Sorry con. For OP the $30 my MB gave me, I felt used and insulted. $30 to spend the entire night in a strange bed, away from my husband. It upset me. I am actually going to decline any future overnights for this family. I would go higher if I were you. You could end up losing your nanny.

My question strangely goes with this post. I have worked for my current family for 5 years (kids are older) I stayed overnight at the end of March and get paid monthly so just received my paycheck Friday. She paid me $30 for the overnight stay. I typically got $50, and just assumed that's what I would be getting when I agreed to it. When I asked her about it, my MB said that "since the check they were paying me was large, they didn't want to have to pay anymore than that." Then she walked away. They only pay for the hours I work, so its not like I got a bonus or anything. I have no idea what to do in this situation.

A flat rate of $50-100 is perfectly acceptable during sleeping hours. If the children wake up, the hourly rate kicks in.

It is a trade-off regarding overnight rates.

If the nanny wants to be paid her regular hourly rate, then she is to stay awake and not enjoy sleeping privileges during her shift. It is only fair.

If she agrees to a flat discounted fee, then she has a right to enjoy sleeping privileges.

Actually, a flat rate for overnights is fairly common all over the US. A quick google search can confirm this.

http://www.breedlove.com/answers/Overnight-Nanny (Breedlove's advice on the law)
http://wishuponananny.com/faq/ (an agency in Chicago)
http://www.ggmg.org/recommends/NannyPay.html#Overnight (a parents group in CA)
http://www.ehow.com/decision_7218524_much-should-pay-overnight-nanny_.html
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/childcare/nanny/overnight.html (results of a survey of parents in Berkeley, CA. Interesting because there are many options from flat rates to full hourly and more)
http://www.mamapedia.com/article/overnight-pay-for-part-dash-time-nanny (a variety of responses from all over the country)

http://www.parkslopeparents.com/docs/NannySurvey2011.FINAL.pdf (This is an interesting overall survey from 2011 about nanny pay and policies. While it includes overnight pay, it is actually far more informative on many aspects of nanny employment and could help nannies in their negotiations.)

I'm not saying that a flat rate is automatic. There are many different opinions on this. For me, it would depend on the age of the charge. If a child likely to wake (babies, toddlers and some young elementary students) then I think it is fair to pay the nanny her regular rate. However, OP's children are significantly older and the nanny is very likely to be able to sleep through the night. In that case, she should be compensated for being present and on call, but since she is not expected to perform any duties because she is sleeping, a flat rate is appropriate. Of course, if a child becomes sick and the nanny has to attend when she would be sleeping, her regular rate should kick in. That's only fair.

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone pay less just because they are sleeping?

A job is still a job and the nanny is still technically on the clock.

Nannies:
If a family asks you to if they can pay you a flat fee for overnight hours, say for when the children will be sleeping, refuse this.

The family is trying to rip you off and this is unacceptable.

Ask any nanny agency.
They do not allow families to get away with such a practice because it is illegal.

When we lived in the Midwest we got our nanny through an agency that set the hourly rate of the nanny. They also has a flat rate for an overnight.

Why would anyone pay less just because they are sleeping?

A job is still a job and the nanny is still technically on the clock.

Nannies:
If a family asks you to if they can pay you a flat fee for overnight hours, say for when the children will be sleeping, refuse this.

The family is trying to rip you off and this is unacceptable.

Ask any nanny agency.
They do not allow families to get away with such a practice because it is illegal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, no - I disagree. Your sitter is working overnight and should be paid her hourly rate - you have no idea if she is going to be sleeping or not. This "flat rate" for overnights is ridiculous and I have never heard of it before. As a PP said, "If she cannot leave - she is working."

I'm in San Francisco and I've never heard of this discounted flat rate for overnight either - must be a DC thing. It's insane and might be illegal (certainly at 3.75 an hour!).

I'm in DC and I agree with you. Maybe some of the immigrant nannies don't understand American laws, so employers take advantage of them.

LA Nanny here and I've never heard of a flat overnight rate either. You get paid for the hours you are responsible for the kids - and you are responsible for them all night so it is at your usual rate whether you are sleeping or not. Apparently, from the amount of posters quoting rates however, they do do it in DC. Its wrong. And at $3.75 an hour it IS CRIMINAL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, no - I disagree. Your sitter is working overnight and should be paid her hourly rate - you have no idea if she is going to be sleeping or not. This "flat rate" for overnights is ridiculous and I have never heard of it before. As a PP said, "If she cannot leave - she is working."

I'm in San Francisco and I've never heard of this discounted flat rate for overnight either - must be a DC thing. It's insane and might be illegal (certainly at 3.75 an hour!).

I'm in DC and I agree with you. Maybe some of the immigrant nannies don't understand American laws, so employers take advantage of them.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, no - I disagree. Your sitter is working overnight and should be paid her hourly rate - you have no idea if she is going to be sleeping or not. This "flat rate" for overnights is ridiculous and I have never heard of it before. As a PP said, "If she cannot leave - she is working."

I'm in San Francisco and I've never heard of this discounted flat rate for overnight either - must be a DC thing. It's insane and might be illegal (certainly at 3.75 an hour!).

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, no - I disagree. Your sitter is working overnight and should be paid her hourly rate - you have no idea if she is going to be
sleeping or not. This "flat rate" for overnights is ridiculous and I have never heard of it before. As a PP said, "If she cannot leave - she is working."

Exactly! She's on call. You don't get that for nothing, or for even a little token.
When I'm working "on call", I'm NOT sleeping properly. I'm tired the next day. It's not exactly like being the mother, nor should it be.

Yeah, no - I disagree. Your sitter is working overnight and should be paid her hourly rate - you have no idea if she is going to be sleeping or not. This "flat rate" for overnights is ridiculous and I have never heard of it before. As a PP said, "If she cannot leave - she is working."

$50-75 flat overnight rate for three kids that old is fine.

OP can't afford an overnight nanny. Maybe a girlfriend can help out?