Received Friday, November 14, 2008. - Perspective & Opinion
I need some info from fellow nannies or parents who hire nannies for overnight work.
Friends of the people I work for have asked me to spend the night with their kids for two nights (thurs, fri and they get home sometime sat ) while they're out of town. I haven't done this in a long time and was just wondering what the going rate is for that, since they didn't suggest one, and I don't know.
One of the kids is a teenager who doesn't drive yet. I anticipate going over to their house around 7:30pm and then taking them to school thurs and fri, and then spending all day Saturday with them. How much would you charge to do this?
Thanks so much.
I'm not sure, but whatever you do, don't let them talk you into the "they're going to be sleeping and so are you, so you get paid less for those hours" thing. If you can't leave, it's business hours, no matter if you're sleeping or not.
ReplyDeleteNot enough information. Where you are located, the number of children, and whether they are all in school, or you will be caring for any of them all day will determine the total.
ReplyDeleteI charge $150 for overnights. If it is not my regular work family, I charge my regular rate for the hours the children are awake, and in my care, and the overnight fee for the night.
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ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMy charge is a toddler, and we flat-rate overnights at full rate for 16 hours and half rate for 8 hours (my sleeping hours). My charge sleeps through the night (7-7) reliably, but I do not make more/less if there's an off night.
I used to work for a family with two kids, neither of whom slept through the night, and they paid me fully for every hour. I know people that want pay like, $50 for the time their kids are asleep and then regular for when the kids are awake. That always seemed a bit off to me as the overnight compensation is less than I'd make if they went to a movie OR dinner, instead of out of town.
I would charge half-rate for when the kids are all in school, as I'm assuming you will be on call - i.e. if the school burns down or Timmy comes down with the flu in English, you will need to be available to pick the kid(s) up and take care of them.
6:47 PM
RE-POST FOR ANONYMOUS --
YOU FORGOT A MONIKER!!
I get paid my day rate in addition to my day's rate (if that makes sense). Example; I make $300 a day, I take home $600 for a 24 hour shift.
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ReplyDeleteWe agree on a flat rate with our nanny for situations like this or when she travels with us. Our rule of thumb is to calculate hours "on duty" and use a multiplier of her salary. So in your situation, we would add up all hours on duty for the week and if it were 90 hours, and your usual weekly salary was for 45 hours, we would pay double for the week. This has always worked well for us and several different nannies.
ReplyDeleteI think another reasonable yardstick in these situations is babynurses as they commonly work 24 hours shifts and usually charge $200-300/day. I have never seen or heard of anyone charging $600 for 24 hours as someone above suggested though and have done this (and had friends who have) many times in Manhattan.
The most important detail is to agree on all hours, duties, and pay scale AHEAD of time (as you seem to be doing!). When we first employed someone overnight, we were inexperienced and did not do this. It seemed to inevitably lead to one side or the other feeling frustrated. The other key to any financial negotiation is that you do NOT want to be the one to make the first offer. If I were you I would ask the family what they were offering for payment. You could get lucky if it is higher than you would have requested. If it is lower, you need simply and politely to say what you have generally charged and what amount would make it worth your while. They can choose to employ you or make alternate arrangements if it's out of their budget. Especially as this isn't the family you usually work for, you definitely have the luxury to decide how much money would make the job a fulfilling one for you.
I charge $100 for an overnight if Im not getting there until 6pm or so. Then I start charging hourly at 7am, not to exceed $200. So for a complete day, it's $200. I live in Orange County CA and do quite a few overnights or weekends.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, this sounds like a crappy gig. Just my opinion! But I guess if the money is worth it.
ReplyDeleteI roughly charge about 1/2 my hourly rate for sleeping hours (rounded up/down).
It can be, Yaya, if you have people not willing to pay you for your time. What parents don't get is you're not in your own bed, you're not sleeping easily because you're listening for children all night, even with older children this is the case as any mother her will attest to. That's why my boss pays me double my salary for the day, she knows there's no real down time as you're always on as a 24 hour caregiver.
ReplyDeleteop here, thanks for the advice, honestly i don't want to do it, i like to go home after work, and i like to sleep in my own bed, i dont think these people have alot of money (my regular employers pay well, but im not sure i would expect this family to pay me on that scale)..anyway i hate saying "no" to ppl, but i also hate feeling obligated. i know its a job and i should act more professional but i always find declining ppl, or telling them a rate so awkward
ReplyDeletenomdeplume,
ReplyDeletewhere and how do you make $300/day?
AZNanny, that was an example. I do think at the very least we need double pay. We're not at home.
ReplyDeleteAPPROPRIATE OVERNIGHT RATE:
ReplyDeleteFrom the time I arrive till the time I leave I get paid my full hourly rate. With the exception of 8 sleeping hours paid at 1/2 my hourly rate.
* don't feel like you EVER need to work for free! Some families might try to stiff you for free night hours. YOU ARE WORKING! you are on their time, responsible for their children, staying at their house. You cant leave - you need to be getting paid. Why is this even a discussion?
I charge half my hourly rate while children are sleeping. Ive been a nanny 25 years and no one tries to negotiate with me on my overnight rate, I would simply be unavailable ( tell them I am already booked) if they did. I work in the Bay Area, Northern California. Good luck nannies and always ask for what your worth, overnights to me are like being a single parent, its a lot of responsibility and its tiring. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have been a nanny for 14 years. And it's taken me quite a few experiences to develop my sense of worth. And have the courage to voice my opinion to my clients.
ReplyDeleteAny good nanny is worthy of great pay. You are taking care of their children you are taking their position as a parent when they are not available to do so. So request $500 a night my average pay is $23 an hour and I usually work with more than one child for instance right now I have a set of twin boys age 6 and six-month-old for the first time with my newer client I am being asked to do an overnight. I'm totally invested with these people and care deeply for their needs and concerns. You are completely responsible they will be out of state and it wouldn't matter if they were just going a short distance for an overnight together you are completely responsible for anything that should happen thus it makes it much more difficult to sleep, and most likely you'll be up for a good portion of the night.
It was great reading all of the other comments and opinions. I hope this was helpful