What would you pay?

mrslaquinta

We have a babysitter who watches the girls all day, one day a week, and we pay her $12/hour.  For the next two Monday nights, we have asked her to spend the night at our house just in case I go into labor overnight, as that is the one night of the week that DH isn't home.  (Just FYI, if I do go into labor, my SIL, who lives next door, will drive me to the hospital and DH will drive straight there from San Antonio.  So the reason we asked the sitter to stay is so that she can be here with the girls while they sleep and stay with them in the morning until my mom can get into town.)  Anyway, my question is how much to pay her for staying here overnight.  Do we just pay her normal rate, or some reduced flat amount?  She won't be getting here until 9:00-ish, so she won't actually be watching the girls or anything, just sleeping here, unless I do go into labor.  Then on Tuesday morning, assuming everything is normal, she will leave by 8:30 to go to her other job.  WDYT?  Thanks!

Taytee

I did some research on this for a similiar situation. Personally, I opted to pay the usual rate plus overtime (time and a half) for the hours they were awake above and beyond the usual hours since it is overtime.

It's not about if they're sleeping or working to watch the kids. As another nestie put it once "It's about the inconvenience". She's not on her own time where she can do what she wants when she wants. She's on your time so she's on your dime. It makes my brain want to explode when people essentially suggest that if you're sleeping then you shouldn't get paid. For anyone who thinks that, you can come sleep at my house for free for 3 nights while DH is in London.

august8080

dup

august8080

I would think like $100/night, maybe?

molliedb

laura, if you're going to be paying $100 a night, please let me do it.  i'm emailing you.

Jess.O

Taytee:

I did some research on this for a similiar situation. Personally, I opted to pay the usual rate plus overtime (time and a half) for the hours they were awake above and beyond the usual hours since it is overtime.

It's not about if they're sleeping or working to watch the kids. As another nestie put it once "It's about the inconvenience". She's not on her own time where she can do what she wants when she wants. She's on your time so she's on your dime. It makes my brain want to explode when people essentially suggest that if you're sleeping then you shouldn't get paid. For anyone who thinks that, you can come sleep at my house for free for 3 nights while DH is in London.

ITA that she should be paid for being there even if she is sleeping or not actively watching the kids.  However, I don't think I'd pay time and a half since she isn't (from what I'm understanding) working more than 40 hours.  Isn't that typically when people get paid overtime?  Or, am I just out of the loop and they get it for time over their typical schedule?  I'd probably just pay her the regular hourly pay b/c like Taytee said, she isn't free to go do her own thing and I'm sure she'll be helping out with anything that needs to be done. 

s-a-r-a-h

I would try to negotiate a set rate with her. $100-150/night seems reasonable to me.

espana21

I would just put both of your girls to sleep in your SIL's house in PNPs or something on the 2 nights of concern (like put them to bed per normal routine just not in their own bedrooms at your house).  If you were to go into labor, then your BIL would be there with his kids and your girls while they sleep and your SIL would take you to the hospital.

Taytee

Jess.O:

Taytee:

I did some research on this for a similiar situation. Personally, I opted to pay the usual rate plus overtime (time and a half) for the hours they were awake above and beyond the usual hours since it is overtime.

It's not about if they're sleeping or working to watch the kids. As another nestie put it once "It's about the inconvenience". She's not on her own time where she can do what she wants when she wants. She's on your time so she's on your dime. It makes my brain want to explode when people essentially suggest that if you're sleeping then you shouldn't get paid. For anyone who thinks that, you can come sleep at my house for free for 3 nights while DH is in London.

ITA that she should be paid for being there even if she is sleeping or not actively watching the kids.  However, I don't think I'd pay time and a half since she isn't (from what I'm understanding) working more than 40 hours.  Isn't that typically when people get paid overtime?  Or, am I just out of the loop and they get it for time over their typical schedule?  I'd probably just pay her the regular hourly pay b/c like Taytee said, she isn't free to go do her own thing and I'm sure she'll be helping out with anything that needs to be done. 

Overtime for the day, not for the week. Time over 9 hours.

mrslaquinta

Thanks ladies, and just to clarify, I was never suggesting not paying her.  I was just hoping that someone had experience with this and could clue me in to what is normal in this type of situation.  I have no doubt we will reach an agreement that works for both of us.

michelleaxo

molliedb:

laura, if you're going to be paying $100 a night, please let me do it.  i'm emailing you.

For realz.

Taytee

mrslaquinta:

Thanks ladies, and just to clarify, I was never suggesting not paying her.  I was just hoping that someone had experience with this and could clue me in to what is normal in this type of situation.  I have no doubt we will reach an agreement that works for both of us.

Oh, I know you weren't !!! But in previous discussions on the issue, someone always pops up and says something to that effect. Pre-emptive strike on my part

My suggestions are based on my personal employment as a nanny, another persons nanny contract and what I'm personally willing to pay based on the obligation of being an employer. Friends are almost always willing to work for less so if you have the opportunity, by all means you can take them up on it!!

ndluvsrk

We have been in this exact situation (for K1 when I went into labour with K2) and we discussed the rate with our nanny at the time and she was fine with $100 for the night.

Can't believe you're so close!!!

So excited for you!!

I'm curious as to your guess for the gender of this child, but not sure if you're willing to spill. 

naclh2otaffy

We recently hired a sitter and as I was asking her rate she offered that for overnights she usually gets half the rate of daytime since she and the kids are all sleeping.  A nanny (and nanny rates) aren't the same as an occasional babysitter (and babysitting rates) in my world.