Do you begrudge paying your babysitter minimum wage to watch TV?

Spendless

I never even used to pay an hourly rate. I used to 'hire' teenagers not Norland nannies! The youngest was our Niece who was 14.5, the rest were Neighbours kids or our Godsons were around 15/16. I used to give a flat rate of £15 go out around 7.30/8pm-ish and return not long after 11pm. They also used to have plenty of snacks and fizzy drinks left out and we were always a short walk away. I found in each case that once the teens got to around 17, they weren't interested in babysitting jobs any more.

Here childminders who have to be registered and inspected don't charge the minimum wage, babysitters don't have to have the same requirements!

onomatopoeia99

pigpen wrote: »

dog walkers here charge about £8 an hour.. childminders are double that at least.. as they should be.. responsibility for another human is a far bigger deal than an animal.

So the teenage babysitter, such as a niece or nephew, or child of friends etc isn't a thing around where you live? You would get a registered childminder in for a few hours of an evening out? :eek:

missbiggles1

Beckyy wrote: »

From what I've seen that's actually about average for a professional, insured pet sitter over-night, and some charge more than that.

It's miles more than I've ever paid - I wouldn't dream of paying that amount even for 2 dogs!

Spendless

pigpen wrote: »

I'd leave a dog home alone overnight.. its a dog.. not a child! Dogs and children are not the same. I wouldnt think twice about going out and leaving a dog or cat for an evening.

dog walkers here charge about £8 an hour.. childminders are double that at least.. as they should be.. responsibility for another human is a far bigger deal than an animal.

Childminders are £16 per hour?? For one child?? A quick google search tells me that the average for your area (you're around an hour away from me- unless you've moved?) is below £6 per hour.

pigpen

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

So the teenage babysitter, such as a niece or nephew, or child of friends etc isn't a thing around where you live? You would get a registered childminder in for a few hours of an evening out? :eek:

there is abolutely no way on this earth I would have the younger teenage (under 16) anything look after my children.. I have either my older children in an emergency, such as today when I had to take my mog to the vet very very occasionally.. my older 2 have their own children so know what is involved. Noone else has them, not ever. Absolutely never anyone under 16 and then only based on their maturity.. I wouldnt have my 20 y/o watch the littlies for more than about 15/20 minutes. I wouldnt let OH's 33 y/o sister have them either.

I wouldn't let a childminder have them either.. regardless of anything.. I like to know where my children are and who they are with.. how is that possible with a childminder? I've also known some truly dreadful ones over the years.. 2 come straight to mind I wouldnt let look after my cat never mind my child!

I have used a private nursery for 3 days when we were moving house.. my sister was working there at the time.

missprice

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Somebody's taking you for a ride!

I don't think so, they charge similar round here. but I found a dog sitter I like,same as with child-care if you like the person looking after them you do your best to keep them.

Beckyy wrote: »

From what I've seen that's actually about average for a professional, insured pet sitter over-night, and some charge more than that.

It's the same price as a kennels nearby for overnights, but this is more personal and although I have never used a dog walker/sitter in my life before, I am quite liking it.☺

onlyroz

Spendless wrote: »

Childminders are £16 per hour?? For one child?? A quick google search tells me that the average for your area (you're around an hour away from me- unless you've moved?) is below £6 per hour.

I used to pay a childminder about £13 for three hours, from the end of the school day until 6pm. She also had three other children there as well. I now pay £9 for the after school club for the same time. The holiday club (8:30am-6pm) is only £23.

I've never used a babysitter but I don't think it's unreasonable of them to expect the minimum wage.

zagfles

What has NMW got to do with anything? This is only relevant for employees - a babysitter won't count as an employee unless it's a regular contractual arrangement where eg the babysitter has to ask for leave if they want an evening off etc.

Babysitters are more like self-employed, they choose whether or not to work on a particular evening, they might have lots of different people they provide babysitting to. Bit like a window cleaner etc. It's not up to the client to worry about NMW or other employment legislation.

If people want to consider employment legislation when hiring a babysitter then they should also consider sex discrimination too, and not expect a babysitter to be of a particular gender - as I think this applies to services as well as employment legislation.

missbiggles1

missprice wrote: »

I don't think so, they charge similar round here. but I found a dog sitter I like,same as with child-care if you like the person looking after them you do your best to keep them.



It's the same price as a kennels nearby for overnights, but this is more personal and although I have never used a dog walker/sitter in my life before, I am quite liking it.☺

Where on earth do you live that has kennels charging £40 pn? I've just checked all the ones I've used in the last few years and none of them charge over £18 and most of them less - in the south east! If you have 2 dogs, that would add £1,200 to a fortnight's holiday!:eek:

missprice

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Where on earth do you live that has kennels charging £40 pn? I've just checked all the ones I've used in the last few years and none of them charge over £18 and most of them less - in the south east! If you have 2 dogs, that would add £1,200 to a fortnight's holiday!:eek:

£18 per night per dog, I have 2 dogs.
Nothing against kennels/catteries and have used them previously but I am liking the personal touch here. I know where my sitter will walk them and which dogs he will walk with them. My dogs adore his own dog and seem to like him too. It's working well so far with him and of course I am helping the local economy :T

If there was no local dog walker I would use the kennels