So, I turn to you. I am normally paid a flat rate of $750 per week/cash and I work between 40-45 hours. I am off on weekends. We left at 500 in the morning on the Sat the 28th. On Sunday the 29th and Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th, I was away. That is four weekend days. We returned on Monday the 9th. While I was away, the 10 month old slept in a crib in my room. So, even though she pretty much slept through the night, I was on 24 hours a day. After I got her down at night, I couldn't leave the room. The only time I got to hang out on the beach was with the children. It was exhausting. Yes, I got to eat good quality meals, but I don't eat subpar food while I am home. I am a live-in nanny.
I think being polite worked against me. I said thank you for the meals, but that is how I am. That doesn't mean I didn't realize I was working. I would like to leave them a note, asking for the missing pay. What should I expect? They way that I see it, I am owed at least $500 extra, if not more for the trip. Do I need to justify it? Break it down? I don't understand how they could think it was acceptable to pay not a stitch extra. Especially since, I have now been working 19 days straight.
This is something that needs to be discussed BEFORE you agree to the trip. Its not too late to say something but overall you need to chalk it up to a learning experience.
ReplyDeleteIn the future always iron out even the smallest of details - $$ for food when not on duty, sleeping arrangements, free time, airplane travel compensation. And agree on a schedule.
They need to pay you. They should be ashame of themselves.
ReplyDeleteAshamed. Sorry typo
ReplyDeleteYou can post anonymously but use moniker. Instead of selecting anonymous, choose name/url and enter any name you like.
ReplyDeleteI think it's your fault for not negotiating up front. It's hard to ask about it after the fact without appearing ungrateful.
ReplyDeleteYes you should have talked about it before leaving, on the other hand they had you work more hours. They need to pay you for all hours worked, and overtime. No one would work 19 days straight for 2 weeks worth of pay. I would have said something mid trip. You didn't have a single chance to be alone.... RUDE. I'd look for a new family and do what ever you need to do to get the money your owed.
ReplyDeleteBreak it down, break down your normal salary into an hourly rate..... then find out your over time rate, multiply that by all hours over 45 (state of NY); then figure out what your sleeping rate is (100-150 for the 10-12 hours of night). In CA the 7th day is double time, the 6th day is over time.
At a minimum they should pay you the same hourly rate they pay you now, for ALL of the hours your were on call (including sleep time - basically 24-7). If you had brought it up ex-ante, you could have asked for even more, but at this point it is perfectly fair and reasonable to ask for the usual compensation for all of the hours you were asked to be available to care for a child as opposed to follow your own program. I say this as a mother who hires a nanny very often to care for our youngest when we travel with the older kids to a not-baby-friendly setting (e.g. camping trips). Before, we were asking grandparents who live somewhat far away to care for our youngest daughter while we made small trips with the older kids, but then our nanny offered to keep the child at home for the same hourly rate she normally charges, which we thought was a bargain. Your employers are basically exploiting you if they are not giving you at least this much compensation for your time.
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