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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your advice in how much to pay her?

48 replies

Sapph1e · 11/01/2015 16:56

I posted in Chat but it didn't yield anything.

I'm a newly SP of two girls and I've recently decided to employ someone to help with school runs, dog walking, etc.
I've found a lovely girl who is happy to be flexible, my problem is that I have no idea how much to pay her. We're going to be roughly looking at 3 hours a day. But she has half an hour travel time.

Does anyone have any experience??

OP posts:
BallsforEarrings · 11/01/2015 17:00

Hi Sapphie - she should have an idea about how much she charges for this, or has she only just started offering these services and has not set her prices yet?

She really should know what she charges before you make an agreement!

Original poster
Sapph1e · 11/01/2015 17:12

Hi - er - Balls...! :)
No, she's never had this sort of position before (nursery nurse by training) so we're like the blind leading the blind!

OP posts:
Fabulous46 · 11/01/2015 17:13

It would be £10 - £12 an hour in our local area. It depends where you live.

Haggisfish · 11/01/2015 17:14

I was going to suggest ten to twelve pounds an hour too.

TeenAndTween · 11/01/2015 17:14

Find out how much a childminder charges in your area.

Then adjust hourly rate down depending on age/qualifications/experience of your person. Are they going to be in 'sole charge' or just acting as a 'mothers help'?

And/Or

Find out babysitting rates in your area and adjust up as this is more than just sitting while they sleep.

CleanLinesSharpEdges · 11/01/2015 17:14

I was also thinking 10-12 pounds an hour. Not sure I'd pay for her travel time though.

Only1scoop · 11/01/2015 17:15

We pay nursery key worker 8ph for babysitting if that helps.

We are Staffordshire.

TiggerLillies · 11/01/2015 17:18

Look at similar costs in the area, make it worth her while though. If she is someone you want to keep around you don't want to pay too little lest she find something better esp given the few hours.

WooWooOwl · 11/01/2015 17:21

£10-12 an hour??

Fuck me, I'm in the wrong job, and I am a trained nursery nurse! I get £8 an hour, and I know plenty of nursery nurses that get less, especially the inexperienced ones.

Travel time is irrelevant, no one gets paid for the time it takes them to get to work.

Original poster
Sapph1e · 11/01/2015 17:26

Thanks everyone. I was thinking £10/hour. But then I'm worried about affecting any state benefits that she gets - although I suppose this is her problem to work out.....?

OP posts:
watchingthedetectives · 11/01/2015 17:26

£8-10 an hour depending where you live.
Travel time shouldn't come in to it but you could round up 10 or 15 mins
Good luck!

susiedaisy · 11/01/2015 17:28

Travel time is irrelevant if someone takes a job but has to travel to it that is their choice. I live in the southwest and think cash in hand £6 an hour and on the books £7.00. most jobs around here are minimum wage. Unless you have a qualification.

BallsforEarrings · 11/01/2015 17:53

If you work for a company as an employee with all the benefits attached to being employed then £7-8 hr is really good but if she is self-employed she will have to charge much more to compensate for no statutory benefits associated with being on payroll!

I think £10-12 per hour seems reasonable for her to charge if she is self-employed but if you are running payroll for her and paying her statutory holiday pay and sick pay plus withholding her tax as you would be obliged to do then £7-8 per hour is good pay for her.

I would not pay under the table as you could both get caught and that would be costly if HMRC got wind of it!

NewYearsHangoversHurtAlot · 11/01/2015 18:02

Registered childminders here charge £6ph then a half rate for any extra children

DearGirl · 11/01/2015 18:04

Am a professional nanny and I get £10 per hour.

msgrinch · 11/01/2015 18:06

oh wow I'm in the wrong Job. I was going to say £7 a hour plus petrol. Blush

BallsforEarrings · 11/01/2015 18:06

That works out a very high hourly rate NewYear as registered childminders have numerous children in their care, I could not believe the hourly rate my childminder was on (she was also my friend so we talked about it once) but good luck to them as I could not do that job for all the tea in China!

NewYearsHangoversHurtAlot · 11/01/2015 18:11

I know. My old childminder had 3 preschoolers and up to 6 school agers (most over 8 so not in her limits) on her busy days. So for the 3-4 after school hours she was on £54ph!! I'm in the wrong job!!

flowery · 11/01/2015 18:19

Childminders are the wrong comparison. They are self employed and look after several children usually from different families in their own home.

This woman is being employed by the OP to look after children in/from her (the OPs) home. Whatever the local going rate for nannies is the appropriate place to look for a reasonable rate.

Original poster
Sapph1e · 11/01/2015 18:29

She won't be looking after the children at all. She'll be on hand to do hair/teeth in the morning and then just pick up in the afternoon (I shouldn't drive due to a recent medication change).

OP posts:
flowery · 11/01/2015 18:33

Oh sorry, I assumed that school run meant she'd have sole charge rather than drive you.

In that case whatever the going rate for mothers helps is in your area. Local agencies might be able to help, or the various websites with nanny jobs on.

Original poster
Sapph1e · 11/01/2015 18:34

Thank you flowery :)

OP posts:
TheFirstOfHerName · 11/01/2015 18:36

Our regular babysitter is a qualified nanny / nursery nurse. We pay her £7.50 per hour to look after the children when they are awake (duties include supervising homework, cooking the children's meal, listening to reading aloud and music practice) and £5 per hour when they are in bed.

Laquitar · 11/01/2015 18:38

Flexibility and a split shift pushes the rate higher imo. Also 3 hours is very little which again pushes the rate up.
So 10-12 sounds fair.

FelineLou · 11/01/2015 18:38

I pay an agency £13.50 for home help but they do cover with some one else for sickness etc. My help will probably get £8/£9 did not ever ask.