Received Tuesday, September 23, 2008. - Perspective & Opinion
I have been working for the same family for about 2 months (live in) now, (I am the same poster who posted the 'driver down' story). Currently watching 1 of their 2 younger children as the older of the two is in preschool. I work an average of 50-55 hours a week. I dont make alot. Plus I go to school. The mother wants to pull her daughter out of school and keep her with me during the day. Now am I wrong in asking for more money? How do I approach this?
11 comments:
HELL no you are not wrong in asking for more money. More kids = more work = more pay. I would ask the mother, "What kind of raise are you willing to give if this goes through?" Your raise needs to be discussed and agreed upon before the decision is even made. Remember, just because you are a live-in does not mean you're a slave!
Absolutely tell her you need a pay increase. How much are you making right now for your work week?
Do you have a contract, OP? Does it state how many kids you are watching and at what time? If it does, then you're set. If it doesn't, you might legitimately meet resistance. Good luck!
I should hope you would get a raise since you were under the assumption that the one would be in preschool, and not home. I think it would be a valid question to discuss with them.
It sounds as if you've not given the mother a response yet on keeping the daughter with you during the day. When you started, was the older child at home with you? If so, you may be obligated by your initial agreement to watch both children. It seems to me that you'd do well to ask to have a talk with the mother about having the extra responsibility and to ask for additional monetary compensation. It seems to me that you deserve it.
Most bosses are not going to give you a raise just because you ask when it eats into their budget or profits. You must give your boss a compelling reason to give you are raise. Simply stating “I want a raise” will go about as far as a plane with no propellers. Your boss must walk away from the meeting with the knowledge that you are well worth the money and well worth retaining in the organization.
1.) Show your Positive
2.) Justify Your Existence
3.) Get along with your boss
4.) Listen to Criticism
5.) Be prepared to walk
Unfortunately, there are bosses out there who won’t give you a raise no matter what you are worth. If this happens you aren’t negotiating until you are willing to walk away.
From the sound of this post and the last one, it doesn't sound like you are working for the greatest family. All that business about the car from the last post is ridiculous! To be honest, it sounds like this family is taking advantage of you. I would definitely ask them for a raise if you are going to be taking care of the daughter all day, but I have a feeling they are not going to make it easy for you. I think you should leave if they don't give you a raise.
you should just simply say "hey, I was thinking about how you're going to pull [child] out of school, and if its at all possible, I think it would be fair if I could get a pay raise" and a decent person would understand, if they have a huge problem with that, then you should find new work.
OP,
WHAT did you decide to do?
PLEASE update us.
We are all eager to know.
OP, don't forget that they'll have the extra money in hand that they are no longer paying for the child's school.
However, if they are pulling her out because they can't make ends meet right now (a lot of Americans are in a big pinch financially right now, and many are having to cut back), then you shouldn't feel hurt if your raise is a modest one. If you dont end up making a wage comparable for nannies in your area watching two children then you have the option of looking for a better job.
OP, is this the same family who planned on having you sleep on a cot in their laundry room? You are probably much cheaper for them than a daycare, of course they want to take their older daughter out and leave her with you.
YES, you should get a raise! I hope you had a contract? Stating that your job was to care for one child while one was in daycare? If so, it will be easier for you to negotiate. I suspect you have no contract though, based on what you wrote in your last post, so you will just have to point out to them in a meeting how this will affect your job duties, and spell out the reasons why you DESERVE more if they go ahead with this plan.
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