I am so frustrated with child care!

[SallySkelington]

I may be in the minority here, but $10/hour (which comes out to $400 per week for 5 8-hour days) sounds fair to me for a temporary job. You said you even paid her for 4 days the week she only worked 2. Even if it wasn't "fair," she still agreed to it. I know lots of college students who would have no problem watching children and doing light housework for $400 a week. 24 years old is mature enough to be able to handle the kind of responsibility you were asking. But I think a mistake on your part might have been in not writing out clear expectations and responsibilities (and have her sign it). It might have sounded like a cushy job to her, and after the first two weeks she realized it was not the easy paycheck she thought it would be.

No I totally I agree with you. When I had to babysit everything that the OP stated I had to do and more and I got paid less and did it better. I even had to handle it at home as well. I'm not even 20 yet. As for pay rate, the job I held recently in college paid less for two weeks of work. Yeah, if I lived in Canada, I would be all over that sitting job.

OP, I'm terribly sorry for what happened. I'm glad you were able to find a solution though.

 

[mjkacmom]

While that is technically true, it's below the Federal limit of $7.25 so the GA rate is replaced by the Federal.

My nanny said she made $9/hr last year so she is good with the salary.

Let's look at COL. Your state ranks in at 15, mine at 47, and $10 an hour for what the OP is looking for is way too low (don't Canadian's flock to WDW, because it's such a cleap vacation for them?).

 

[crashbb]

I have a house cleaner - the light housekeeping I was expecting was basically to keep up with the messes made, including the dog (also discussed and agreed to in advance.)

I gave her lists of things I needed help with around the house

You are contradicting yourself. Your first post says that you are leaving her a list of chores (so things that were needed before she even got there) and your second post says that all she needed to do was clean up what the messes they made.

Also not sure why your kids cannot clean up after their own dog.

 

[Robinrs]

As for teaching my children how to behave, that is a work in progress. My son has no special needs, he is just a rambunctious 8 year old who can be a PITA at times, like most 8 year olds. His manners sometimes need correcting and he can argue with his sister. Glad some people's kid's are perfect!

Wow, I thought he was like 2 or 3. At 8 he should know better or have been TAUGHT to know better. They're usually at their BEST at that age. If he's not reeled in now he'll own your household by 13.

Minimum wage with deductions is for the lowest possible expectation. I agree you get what you pay for. I wouldn't take care of ONE well behaved child for that little.

 

[allison443]

I may be in the minority here, but $10/hour (which comes out to $400 per week for 5 8-hour days) sounds fair to me for a temporary job. You said you even paid her for 4 days the week she only worked 2. Even if it wasn't "fair," she still agreed to it. I know lots of college students who would have no problem watching children and doing light housework for $400 a week. 24 years old is mature enough to be able to handle the kind of responsibility you were asking. But I think a mistake on your part might have been in not writing out clear expectations and responsibilities (and have her sign it). It might have sounded like a cushy job to her, and after the first two weeks she realized it was not the easy paycheck she thought it would be.

The OP said $10/hour is the minimum wage there, plus she was taking out deductions.
So what would you think of the job if it paid minimum wage where you live? That's more like $280 a week here, not $400.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Even if they don't enjoy camp, summer is meant to be spent outdoors. I would call your local YMCA and get them enrolled.

 

[dakcp2001]

I'm thinking it was the kids behavior that sunk this arrangement. If the parents said "We know they are rude and fight too much" can you imagine what their behavior is REALLY like?? I think it is asking too much of a college student who is inexperienced with difficult kids.

I also think the girl most likely got a verbal lashing from the dh and frankly, that's not okay. I'd have probably quit on the spot.

I agree 100% with this. I think you hit the nail on the head here. And minimum wage for taking care of difficult kids, I don't think so!

OP I think you need to manager you expectations. You are dreaming if you think someone will do all this for minimum wage. And getting chewed out by the hubby was probably the last straw.

People here are getting hung up on numbers and the amount of the minimum wage. Cost of living varies, the key factor here is MINIMUM WAGE. Would you do the job in your area for the current minimum wage in your area?Nope!

** Could you please explain what deductions were being taken out? If paying someone cash under the table, what deductions could legally be taken out? Seems a bit fishy to me? I am not familiar with paying a babysitter any way other than cash?

 

[Northstar]

Hey, Feckless. I get your vent. What you basically need is a trouble-free employee... and in the lottery of jobs and employer/employee relations, sometimes you get a great match, sometimes it just doesn't work out.

You know now that you need to do a little more "human resources" type work when you are an employer. If you pay minimum wage, in your employee's mind, you're competing with a lot of other jobs she could be doing. You don't get a lot of employee loyalty. And while you're saying "the nerve of that girl... she agreed to this job, slacked off and then just left," she's saying "the nerve of that employer... expecting me to act like a professional, tackle the challenges of a demanding job, and telling me off, all for minimum wage."

I'm actually more amazed that you were running payroll and submitting remittances to Canada Revenue for this employee. And you may be asked for a Record of Employment if she applies for EI later. Do you already have other employees so it wasn't that big a deal?

Hope the summer works out for you and your kids.

 

[ols386]

Paying a babysitter $10/hour, minus deductions, to look after the children AND do housekeeping is not enough, IMO. Plus the fact that it sounds like your kids are a handful (don't mean that in a negative way, but you said yourself your son son can be challenging). You either need to pay her more or find someone else who is willing to do all of this.

Did the babysitter have any experience in babysitting or being around kids? Even at age 24, if she doesn't have any experience or hasn't been around kids much, what you are expecting her to do might be a bit much.

 

[Imagineer7]

I've had friends go through similar situations. I suggested paying $10 an hour (what you were doing) and offering a weekly performance bonus. If they felt the person did a great job (above and beyond), they would be entitled to a bonus (typically about $50 bucks or so). Usually offered an incentive to get the job done WELL!!

 

[castmemberb4]

Feckless I'm sorry you're going through this and all of the scrutiny.

I think you just need someone with child care experience, this girl dosen't seem to have had any except maybe some babysitting. The wage you negociate with her/him is nobody's business but yours.
Glad you got this year figured out, and I hope the kids realize their part in all of this.
Consider this a learning experience and better luck next year.

BTW - I think the plan torismom laid out is excellent

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

I've had friends go through similar situations. I suggested paying $10 an hour (what you were doing) and offering a weekly performance bonus. If they felt the person did a great job (above and beyond), they would be entitled to a bonus (typically about $50 bucks or so). Usually offered an incentive to get the job done WELL!!

What would equal a job well done? If you never complained about their children? If you scraped the dog poop up just right? If you tolerated a rude child with a smile?

The OP's whole situation just seems weird. Right down to the babysitter laying around in front of the OP Maybe she was depressed?

 

[Imagineer7]

What would equal a job well done? If you never complained about their children? If you scraped the dog poop up just right? If you tolerated a rude child with a smile?

The OP's whole situation just seems weird. Right down to the babysitter laying around in front of the OP Maybe she was depressed?

A job well done is whatever the person paying the bills thinks is a good job. If they are satisfied with the performance and want to reward the bonus, it is given. If not, then its not. Let's call it a "discretionary" bonus because it is awarded at the discretion of the parent.

 

[maddiel]

I'm actually more amazed that you were running payroll and submitting remittances to Canada Revenue for this employee. And you may be asked for a Record of Employment if she applies for EI later. Do you already have other employees so it wasn't that big a deal?

I don't think it's that big a deal to do it that way - my sister nannied for a year and she was paid with UIC/CPP/Tax deductions. It can be worth it to the employer to do it with deductions and above board - you can deduct it as a child care expense.

I live in the general area of the OP and I have kids that have been babysat and one who has done a great deal of babysitting, including over the summer. IMO, $10/hour would be a reasonable but not exorbitant amount to pay a student to take care of two school age children full time.

Reading the OP's posts, I think the problem was probably due to unclear communication of her expectations. When my DD18 was babysitting, she and the parent planned out outings, activities, meals/snacks and playdates in advance, especially in the beginning of the summer. For that rate, I wouldn't expect cleaning or housework and I would expect to pay the sitter full time even if I didn't need them on a particular day/for full days. I would probably cover some sick days but not an unlimited number of them - I would discuss it the first time she called in sick if I hadn't already. I would also give more slack if on sick time, tidying, etc, if my kids were having a really good time - and pay a bonus.

M.

 

[mhsjax]

Even if they don't enjoy camp, summer is meant to be spent outdoors. I would call your local YMCA and get them enrolled.

Summer is meant to be enjoyed by school age kids. If they don't enjoy being at a certain camp, why in the world would a parent put them in this, there has to be something that they would enjoy.

Where I come from, most kids aren't outdoors that much, too hot. I am glad my parents were concerned about what I enjoyed and not what was concenvient for them.

 

[Disneyhenry]

Call the local high school, talk to the Counciling Center, let them know what you are looking for, the hours, the pay and the detailed job discription. They can either give the info to students that they feel qualify or they can post it.

 

[sparklynails23]

I'm wondering if the truth doesn't lie somewhere in the middle. The girl was lazy, and your son is more of a "handful" than you want to admit. Will any camp want to deal with his issues, or will he get kicked out of camp?

What happened to last year's babysitter?

 

[Feckless]

Part of this post was to see what kind of judgment would come out on these boards because I have seen what has been posted to others, and what kind of scrutiny and misinformation would be commented on from this post. I won't be posting anything other than Disney stuff and support for other posters from now on, you can be sure!

First of all, my DH was mad, but was NOT mad at the sitter. He did not berate her in any way. This discussion took place away from the children. In fact in the email where she quit, she said that her conversation with DH was nice and kind. He is a wonderful, kind man. He said as soon as he mentioned the blanket and lying around, he knew she was going to quit.

Secondly, my son is NOT an out of control brat as seems to have been implied by me and by other posters. I am also a parent that is VERY aware of my kids' personality and behaviour. I would appreciate it if people didn't read too much into what I said about him being rude (AT TIMES) and that he is energetic and rambunctious, and that he can argue with his sister. He is a lovely, funny, typical 8 year old. We told her that he wasn't a child that will sit quietly and read all day (although he will do that for a period!). He can be a handful on times. He is NORMAL. I overstated it to the sitter before she took the job because I wanted to make sure that she was aware of what she was accepting. She DID sit for us on two separate periods on two separate weekends to make sure that she could get along with the kids. IMO she did NOT quit because of the work (and if she didn't do anything in the house, but interacted with the kids and made the summer fun, I would not have called her on ANYTHING about housework) but because my DH called her on her lying around on the couch. I DID give her loads of guidance on how to deal with the kids. My post was long, but certainly is not exhaustive.

Third: I did NOT expect the sitter to plan the whole day - I did ask her to come up with one activity every day, or even every other day. It would be as simple as a walk to the park or a picnic, or going to the swimming pool in the neighbourhood. Also would not have been a deal breaker.

Fourth: On the point about the amount of pay, obviously it is not too low if I have already have a bunch of people looking for the job. I decided not to train someone else in, and have put my DD in art camp and my son in a Y outdoors camp. ITA with the posters who have said this was a teachable moment for the kids since they wanted to stay home this summer. Make the sitter unhappy, and you have to go to camp! I said it many times, and now it has come to pass.

Fifth: I do NOT pay cash under the table for childcare. I will give her a T4 for her work. I will remit her deductions and give her an ROE. It's a total PITA but I agreed to do that on her request, and I will certainly do that. I have already email money transferred her the day's pay for yesterday. Just because she didn't do what she agreed to doesn't mean I get to not live up to my obligations.

I will take your point about the dog. I wonder why she required my son only to do it, and not my daughter... Also, if she didn't want to clean up after the dog (and this is a once weekly occcurence - poor old thing!) I could have understood that, but she told me she didn't have a problem with it. And I would also note that I had other plans for the kids for various weeks for things that they wanted to do (half day art camp, etc.) so that she could have a break from both kids. These extra camps cost me approximately another $150 per week. With respect to extra kids around, my kids disappear when they have friends over - adding a child is like subtracting a child. It is not extra work. Plus, my kids will also be at their friends' houses, which actually DOES subtract a kid. It all works out. She had no problem with having other kids over and in fact would call other parents to invite children over because it WAS easier.

Bottom line: she quit with no notice after being called out on lying around, leaving me scrambling. Thanks again to those who have been kind enough to be supportive.

 

[Feckless]

What happened to last year's babysitter?

She would have come back, but we decided to try someone new. MISTAKE.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

but I didn't want to have to deal with scheduling activities if we were paying her to be there),

I did NOT expect the sitter to plan the whole day - I did ask her to come up with one activity every day, or even every other day. It would be as simple as a walk to the park or a picnic, or going to the swimming pool in the neighbourhood.

I guess I don’t understand why you didn’t want to “deal” with scheduling things? They are your children.

I do agree she seemed lazy to lay down while getting paid.


Was your babysitter last year bad that you didn’t rehire her?