Where do we fall on the evil scale?

[NewDCLGuy]

Our dogs are getting too old to go to the kennel, so we asked around if anybody knew a good sleep-over dog/house sitter. A co-worker recommend the young woman who sits for her. The sitter isn't a profession, just a dog-loving recent college grad who can use the extra money. My co-worker is the only person she sits for.

We call the sitter up, really like her, and probably more important, the dogs lover her. Since she isn't a professional, she doesn't have set rates. We knew what my co-worker pays her, but that honestly didn't seem enough. So we offered significantly more. Part of the justification is that we are more demanding. We have two dogs we expect to be taken, separately, on long walks. The co-worker has one small dog. We (OK, my wife) are pretty high maintenance, leaving this kid 4 pages of single spaced notes on how to care for dogs.

We have the sitter in 3-times now, and couldn't be happier. Now the problem: The co-worked ask how things were working out. And then asked how much we are paying her. When we told her how much we are paying, she hit the roof. She is seriously upset. In her mind the best case scenario is that she now has to pay the sitter more. The worst case scenario is that we will steal her sitter away from her. She did us a favor and this is how we repay her!

So on the evil scale, where do we stand. Since this is a Disney board, are we down with the mug reusers? The people who stop in the middle of the theater and don't fill all available seats? Line cutters? Shoplifters? Worse?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You are not evil, you are reasonable, logical. You have more than one dog and several requirements.

Maybe the coworker is "evil" because she is ripping off the poor kid?

So what numbers are we talking?

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I don't see where you are evil either. In fact, I don't think it's any of your coworker's business what you are paying the sitter. Just between the sitter and you.

 

[Keli]

You did nothing wrong. You made a reasonable deal with this young woman. Co-worker might be surprised but this may not affect her at all. Since she only has one small dog and requires less care it should cost her less for dog sitting. The young woman may just sit for both of you for different rates. Unless co-worker was seriously underpaying her. Then she should pay more.

 

[ChrizJen]

I agree. I don't think you did anything wrong. I don't necessarily think the co-worker is ripping the sitter off if they have an agreed upon price, and as long as they're all in a agreement.

But your co-worker is the one in the wrong. You had every right to pay the sitter what you felt was the appropriaate amount. I honestly think it was rude of her in the first place to ask what you pay.

Did you try to explain that you based your price on your additional needs?
If you've tried to explain and she's still upset, then that's on her.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I agree. I don't think you did anything wrong. I don't necessarily think the co-worker is ripping the sitter off if they have an agreed upon price, and as long as they're all in a agreement.

But your co-worker is the one in the wrong. You had every right to pay the sitter what you felt was the appropriaate amount. I honestly think it was rude of her in the first place to ask what you pay.

Did you try to explain that you based your price on your additional needs?
If you've tried to explain and she's still upset, then that's on her.

That's what I was thinking.

I don't think I would've asked what someone was paying for the service in the first place. She must have thought she was rather low. I don't know. But you have different circumstances and just stating that should have sufficed.

 

[indimom]

I don't think it's evil, you paid what you considered a fair wage.

Sort of a different situation, but also the same.
I did a LOT of babysitting when I was a teen and never had set rates. I took what people paid me.

I had a family with three kids who would pay me $25 or $30 for an evening. And another family with one child who would pay me $50. It never bothered me and I never stopped working for the first family.

I have a feeling, this girl will continue to dog-sit for your co-worker unless she was SERIOUSLY underpaying. If the sitter doesn't set her own rates, she is probably just content with whatever she gets.

 

[wdwmom2]

You are not evil. You are paying for the piece of mind knowing that your dogs are being taken care very well while you are away.

And really, it is none of your co-workers business what you are paying your dog sitter. That is between you and the sitter!

 

[golfgal]

I don't think it's evil, you paid what you considered a fair wage.

Sort of a different situation, but also the same.
I did a LOT of babysitting when I was a teen and never had set rates. I took what people paid me.

I had a family with three kids who would pay me $25 or $30 for an evening. And another family with one child who would pay me $50. It never bothered me and I never stopped working for the first family.

I have a feeling, this girl will continue to dog-sit for your co-worker unless she was SERIOUSLY underpaying. If the sitter doesn't set her own rates, she is probably just content with whatever she gets.

I did this as well, so did pretty much everyone I know and so do my kids. People forget that $10 to a kid is a lot of money. For the OP's case, if she is a new college grad, ANYTHING is welcome. Yes, if your coworker and you need her on the same weekend she will probably go to your house but maybe not. I wouldn't let it bother you too much. If your coworker keeps on you, bring her the list your wife left the sitter for your dogs and leave it at that. Hopefully your coworker is mature enough to understand you are paying more for more work.

 

[Rora]

Not evil in my book.

If you're asking the sitter to do more, she should get paid more. If your co-worker keeps going on about it, bring her your wife's notes and explain just what the situation is. I'd do my best to just ignore the co-worker.

 

[Stitchfans]

I don't see where you are evil either. In fact, I don't think it's any of your coworker's business what you are paying the sitter. Just between the sitter and you.

I totally agree with this. IMO I would of told the co worker to mind her own business. I would of told her it was too different deals. One that involved one small dog and the other involving two dogs. Can not expect the same price.

For the record did not read the rest of the responses after this one so if I repeated someone please don't attack me.

 

[marcemc]

Evil scale? Never, if anything the opposite for being such a loving & considerate dog owner

It is not unusual that dog sitters & babysitters get paid different $ amount depending on each family's need, this is not a big deal. Tell your co-worker (if she brings it up again) to let it go for good.