Au pair babysitting New Year's Eve

A bit cheeky then however this could be an addition to talk about for future times. Maybe it's ok they bb sit for other families but need to ask you first? Or they only have to ask for days they work and other days free to do as they wish.

So why did she ask you for a reference for another mom? That's strange...

I think I would be pretty annoyed at that, particularly as you seem pretty reasonable and shes been with you a long time. If you are not using your 2 nights a week (which is what is in our contract), and she is living with you I think she should have asked you first.

Our AP does some babysitting for friends....but he checks whether we need him before he accepts.

Good luck with the discussion.

Its a really difficult one, I'd usually say no - you needed to give me first refusal....but our au pairs go home over Christmas and new year so we've never really had that issue.

I still wouldn't be happy with her working somewhere else when I needed her. Oddly enough, if she was going out herself, I'd be more inclined to get someone else. BUT, babysitting on tap is a big part of the au pair package. We let our au pairs know the weekly schedule a week before, so I wouldn't have let her know this early either.

Just to add, I'm not sure why you are so annoyed that she found other work for that evening, why should she clear it with you first? Unless you had specified that you would like to use her then I don't think she has done anything wrong...I'm in NLondon, and i would charge £20p/h also. I too have already been asked to babysit by three families!!

If she hadn't asked for a reference, When were you going to ask her??

I have already been asked by several families for NYE babysitting and charge £20 per hour!

Tbh most nannies I know charge £15 per hr on a regular night, so charge £30 per hr nye. I don't think you can only pay her £50 for the night and make her work when you hadn't asked her.
It's less than 8 weeks away so yes many will be booked up
It's like many maternity nannies will be booked up months in advance so you need to book when your early in pregnancy to get the best ones available

Mind you dh registered ds's for school at 6 days old also!

Yes think you maybe should of asked or maybe put it into conversation. A few of the agencies I'm with are already putting out feelers for any nannies who wish to work nye least you will know for next time.

When I nannied and bbs on nyes I would wait up until parents came home at 2/3am and then go out. I still got to party a bit but earnt money as well. I charged extra especially if it wasn't a standard work day. In all my live in contracts I only bbsat on scheduled work days this way I was free to plan my own thing of course family could ask but it wasn't a sure thing I'd say yes.

If someone else has already asked her when we're you thinking about asking her. What if she had wanted to go out with friends?

£20 Ph is what I have quoted to charge for nye. Always get asked tho never do it but find Nannies who will do it if a family ask me

Think an au pair charging that is a lot - not saying she should be paid pennies but a qualified nanny can and will charge that

If you hadn't booked her for nye then unfair for you to ask her to bs now

Doubt you will find anyone for £60 to bs on nye

So you hadn't actually asked her in advance if she was free/wanted to babysit on nye. And as above let's be honest it's not really a standard night that most families would make their nanny/au pair babysit.

New Year's Eve isn't a bank holiday but no sensible person would regard it as a 'normal night' for babysitting purposes. I thought au pairs lived as apart of the family rather than being contracted employees? How come she has a contract, is that the norm?

I don't think its fair to "tell her" she is working new years eve - it's not a normal night and everyone knows that.
If she has been offered £20ph to work and you want her to work, then I'm afraid you may need to either pay it or find someone else although I doubt you will find someone willing to work for £50/£60 but that does depend on how long you are out for.

The point I was making is exactly the one you answered IF she is entitled to bank holidays (which to be fair is pretty standard) the you can't ask her to work it.

If as you say she isn't entitled to bank holidays then you can of course try to enforce your contract.

Personally I'd find out from other family how much they really are going to pay her and offer to match it. It doesn't seem fair to me to reduce the earnings of someone who is presumably on a reasonably low income.

If £20 is really the market rate around your way I'd pay it, if not then tell her you'll pay her £15. Ask around its impossible to tell without knowing where you are and easy it is to get babysitters for NYE

She's probably been offered around that amount by the other family....

Up to you....20 ph is double time I guess.

But she will be working 1st jan surely that's a bank hol....

Unless you are home by 12

Well yes if you're intending to be home before midnight it isn't a bank holiday

In our area Sitters charges £14 per hour for NYE minimum 4 hours plus a booking fee of £4. So it really depends on where you live and how long you want her to babysit for.

Or use Sitters...