Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Au pair babysitting New Year's Eve

36 replies

BelleCurve · 10/11/2014 09:54

My au pair has asked me for a reference for babysitting New Year's Eve for another local mum.

As it happens I am going out NYE, and would happily pay her extra to babysit for me. I usually pay £30 per evening if she does extra babysitting (rarely) and would pay £50/60 for NYE as she would mostly be asleep anyway!

She is now asking me for £20 per hour - is this reasonable?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
BelleCurve · 10/11/2014 11:32

NYE isn't a bank holiday. She has 28 days leave, including bank holidays and she has already had significantly more days than that (which is fine with me)

OP posts:
Kewcumber · 10/11/2014 11:27

but it could be considered part of her regular duties

I doubt it unless there is a written agreement for her to work bank holidays?

If you think she's too expensive then use someone else.

Original poster
BelleCurve · 10/11/2014 11:24

Babysitting for 2 nights per week is included in the contract. TBH I rarely need 2 nights, and pay more if I ask her to do any more or weekend babysitting.

NYE isn't specifically covered in the contract, but it could be considered part of her regular duties. I feel that maybe she should have asked me first, before advertising for other work?

OP posts:
EldonAve · 10/11/2014 11:24

We use a babysitting agency - they only want 14 GBP per hour for NYE so I think 20 is pushing it

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 10/11/2014 10:39

Im a nanny i get £150 for nye 7pm-2am from the same family every year.

mrswishywashy · 10/11/2014 10:33

I'd say £20 / hour is reasonable for nye and certainly what ive got in the past. It's a big committment to give up your own nyes so should be paid for. I also set a minimum five hours as well. Tricky if this isn't covered in the contract though.

Karoleann · 10/11/2014 10:05

I don't think that is reasonable at all. I'm assuming she is a regular live in au pair.

Babysitting is usually included in the au pair "contract", the other family don't pay her living costs. Our au pair does babysitting for other people, but only if we don't need her on that particular evening.

I would just say that you need her on that evening to babysit and pay her the £50/60 you were proposing originally.

PixieofCatan · 10/11/2014 10:00

If that's what the other family are giving her then I don't blame her for asking! I would charge slightly more than what babysitting and nanny agencies would, which I think was £15ph at my local one last NY.

Heels99 · 10/11/2014 09:59

Well if you don't think it's reasonable then leave it and she can babysit for the other family. Babysitters are gold dust on nye and expect to get gold dust for doing it.

Floralnomad · 10/11/2014 09:57

If that's what the other family are willing to pay then I suppose that is what she will want from you . I would think £10 per hour on a normal night so double time on NYE is reasonable.

mrsdavidbowie · 10/11/2014 09:56

Depends how long. Dd got paid £100 last NYE 730 till 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread