Babysitting $$ question

[dakcp2001]

If I were her, I would just decline to babysit for them again. If she says something, that is an awkward conversation that probably will not end well, whereas if she babysits for them again, they will prob pay ehr as low as they think they can "get away with" or so it seems.

In all fairness she should have been paid 120 if her regular rate is 10 ish an hour and obviously they are aware they stiffed her, so how is bringing it up going to go?

Let them see how hard it is to find a good sitter. She should take her services elswhere. I think on principle alone she should not sit for them again.

 

[Cinderella94]

I'm 16 and I get $10/hour! I would be very upset.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

A college student gets $15/hr here, regardless of the child's age.

If your daughter usually gets $10/hr that's what they should have paid her. If they couldn't afford it, they should have only gone for either the ceremony or the reception, or had a friend or relative watch their child for the first half of the day and had your daughter watch the child for the second half.

I also wouldn't say anything at this point, but would never sit for them ever again.

 

[tvguy]

I wouldn't pay 10 an hour for a 12 yr old, they really don't need watched it is more of a someone there situation but I do think 50 is a little light I would think 5 an hour would be more than enough for a child that old.

My DD never got 10 an hour for even 3 kids that were little and needed things done for them.

I'm sure she didn't do much that day so she should look at it as what would I have been doing yesterday and am I not better off having 50 for not doing much or nothing.

Given that the babysitter is 21, I don't know you legally could pay less than minimum wage, which is $8 here in Califonria, $7.25 at the Federal level, and may be higher in your state.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

The mother of my DD's babysitter told her I was only to pay $5/hr. I told her that my DD was worth more than minimum wage (or in this case below). She didn't want us being taken advantage of, however her DD told her to pay us whatever we thought was appropriate. We were gone for 6 hours and I paid $50. Her mother was still believed we overpaid. But my DD was quite content, the house was still standing and all was right with the world.

 

[disykat]

Given that the babysitter is 21, I don't know you legally could pay less than minimum wage, which is $8 here in Califonria, $7.25 at the Federal level, and may be higher in your state.

This is occasional babysitting not a legal employer, so legalities don't enter the picture. When I was babysitting (back in the 70's) it was standard practice to pay 1/2 or 1/3 of minimum wage. The notion of paying minimum wage or above to private babysitters is fairly recent.

 

[pilotwife_02]

I usually pay $10 and my kids are usually in bed when we leave them with the babysitter. I can't imagine paying less than that when they are awake.

Too bad your daughter doesn't live closer to me, I'm always looking for a good, responsible babysitter. The ones I use are so busy with school/sports I have a hard time getting them when I need them.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

120 which is 10/hr.

This sounds right!

 

[tvguy]

This is occasional babysitting not a legal employer, so legalities don't enter the picture. When I was babysitting (back in the 70's) it was standard practice to pay 1/2 or 1/3 of minimum wage. The notion of paying minimum wage or above to private babysitters is fairly recent.

Under Federal Labor Law, only babysitters under age 18 (minors) are exempt from minimum wage laws. So in this case, with the baby sitter being 21, minimum wage laws do apply.
An employer, is an employer, there is no such thing as a legal employer. Now, in this type instance, the employers would not have to pay for workers compensation coverage. Homeowners policies cover that on people who occassionaly work in your home (baby sitter, cleaning lady, gardener, handman)

 

[ajk912]

Unless the college student was planning on claiming this income on her taxes, it's hardly an issue of this is the employer.

TBH I am not sure how babysitting rates got so inflated. Those of us who know the value of a dollar would be like, HECK ya..a 9-12 year old is fairly self sufficient..I am a college student, I can work on my school work and get paid..sign me up..even making $50 to do something you were going to do anyway. Seriously, I am a college student AND a mom and $50 for one day of watching a kid that age..where do I sign up?

I can kind of relate to babysitters of little babies getting paid more..you have to be constantly watching to make sure they don't eat things they shouldn't. But a kid that age, (and I have two of them...) you are really only getting a babysitter because it's it could be illegal not to. You may have to make a meal or two..but wouldn't you have to do that anyway? And chances are, there was enough for the babysitter as well!

For those who are familiar with what private daycares charge..you are looking at $30 a day tops, and even with the extra hours no way would it be over $50 with a private daycare provider for a kid that age.

ETA: Think about if she was working at Target or most other retail job paying minimum wage. She'd probably make $84 during that time, and have to claim it and pay taxes. So let's just say she'd make $75. Where do you think she's working harder that day? Cashiering for twelve hours at Target, stocking shelves, etc? Or hanging around a kid who is basically self sufficient where she can watch tv, play on her phone, listen to her IPOD, do homework, etc? Fifty bucks isn't bad for the work involved, in my opinion.

 

[Hillbeans]

exactly. If the rate was going to be changed they should have explained that before she babysat and then she would have had the choice to say yes or no. It's unfair changing the terms after the fact.

this. If she's always gotten $10 an hour for this family why should this one event be any different? Just because it's longer? The family should have told her ahead of time. It's not completely unreasonable to negotiate a daily rate for a special event like a wedding or an overnight, but now they just lost their babysitter.

 

[dakcp2001]

Unless the college student was planning on claiming this income on her taxes, it's hardly an issue of this is the employer.

TBH I am not sure how babysitting rates got so inflated. Those of us who know the value of a dollar would be like, HECK ya..a 9-12 year old is fairly self sufficient..I am a college student, I can work on my school work and get paid..sign me up..even making $50 to do something you were going to do anyway. Seriously, I am a college student AND a mom and $50 for one day of watching a kid that age..where do I sign up?

I can kind of relate to babysitters of little babies getting paid more..you have to be constantly watching to make sure they don't eat things they shouldn't. But a kid that age, (and I have two of them...) you are really only getting a babysitter because it's it could be illegal not to. You may have to make a meal or two..but wouldn't you have to do that anyway? And chances are, there was enough for the babysitter as well!

For those who are familiar with what private daycares charge..you are looking at $30 a day tops, and even with the extra hours no way would it be over $50 with a private daycare provider for a kid that age.

ETA: Think about if she was working at Target or most other retail job paying minimum wage. She'd probably make $84 during that time, and have to claim it and pay taxes. So let's just say she'd make $75. Where do you think she's working harder that day? Cashiering for twelve hours at Target, stocking shelves, etc? Or hanging around a kid who is basically self sufficient where she can watch tv, play on her phone, listen to her IPOD, do homework, etc? Fifty bucks isn't bad for the work involved, in my opinion.

If her regular rate is 10 bucks and hour, she got stiffed. No way would I work 12 hours doing anything for only 50 bucks. That is 4.16 an hour!!! And not all 12 year olds are created equal, some are harder to watch than others. Even if this was the most self reliant kid in the world, she got stiffed. When I was 16 years old minimum wage was more than 4.16 and that was more than 15 years ago.

 

[ajk912]

If her regular rate is 10 bucks and hour, she got stiffed. No way would I work 12 hours doing anything for only 50 bucks. That is 4.16 an hour!!! And not all 12 year olds are created equal, some are harder to watch than others. Even if this was the most self reliant kid in the world, she got stiffed. When I was 16 years old minimum wage was more than 4.16 and that was more than 15 years ago.

The OP's daughter may very well be like you, and be in the financial situation that she can be choosy and choose not to work if the job doesn't meet her standards and pay requirements. Most of the college students I know DO have to work, or they have to take out substantial loans to offset. Or it could just be my friends. Anyway, if she turns away jobs from this family in the future, only she can decide if it's worth the money lost. I still think it's fifty bucks more than you had yesterday, it will put gas in your car for a while. Sure, you wish it was more, but it's still fifty bucks and you didn't work overly hard for it. UNLESS of course it was a kid with special needs, then I agree with you an older child could be a lot of work, but I would have thought that would have been mentioned if that was the case.

 

[tiggerlover]

I think they really took advantaged of your daughter. If I were her, I would write them a note telling them of my disappoinment and let them know that I would no longer work for them in the future. Whether they had the money or not is not the point, the point is they normally pay $10 they should have paid her $10 for this event as well. And to pay her $50 without any discussion is just plain cheesy.

 

[PigletsMommy]

Not a college student, but a SAHM who does some babysitting occasionally. Voted for 100+, if that is the agreement they had previously then they should have stuck to it or explained why they were shorting her.

Last night I had an 18 mo old & 7 yr old for 8 hours. Normally I charge 10/hr but I know this family pretty well & their financial situation. Dad was working & this is the first time in over a year that I have seen Mom go out to just have a good time. Usually they are both working like crazy...so I decided to give them a break & only charge $8/hr. Plus their kids are super easy to take care of so it was no problem.

 

[smkiya]

If you were at a function for 12 hours and had a 21 year old college student babysitting for you what would you pay him/her? One child age 9-12 (I'm not sure how old, in that range though). Poll coming

My daughter did this yesterday and was only paid 50.00. She was very upset. She has babysat for them for a long time- granted that's a lot of $$ for one day (100.00 or more) but if you can't afford to pay your sitter- don't go.

No they didn't discuss it. They usually pay her roughly $10 per hour- the wedding was at 1pm- she had no idea they would be home so late.

For a 12 year old I would not pay $10/hr, sorry. I also wouldn't pay a babysitter $50 for 12 hours. I think $85 is fair. What really was there for her to do? No diapers, no chasing around the room, etc. I would watch a 12 year old during those hours for $85. It would be the easiest $85 I ever made! Especially as a college student. I'd bring over my textbooks and study when he went to bed or was watching TV/playing video games. If she got a job at WalMart, fast food place, etc. She'd make minimum wage, she'd be running around all day, and she'd have taxes taken out of her paycheck.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think your dd got stiffed. Everyone keeps saying how easy it is to take care of a child that age and while that is true she is being paid for her time. Sorry but my time is worth more that $4 an hour. Being at someone else's house is not the same as being home or able to do what you please. The girl should not be "grateful" that she got $50. The couple should be "grateful" that they girl didn't ask where the rest of her pay is. I can't even fathom paying someone so little for so much time.

 

[disneychrista]

I would likely pay between $75 - $100 dollars. More for a 9yo than a 12yo. BUT being that they normally pay $10/hr, that is what should be paid in this situation.

 

[disfan07]

I have done this a couple of times for 3 different families. One of the families had one child, a 9 year old girl. They paid me my regular rate of $12/hour. they rounded up to $150. For these types of things I have never been paid less than my regular rate. And I dont ASK for it. They just pay me. I usually drop the rate for when it's an extended period of time (usually 10+hours) but they all insist on paying me in full.

One of the families had 4 kids and they paid me regular rate for 14 hours. $250!!!

When I sat for the family of 4 for that long I was 19 and when I sat for the 9 year old I was 20.

 

[Mermaid02]

OP here- found out the child is 10. Also found out the parents went out with friends after their initial function-and it was planned ahead of time. I can't believe they didn't let her know they were doing this and would be that much later (it added about 3 hours to the night).

She probably would have been happy with anything over $75. It isn't easy here to find college age kids who are willing to babysit- this family has always paid well, this is the reason my daughter was willing to give up her time on a Saturday afternoon.

BTW- My dd has a job on campus and has a job interview for another position next week.

I really don't think the level of difficulty means her time isn't valuable. I wouldn't do anything for 12 hours for $4 an hour.