A little back story....my sister just got her masters in social work and has not been able to find a job in her field yet in Chicago. Because of this, she has been doing some babysitting for different families ever since she graduated this past May. One particular family she has babysat for has paid her $12/hr for about 10 hrs/week for the past few months. Starting next week, for 2 weeks, she is going to take care of the child (4 years old) full time for about 45 hrs/week. At first they wanted to pay her $350/week but she said that wasn't enough and they ended up agreeing on $450/week, which is less than the $12/hr she was originally making with them. She wasn't completely happy with this but really needed the money. Just today the mother asked if she would be willing to take care of another child as well as their own during the second week. Here comes the jaw dropper...the mother then asked if it would be ok if each parent paid $225/week which would total the original $450/week but with an additional kid!! She ended up saying no and saying that $350/week/family would work for her. My question is do you think $350/week/family is fair? Should my sister have asked for more? Less? Thanks! - Anonymous
17 comments:
You sister is a big girl. See now she got the wages she wants. I think $350 per family is good. She will be making $700 a week not bad for two kids. If the kids are around the same age, it will be like a playdate. Should be easier. She doesn't need to entertain them 24/7
Take home $700 a week for two kids is fine by me.
I prefer to work hourly including oertime with a guranteed minimum take home pay.
When I work for two families I tend to add $2 to my hourly rate for whatever the total number of kids is, simply because two sets of parents is added stress. They split the cost so they are saving individually but I take home a little more. They also know that they will be paying me their share of the weekly salary even if they take time off.
By guess is your sister won't be taking that home weekly because it sounds like she works for the type of people who will take time off or send her home early and cut her pay.
But your sister is an adult and she will need to learn to speak up and negotiate for herslef if she's not satisfied.
If she's unhappy encourage her to go back and negotiate.
$700 for 45 hours a week breaks down to $14.74 an hour ($22.11 for OT). That's more than many experienced nannies are making these days.
So, yeah, it's plenty for a babysitter, IMO.
I agree with pps.
I'm an experienced nanny and will be getting that much for a share with 3 faamilies.
The only thing I would tell your sister to do is gurantee that she gets paid her $700 every week.
My MB wanted me to do a nanny share with her neighbor with no extra compensation. I couldnt believe it. I was floored. She sent me two texts one day. The first asking me if I would like to do it, and the second one saying "by the way, the salary would stay the same". My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe she didn't value me enough to pay me for double the work, double the children, and double the mess I would have to clean up.
I talked it over with the other mother, and we agreed that wasn't fair. I now get compensated from birth parents. The funny thing is now child #2 isnt coming over as much anymore anyway.
$700 a week for two kids for 45 hours is decent. I would have said she should make $15/hr for one child = $675 and then $20/hr for two in a share = $900. But considering she started a bit low at $12/hr, I think $700 is just fine. Make sure she negotiates a detailed contract with a built-in date for annual raises.
$700 for 45 hours a week is good for especially for someone with no prior nanny experience and someone who is looking for a dream job in her field.
Your sister's fine. Let her handle her business.
It sounds like good money to me. And I think your sister knows what she is doing. She made a good deal.
That being said, I would never nanny share, either as a nanny or as an employer. I just don't like the idea.
I would look beyond the bigger picture. What I see is a family who is trying to get a "deal" w/your sister and is already trying to nickel and dime her. Unless she is in dire need of the $$, she should move on.
This family's actions are a HUGE red flag for things to come.
And I do not mean good things.
KnittyNanny: That is madness!!! How awkward was it when you turned it down? People are crazy sometimes.
20$.hr min for a nanny share, thats 10$ per child. If they can't afford that they should put their children in daycare. If you go into an arrangement and they are nickle and dimeing you its not a good sign. If there are any addition children it should be compensated with a GUARANTEED payment each week, no changing/dropping hours. I had an offer from a family that wanted to do a share and they wanted me to work an extra 5 hours with no compensation?! I was offended that they even suggested that.
Given that this is a short term gig and your sister doesn't have much experience in the field, this amount seems fine. However, this family has thrown up a lot of red flags and I would be very wary of working for them on a more permanent full time basis.
It was pretty awkward! She told me she would google it and see how much extra I should get. I do get some extra money, but its not much. In fact, I'm having some pay/hour issues with them at the moment, but that's a story for another time.
I say run while you can... This sounds like these people wanna get a "deal" on childcare which is insulting. If your having issues being paid a certain amount by a certain time it will only get worse. So you have two options, one have a sit down, air your concerns regarding your responsibilities, pay, hours etc and work out a fair agreement in writing for both sides that will give everyone balance and a guarantee both parties are getting what they need/want from the experience. Or two suck it up not communicate your concerns do only what they want get walked all over, grow increasingly angry and irritated & quit out of haste because you feel taken advantage of. If you let problems fester they only get worse & messy.
Good Luck!
How can these people live with themselves? Why on earth would they suggest you watch a whole nother child FOR FREE?? And now you're having problems with pay & hours? Naturally. With people like this you will always have issues as they don't respect nannies for whatever reason. They'll try to get you to clean, too. Id look for a better job & keep searching until you find a decent family. These people are beyond cheap! You deserve better!!!!
Very well said, Penny!
Do you mind me asking why? I'm curious in a non-judgmemtal kind of way, umass.
I remember the first time I heard about nanny shares. I too, was put off. The way I see them is two fold. 1.)The parents are too cheap for a nanny so this is their alternative. (That's my initial reaction.) 2.)The parents want the benefits of a nanny, with the advantage of social interaction(this is always my second thought.)
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