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?

Its always been that way with any family I have worked for.
One time I was babysitting, the family left, car wouldn't start and so they had to cancel their evening. They still paid me the £30 as I had set aside that time for them and wouldn't hear of me not taking it.
I would do the same if I were to have a babysitter or nanny.

I didn't say it was a family thing?
Tony and Mark are related but I am not to them.
I don't think they will find a babysitter/nanny who would agree to not being paid at all/on reduced pay as and when they need. They would do well to remember that. Starting to feel a little annoyed now at being put in this position.

Op, it doesn't matter what has happened before. It doesn't matter what other posters do with their babysitters. These people think they pay for time used. If this is not the case, then you need to tell them. If they make a booking, then cancellation equals full payment.

I don't want to refer to you as a service or a thing, OP, so please forgive me, but if Mark rented a car for the weekend but only drove it on Sunday, he would still have to pay the whole rate. If he ordered a meal but didn't eat all of it he would still pay for the whole meal.
I'm guessing Tony and his friend found it awks with you being there, like they were being watched, which is why he insisted on sending you home.
Just out of interest, you mentioned that Mark could possibly be home later than the three hours, in which case Tony would take over. What normally happens if/when Mark is late home? Presumably you are flexible and stay a bit later for him?

Exactly Howlovely I bet Ice doesn't just walk out if Mark is delayed

Always stayed behind to help. I am very flexible and understanding so a bit shocked at Mark.

You were right to take the money. If you cancel anything at the last minute you incur a cost. Sending you home early means they still have to pay.

Then I would tell Mark he can shove his job up his backside.

Ella is right to take full payment. Mark should not be annoyed and Tony decided to look after said child earlier than needed.

My mother babysits and is a part time teacher, crb or whatever it is, first aid trained, 15 years references. Mums keep her until their kids are grown enough, fight over vday, new years dates lol. Once you book her for the evening she's even kind enough to stay overtime if they're having a good time, its not like she will go to another job.

People book her waaaaay in advance. If she's booked for x hours she's going to take x money. It's not like she can go to another job that night just because someone comes home early. If she'd know someone would come home early and pay only for 1h she wouldnt take that job, she'd book someone else who would give her more hours.

I only know this much because I thought it was awesome my mums a pro babysitter when I had my DD. Then I realised my mum is always booked on the good dates and it's hard to get a slot because obviously she'd choose paying people over me LOL

Mark sounds like a tool. You are probably better off not working for such a CF and finding a new customer that appreciates the service you provide and how valuable you are

Well done on your text.

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

Im guessing Mark either thought that if Tony had friends around he wouldn’t want to be babysitting, or he’d expected him to arrive back later than he did.

DRTFT but Tony didn't have to get involved. Ffs some people. Fwiw I think Ella should have been paid for the full time as she was booked and therefore couldn't have taken any other jobs for that period of time.

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.
So why are you getting in a flap about it.just repeat this to yourself and stop worrying about it.

Starting to feel a little annoyed now at being put in this position.

Good!

Use that anger-fuelled adrenaline to dispel your anxiety and to stand up for yourself.

You were totally in the right and entitled to the full fee.

Are you sure that Mark is annoyed about money? Because I would be annoyed that you left earlier and didn’t clear it with me. You had arrangements with Mark so should followed his instructions. He said to leave child with Tony if he’s late. So you should read it like “only in this particular situation “. But you actually made choice to leave earlier because of what Tony said and because they played Minecraft altogether. For me ( if i’m Mark) it would be breaking our arrangements- which was 3 hours and then leaving Tony in charge if he’s late.
I actually could imagine myself leaving my child with babysitter while a relative at home because e.g. I don’t trust this relative with bedtime but ok with watching while my child asleep.

Mark is a twat.

Stand your ground.
I would consider telling him to find a new babysitter.

Ella (you, OP) is absolutely right to take the full payment. I would have paid my babysitter the full amount in that situation.

I think they're leaving you in an awkward situation if Tony was sending you away, how on earth could you insist on staying without it being awful. As for Mark, it will be interesting to see what he says.

People complain heartily about people on zero hour contracts being sent away after one hour (or no hours) with no pay because it is immoral. As is this, but on a smaller scale.

In defence of myself I did insist on staying. I couldn't really have done that much more without it being extremely awkward. The child is regularly left with Tony at all times.
I literally would have been sat here watching all three of them play mind craft. Aside from insisting there was nothing more I could have done. Mark should have been a lot clearer and spoken to me directly about plans.

I think you’re anxious because you’re worried about people thinking bad of you. You need to learn not to care. It’ll be a long journey, but take this as an opportunity to learn that what other people think of you doesn’t matter.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but if you get sitters (babysitting agency) their ts and cs clearly state 3 hours minimum and even if you come home early you must pay this money as this is the the minimum that the babysitters expect for taking the job. Might help an argument.

I'm a bit agog people think what agencies do or they do is relevant. What's relevant is what the op has agreed with these people. Only that.

She has never told them she expected payment if time was cancelled, she needs to do so. Their expectation is they pay only for time used. Her expectation is they pay whether they use her or not.

It's time to speak to them and explain her terms.

How do you know Mark is annoyed?

@Bluntness100 - it's relevant because babysitting, however informal, is work that the babysitter reckons with. Most people agree that it is shit to send an agency worker home after 1 hour of a planned 8 hour shift because they don't paid. The principle is the same.

I think it's pretty shitty to book a sitter for x hours for y amount and then come back at x-2 hours, for example, and try to deduct something from the payment (unless the sitter has called you back because she can't stay for whatever reason). So pretty much the same thing here.

I would have insisted I or Tony rang Mark before leaving.
Tony wasn't your employer.
If you want to remain a sitter for Mark you should contact him,explain,apologise and offer some money back.