never travelled with a ft nanny who was losing work time. Just with occasional sitters who had the ability to get away for a week and did consider true "time off" on vacation part of the compensation.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 07:07
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anonymous wrote:Mb here.
Yes, in almost all cases, you should be getting financial compensation for your sitting. (Unless it is truly minimal, which is unlikely, as in 1 or two night times and an afternoon)
Babysitting time is anytime you are not allowed to go off on your own (or, on a plane) zone out on your own kindle!
So, airplane is babysitting time. Sticking with them at the parks is babysitting time. Sleeping next door to hotel room when parents are at dinner is babysitting time.
The only way, IMO, this is ever works is with extreme clarity on both sides. You need to know if you have a private room, and you need to know precisely how much on time you will spend.
That being said, when we have a nanny with us on vacation (rarely) we have paid a highly discounted rate. But that's because every last expense (transport, private room, meal allowanc) is covered and the hours are defined, limited, easy (often just a few hours at morning, nap time, one to two years evenings max), and allow the nanny to enjoy the significant majority of her time on vacation. If you are simply "on call" the entire time, that should cost them big bucks.
I'd never give you a discounted rate. I always get my regular wages, plus much more "me" time, and of course all expenses paid.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 06:10
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Pp here, sorry about typos. Sleepy + phone!
Anonymous
03/26/2016 06:07
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Mb here.
Yes, in almost all cases, you should be getting financial compensation for your sitting. (Unless it is truly minimal, which is unlikely, as in 1 or two night times and an afternoon)
Babysitting time is anytime you are not allowed to go off on your own (or, on a plane) zone out on your own kindle!
So, airplane is babysitting time. Sticking with them at the parks is babysitting time. Sleeping next door to hotel room when parents are at dinner is babysitting time.
The only way, IMO, this is ever works is with extreme clarity on both sides. You need to know if you have a private room, and you need to know precisely how much on time you will spend.
That being said, when we have a nanny with us on vacation (rarely) we have paid a highly discounted rate. But that's because every last expense (transport, private room, meal allowanc) is covered and the hours are defined, limited, easy (often just a few hours at morning, nap time, one to two years evenings max), and allow the nanny to enjoy the significant majority of her time on vacation. If you are simply "on call" the entire time, that should cost them big bucks.
Yes, in almost all cases, you should be getting financial compensation for your sitting. (Unless it is truly minimal, which is unlikely, as in 1 or two night times and an afternoon)
Babysitting time is anytime you are not allowed to go off on your own (or, on a plane) zone out on your own kindle!
So, airplane is babysitting time. Sticking with them at the parks is babysitting time. Sleeping next door to hotel room when parents are at dinner is babysitting time.
The only way, IMO, this is ever works is with extreme clarity on both sides. You need to know if you have a private room, and you need to know precisely how much on time you will spend.
That being said, when we have a nanny with us on vacation (rarely) we have paid a highly discounted rate. But that's because every last expense (transport, private room, meal allowanc) is covered and the hours are defined, limited, easy (often just a few hours at morning, nap time, one to two years evenings max), and allow the nanny to enjoy the significant majority of her time on vacation. If you are simply "on call" the entire time, that should cost them big bucks.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 04:04
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
Anybody would know that both 1:01 and 1:50 are trolls.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 01:50
Subject: Re:Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
uh-oh.
I have never accompanied a family on a vacation. However, I have lurked on this site for a couple years, and from what I have read on here, it appears your cousin is right. But, since the kids are older and are going to be relatively low maintenance, and since I would LOVE to go on an all-expense paid vacation like that, I would be back peddling lickety split. I would be sending a text to mom saying something like, " Well my cousin threw that idea out. But I am happy to accompany you all without financial compensation."
As it is, she will be spending close to $2,000 on you, unless you are sharing the same hotel room with them. Even then, she will spend well over $1,000 on you. There are lots of babysitting services available in the Orlando area that she could use for far less than your plane ticket, meals, park admission prices, etc. will cost for her to have you accompany them.
Now, if she has a household income of $300,000 annually or more, then I might wait a day or so and see what MB says. Otherwise, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
I have never accompanied a family on a vacation. However, I have lurked on this site for a couple years, and from what I have read on here, it appears your cousin is right. But, since the kids are older and are going to be relatively low maintenance, and since I would LOVE to go on an all-expense paid vacation like that, I would be back peddling lickety split. I would be sending a text to mom saying something like, " Well my cousin threw that idea out. But I am happy to accompany you all without financial compensation."
As it is, she will be spending close to $2,000 on you, unless you are sharing the same hotel room with them. Even then, she will spend well over $1,000 on you. There are lots of babysitting services available in the Orlando area that she could use for far less than your plane ticket, meals, park admission prices, etc. will cost for her to have you accompany them.
Now, if she has a household income of $300,000 annually or more, then I might wait a day or so and see what MB says. Otherwise, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Anonymous
03/26/2016 01:01
Subject: Am I Being Unreasonable Or Are My Bosses?? Grr....Vent
I am a babysitter for this family of an eight yr old girl and a thirteen ur old boy.
I babysit for them on occasion when the parents go on the occasional date night or they need to run an important errand. We've known each other about three years thus far.
They planned a Spring Break trip for next week. They (Dad, Mom + the 2 kids) are going to Orlando, FL to Epcot Ctr., Universal Studios and Sea World park.
Originally the MB's sister (children's aunt) was going with them to help out with the kids for times when the parents wanted to go off and do some activities on their own.
But she is homebound now in bed with a bad flu that most likely will not be gone when they leave bright & early Monday morning to catch the plane.
So this morning my MB calls me all excited!! She asked me if I had any plans for next week and I told her I didn't. Then she told me I just won a "vacation lotto" and told me about how her sister fell ill and cannot make the trip so she offered me a "free all expenses paid" vacation with their family if I wouldn't mind caring for the kids on occasion. I gleefully accepted.
She told me she would get a plane ticket in my name and will cover the cost of flying (from WA state, not D.C.), Über to +from the airport, hotel and meal expenses. She even offered to cover the costs of my entry tickets for the three different parks.
She told me on the plane she wants to unwind so she jokingly said my first duty would be entertaining her daughter on the plane so she could read her brand-new Kindle. She laughingly advised me to get a good nights rest the night prior as it is a five hr. plane ride.
When I told my cousin who is a nanny she told me I didn't win any lottery at all!! She told me that when a caregiver accompanies a family on vacation, it is expected that they will pay for plane, hotel, meal and admittance fees to all the attractions/venues attended.
She also said I should be paid for my child care services. I told her they are offering me this once-in-a-lifetime vacation and that is good enough for me.
She scoffed that I was being taken advantage of if I really believed that them covering every cost meant they were doing me a favor.....After careful thought on the matter I sent the MB a text, inquiring if I would be compensated financially for providing babysitting (beginning on the plane ride over.)
My text was read (we both have iPhones) but so far radio silence....Crickets.
Am I being selfish for requesting pay from them when they are offering me ALL this?? Ugh!
I babysit for them on occasion when the parents go on the occasional date night or they need to run an important errand. We've known each other about three years thus far.
They planned a Spring Break trip for next week. They (Dad, Mom + the 2 kids) are going to Orlando, FL to Epcot Ctr., Universal Studios and Sea World park.
Originally the MB's sister (children's aunt) was going with them to help out with the kids for times when the parents wanted to go off and do some activities on their own.
But she is homebound now in bed with a bad flu that most likely will not be gone when they leave bright & early Monday morning to catch the plane.
So this morning my MB calls me all excited!! She asked me if I had any plans for next week and I told her I didn't. Then she told me I just won a "vacation lotto" and told me about how her sister fell ill and cannot make the trip so she offered me a "free all expenses paid" vacation with their family if I wouldn't mind caring for the kids on occasion. I gleefully accepted.
She told me she would get a plane ticket in my name and will cover the cost of flying (from WA state, not D.C.), Über to +from the airport, hotel and meal expenses. She even offered to cover the costs of my entry tickets for the three different parks.
She told me on the plane she wants to unwind so she jokingly said my first duty would be entertaining her daughter on the plane so she could read her brand-new Kindle. She laughingly advised me to get a good nights rest the night prior as it is a five hr. plane ride.
When I told my cousin who is a nanny she told me I didn't win any lottery at all!! She told me that when a caregiver accompanies a family on vacation, it is expected that they will pay for plane, hotel, meal and admittance fees to all the attractions/venues attended.
She also said I should be paid for my child care services. I told her they are offering me this once-in-a-lifetime vacation and that is good enough for me.
She scoffed that I was being taken advantage of if I really believed that them covering every cost meant they were doing me a favor.....After careful thought on the matter I sent the MB a text, inquiring if I would be compensated financially for providing babysitting (beginning on the plane ride over.)
My text was read (we both have iPhones) but so far radio silence....Crickets.
Am I being selfish for requesting pay from them when they are offering me ALL this?? Ugh!