AIBU Babysitter always asks for lift home?

Money_maker

This type of job is a cushy little number. OP will have no problem replacing her if necessary.

coffeehound

paddedjohn wrote: »

Having read this thread I see a few posters saying that the OP should pay the childminder the minimum wage, the new minimum is £7.50 but that is for 25yrs and over, the childminder is only 24

.. plus she probably isn't paying NICs or PAYE on earnings

Spendless

tensandunits wrote: »

I was wondering that myself. Not being a motorist, I've used buses all my life, and I've never paid £4.90 just for a single fare. A return or day saver would be cheaper than two single fares, too.

More to the point, the woman's 24, not 14. She either needs to learn to drive or factor in the cost of getting to and from her places of work, and charge accordingly.

Agreed, at 24 it can't come as news to her that the parents would quite probably like to both have an alcoholic drink and one can't if she's asking them for lifts, instead of making her own arrangements about getting back.

I'm actually surprised that someone working as a CM doesn't drive. In all the threads overs the years there's been about childcare, that is a frequent advantage mentioned about child minding that they can take them out and about after school and in holidays. Without your own transportation that must be limiting, unless they either live in an area where you can walk to everything or one very well served by public transport.

Beckyy

She's asking and you're saying yes so I don't think she's taking advantage or you're being unreasonable. If she was assuming then expecting one without asking I would be annoyed.

At 24 I think it's debatable whether you should offer the bus fare. You and I wouldn't get paid for our transport to work, so IMO her hourly rate should reflect things like that which she needs to take into account.

thorsoak

Pay her the NMW rate of £7.50 per hour, and give her the tel no of the local taxi firm.

Guest101

freeisgood wrote: »

Hello all.

We have being using a babysitter for a few months now, she has been to ours maybe 15 times. She is 24 yrs old, she is a childminder and has been an au pair,and came recommended to me via a friend. She is lovely with the kids.

The first couple of times sitting, she actually got her dad to come and collect her as she lives at home, fair enough. Then she asked us for a lift home ,via text prior to sitting job, and thats the way its been every time we ask her to sit, if I ignore the " can I have a lift home please" she sends it again.

We live in a nice large town that is considered very safe, her home is 25 mins walk and the bus stop is about 2 minutes walk away if she chose to use it, and one bus would take her straight home.

She charges £7 per hour.

I have no issues taking her home after 10.30 for example, but she asks every time prior to the babysitting, even if we are walking to our local from 6.30 to 8.30 for a quick meal out, it means one of us cannot drink.

It's got to the point we don't want to use her anymore, but we don't have another sitter.
Just wondering how to tactfully say "not unless it is late/ after 10" without offending her.

Do you think I should just reply "No sorry" and see what happens? help!

Then the ball is firmly in her court.


What she's saying in essence is: yes I can come do a job for you, and these are my conditions

Guest101

thorsoak wrote: »

Pay her the NMW rate of £7.50 per hour, and give her the tel no of the local taxi firm.

It sounds like she's self employed and therefore NMW doesn't apply

marliepanda

I used to get more than £7 an hour when I was 15/16... and that was *cough* over ten years ago.

£7 an hour and sometimes it's only for two hours? Wouldn't be worth my time if I was paying for a bus fare out of it. You get what you pay for.

Give her a tenner an hour and make her travel herself.

[Deleted User]

candygirl wrote: »

This is reminding me of the film Rita, Sue and Bob too :rotfl:

Wasn't Bob a cat?

Bogof_Babe

marliepanda wrote: »

I used to get more than £7 an hour when I was 15/16... and that was *cough* over ten years ago.

£7 an hour and sometimes it's only for two hours? Wouldn't be worth my time if I was paying for a bus fare out of it. You get what you pay for.

Give her a tenner an hour and make her travel herself.

Blimey :eek: . A tenner an hour, so potentially £40-£50. The parents won't be able to afford to go out once they have forked out for that!

Is there no baby sitting circle in the area that the OP could join, and take turns to sit for eachother's kids with no money having to change hands, as I think they work by tokens. If not it might be an idea to look into starting one!