to not pay the babysitter

[salsarocks]

We are meant to be going to a friend's Christmas party tonight and had arranged a babysitter, not our usual but a girl who helps us when our usual babysitter is busy. I have just had to cancel as one of the kids has become ill, the party is 45 mins away and DD doesn't really know this babysitter well. DH doesn't think I should pay her but I'm feeling guilty. AIBU not to pay her?

Yes very, she can't get any other work tonigth can she?

At this time of year, on a Saturday night, I would personally.

I wouldn't if she isn't going to be doing the babysitting.

YABVU

How about 50%?

maybe I''m mean

When i was younger and babysitting i didnt get paid if parents cancelled - in fact hardly any parents cancelled they just told me that when i got there one of kids were ill and keep an eye on them and if they got worse to ring them.

Token gesture (maybe half agreed wage) would be appropriate IMHO given that she has been booked then cancelled at really short notice. That is what a nursary or any other service would do so I think that's probably the reasonable thing. If it were me I would rather not have the guilt and besides you may need her in the future at short notice.

Also if you ever expect her to baby sit again you need to at least offer she may turn you down. But you need to offer

We are the only people she babysits for, she is 16. She see's it as a treat coming to ours....peace and quiet, can watch what she wants on tv, snacks, kids never up. Was going to pay her £40 for 7.30 to 1.30am, maybe I'll give her £20.

I think you should pay a cancellation fee - it's too late for her to find an alternative night's work.

my eldest dd babysits and says she wouldnt expect to be paid in this scenario,she's 16

I think you should give her 50%.

I'd pay her. It's not her fault that you've cancelled.

If your employer did not have any work for you, and cancelled at 2 hrs notice you would still expect to get paid wouldn't you?

Give her £20.

I baby sat at younger than that and I always expected to be paid on short notice cancellations if you had given a day or twos notice that would be different

I work for Sitters and if a family cancel with over an hours warning they do not have to pay,under an hours warning and they need to pay full amount.
We are talking about an agency here tho not a young teenager.

bet she was counting on this to buy her mum a xmas prsent

YABVU/DH not to pay at least 50%. Otherwise you should be so lucky if she comes back when you need her! Think about what you would tell your teenagers when they offer their services in years to come. Good enough to be in sole charge of your DCs when it suits you but you would then treat them so at the last minute? I will refrain from adding more.

I too would pay her half. And i have done before.

I would pay her - especially this time of year: she will have spent that £40 ten times over in her head.

ditto everyone else, and i have paid half when cancelled at v short notice, or paid the full amount even when home earlier.. i/e told baby sitter i'd be out 2 hours, get back after 1, i pay for the 2 hours... genereating and keeping goodwill with people looking after your children is very important

DD's just had a babysitting job cancelled due to ill DCs - the mother offered money but DD declined on the basis that she hadn't turned down any other jobs so it was no big deal. So I suppose you need to know how busy the babysitter is and whether she's likely to have had other offers for tonight.

My babysitter - a young lady and friends' daughter absolutely refused payment when we cancelled. But half is a nice gesture.