Who is in the wrong here?

[IceAndASlice123]

Ella regularly babysits for Mark and is always paid for 3 hours work.
Yesterday, Marks adult brother, Tony, was at home. Mark told Ella she could leave the child with Tony if it went past her finish time.
About an hour in, Tony says he will take over the childcare from Ella. Ella says she can stay until her finish time but Tony insists.
Ella takes the money for the full shift despite only doing under half of it (Money is left in the kitchen ).
Who is in the wrong here? Should Mark be annoyed?

How do you know Mark? Are you a younger person in need of money who wants to continue this arrangement? A parent doing another parent a favour? Just trying to work out the dynamic and understand what mark is playing at.

You are 100% right.

Mark is a twat.

You rely on that money and you were available to work and it’s not your fault you were sent home early.

Can you afford to tell Mark where to go? I wouldn’t want to babysit again under those circumstances.

Op, I was one of the posters who asked about your age. The reason why is that if you are quite young, I think it is even worse as Mark could well be exploiting a power differential.

Apologies if I have offended you.

Ella is in the wrong. She should have only taken the money if she'd done the full three hours. It was cheeky to take it.

Go away Roy.

You know you're in the wrong

Ah OP I read the PPs questions about your age as them trying to see if he was exploiting someone younger as that would be even crueller in a way. If that makes sense? I don't think anyone was saying you sound immature etc, you sound bloody lovely!

He is a lot older but I am not a teen or someone in their early twenties. Old enough to know what is right and what I deserve but still having a bit of trouble asserting myself due to the anxiety.

Ice I don't think you are a Cfer. Round here good babysitters are worth their weight in gold.
Your age is irrelevant, I hope Mark realises he is being an idiot.

"I don't think my age is relevant here? Maybe some of you think me childish for getting worked up over it but its unsettled me."

I was actually asking because if you are in your late teens/early 20s for example then I think it shows Mark and Tony's behaviour to be worse and would help explain why you felt you couldn't go against Tony. I was actually wanting to be helpful.

OP can you answer this?

Why were you even booked if Tony and his friend were going to be in the house?

Good point DeNiro.

I know Mark through my other job. His kid used to attend my childcare facility.

Thank you for the kind words.

I think Tony was hoping you’d take half the money and he could pocket the rest himself.

I think Coughung could be right here.

Coughing - not Coughung

Tony is in the wrong. Why tell her to go home?! He interfered and it wasn't his place to. She was booked for three hours. If I'm booked for a job then i expect to be paid for it. You should tell Tony off if theres a problem

Tony has been staying with the family for a good few months and it is frustrating him being there.
My babysitting hours have been kept as Tony was always going to move away which thankfully he is next week. I stuck it out because of that but now I wonder if I still want to help Mark.

Why were you even booked if Tony and his friend were going to be in the house?

This

Tony was told to relate this all back to me but obviously crossed wires with Mark or as some of you said, Tony may be up to no good.
My thinking is that really, Tony should not be involved and Mark should communicate with just me.

I don't think you were wrong though in hindsight it would have been better to have checked. You've been put in a difficult position and Mark is being an idiot.

Unfortunately I suspect the upshot of it is that the arrangement isn't going to work properly again which will be a pity for you all. Unless Mark comes back and says that he didn't realise, no issue, look forward to seeing you etc then it's going to be awkward and I suspect one of you will end up calling it a day in a week or so.

Does mark think Tony is untrustworthy?

I should have checked with Mark but I didn't want to keep texting him as I knew he was at work and would have been awkward as Tony was insisting.
Mark and Tony get on brilliantly.

I do feel I have come out worse here and its really frustrating.

This is a regular set up so not just a random thing
OP really like I've said up thread but you didn't answer, if this is a regular set up then you should be employed. Or if you are self employed either way you should have a contract. You've said you aren't a teen or early 20s so you should really know this. It isn't babysitting if it is a regular set up, it is nannying!

Personally I don't think you should have taken more money than for that which you worked, unless you have a contract saying you get the money if booked even if you don't work it.

I also don't get how he is making you look like a cheeky fucker. You took the money and you had not earned it. Your assumption is if they book you they need to pay for you, whether they use you or not.

If this isn't a formal contracted agreement, but a thing for family I can see why they'd think you Necky for taking money you simply hadn't earned.

They aren't my family?
I regret not making things more formal but as an adult, I cannot be expected to take a decrease in pay out of situations outside of my control. Even if I babysat for a family for the first time and they did this, I would still expect to be paid. It's general courtesy and respect.

@bluntness100

Rubbish!

OP if you were our babysitter you would have been paid for the time we asked you to give up in order to be available. If that time was cut short through no fault of yours you would still be paid. The CFs are those suggesting otherwise.

Ok, it as misleading you saying it was a family thing.

You need to make it clear to them if they book you they need to pay for you, even if they cancel. They they need to decide if they still use you on those terms.

But you need to be clear.