I currently keep 3 girls in my home. One is full-time, and the other 2 are sisters and their mom pays me $4.50/hr. This week, I was supposed to watch them all 5 days, and be getting paid about $160 this coming friday. Well, their baby was sick on mon., and yesterday I only watched them for 3 hours before I made their mom come pick them up b/c the baby wouldn't stop screaming. They called at 1:30 today to tell me that they wouldn't be bringing the girls over today either, so I'm out all this money, and I don't know how I'm going to pay for groceries this weekend. Should I tell this mom that I need to be paid a flat amout weekly, so that I don't have to worry about where our food is going to come from, or should I maybe try to find someone else who is more reliable. Sometimes I watch their kids 15 hours a week, and sometimes it's 30 hours, so I just don't know what to do. Please advise!
Thanks to all who offered the great advice. I spoke with the mother, and she was completely fine with setting a minimum # of hours that I would be paid for. So, I get to keep my job, and my money.
Definitely make her pay BEFORE the week starts!! And 4.50/hr?? Isn't that too little?? i don't know...maybe in home day care is different, but i pay my sitter when i use her occasionally about $13-$15/hr...i also have 3 kids though. i don't know...maybe i'm paying way too much, but i think she's good and responsible....
anyway, good luck w/ all that! i'm sorry you are in a bind!
In the future YES!!! I am an in-home childcare provider as well. I run my service just like a corporate daycare. If the child is out sick you still get paid. If the child and the family go on vacation you still get paid. If they are only there part of the day you still get paid for the whole day. All corporate daycares have that policy. I know b/c I worked in Corp. daycare for 6 years. The only time I do not charge for the child being out is when my own kids are sick. I then inform the family that I am(if you are) willing to keep their child BUT if their child gets sick - even though they probably got it from my kids- they still have to pay me for the entire day that their child is out sick BUT if they choose not to bring their child then I do not charge. I know that they are taking preventive measures and will have to take off work or get someone else. DO NOT KEEP SICK KIDS! You also put your kids at risk for catching whatever virus that the child has if you keep a sick kid. I follow the CDC's guild lines regarding illness at a childcare facility. I recommend a one rate fee for the entire week. I charge $175 a week and that includes food and supplies for learning, kleenex and onther items. I do not receive payment for week(s)/day(s) that I take off for personal reasons and for vacations or any other time off I try to give 1 month notice so there is time to find alternatives. I do not know if you can get them to pay this time for the hours that you were planning on BUT you certainly can tell them that there are policy changes on the way. I do not know if you provide food or if they bring it. I have found that it is easier if I provide it that way every child gets the same thing.(no fighting or whining for someone else's food). Also make up a "handout" to give them and any new families that you take on and set out all the guide lines and payment policies. You should also be paid on Monday morning for that week's care. Again this is standard in the daycare world. Do not short change yourself, you work very hard and should be paid for it. The weekly rate is the best and easiest way to do things. If the child is there 15 hours or 40 hours a week you get the same amount. That is how daycare in the real world works. If you have any questions feel free to call me, I have been in the in hone care service for 5 years now. My number is ###-###-####. I hope this helps. I am sorry if I came across harsh but I am passionate about in-home care providers being respected and not being taken advantage of.
This is you job and you should get paid whether they come or not. If she is not willing to pay you a flat rate each week then let her find a new daycare. There is not a daycare around that let you pay just when you attend. You have a family to care for and are expecting that money sounds like she is taking advantage of you.
A lot of families use in-home care because they can't afford daycare. The rate you are charging is very fair. If you must have a set amount per week to make ends meet, then you need to let her know you will be changing your rate and that you will be going to a flat rate rather than an hourly rate. Don't be surprised if she says she'll need to find someone else to watch her kids. When I was first looking for in-home care, it was very important for me to find someone willing to be flexible because I couldn't afford a flat rate and I wouldn't need care every day, or even for a full day on most occasions. That's not to say that there isn't another mom out there who wouldn't jump at the chance to pay $160/week for 2 kids. You need to decide what you need to get by and then let her know. If she can't do that, then you can start looking for someone else who can use your services on a flat rate, full-time basis. That is completely understandable and it's better you do that than try to get by on less than you really need each week.
Good luck!
You should be getting paid whether she brings the child or not. If I were you I would have a contract that she signs stating such. If her kids were in day care, she would be required to pay either way. You can't plan your life on whether or not she decides to bring her children. I would just let her know what the expectations are. I have NEVER heard of anyone not paying when they choose not to bring their child. It would be different if you were sick and could not keep her child. Good luck!
When I was a SAHM and babysat at my home, I had a contract drawn up.
I will get paid for this many hours regardless. You will drop them off between this time and this time and you will pick them up no later than this time. I also put a clause in there that stipulated late fees as well. (anything over 15 minutes was $2 a minute. And I made sure their watches were in sync with mine).
I watched 5 kids in my home not including my 2 older children. It became a habit for one of my parents to either drop off unexpectantly or pick up WAY late, her children...and it seemed that I got them on days when she just wanted to "sleep a while" too.
The contract saved all of us a HUGE headache with miscommunication. And it also spelled out that I would have a vacation and not be available for a couple of weeks out of the year as well.
Smiles to you. Good Luck!
You need to tell her that your bills don't stop coming because her kids are sick. You need to be paid regardless. I also agree you are not charging enough. 4.50 isn't even minimum wage! You deserve more than that. I also do daycare from my home and the family is required to pay me on Monday. If I am sick or take off, that's different. You have to be up front with them or they will take advantage of you. I learned that the hard way! Good Luck!
I definitely think you should charge the moms a flat rate and that pay is required whether the child is there or not. That is how it works at daycare centers. They are getting an excellent rate with you, so should not complain. If they do, then you might need to find new children to keep. At daycares, parents pay in advance too! I know because my step-son was in daycare for 3 years until he started 1st grade.
For the sisters that you have anywhere from 15-30 hours a week, split the difference and have the mom pay for 22 hours...when they are there less you come out ahead, when they are there more you don't. Just a thought...
fyi --- Teenagers get paid $5-6 per hour (sometimes more) for watching kids...why shouldn't you?!?!?
You must take care of your family's need and that could help.
Good luck!
