Not to pay childminders travel expenses

[AdviceNeeded367]

Last summer, Childminder asked for an extra £10 per week to help pay for activities while she has DS.

In December, she demanded a 27% payrise.

Today she has demanded a 45p per mile travel expense.

AIBU to tell her a flat No?

Doesnt really matter what she calls different parts of the fee.

What's the total you are paying. Can you get this service somewhere else for this price?

It doesn't sound like much tbh for a full weekend respite care for a child with SEN, including overnight AND pick up/drop off.

@AdviceNeeded367

She is only “an employee” as she does not want the faff of being self employed. I use a nanny tax service for wages slips, tax calcs, NICs etc

Which is another expense on top of everything else.

So you’re actually declaring that you’re failing to pay the national minimum wage, so your employer has a lovely paper trail when she asks for all of her earnings owed to her for her entire time in employment.

Is 45p per mile seriously how much more petrol costs now??

Its the standard rate set by HMRC for claiming expenses for fuel where mileage is less than 10,000 miles per year. That reflects fuel and wear and tear on the car but also hasn't been updated in years.

How often do you employ her? If its 3-4 times per year for respite then surely she is providing a service and should invoice you? If its every weekend then it could be either. If its in her own home I'd have thought she was a childminder and would invoice.

IME nannies do not take the child to their own home but I was never using a nanny for respite so maybe the rules are different. I did always pay all costs of outings and travel with the children.

I get your point about an hourly rate for day time and flat rate for night but the total for the weekend still doesn't seem high.

Employee sorry, not employer.

The minimum wage requirements don't apply if an employee is expected to spend some of their 'work time' sleeping, so I think you need to work out what her actual hourly rate is and consider if it is reasonable /affordable to add an additional £18 per week to cover her travel.

I think you’ve had a cheap deal previously and I wouldn’t be squabbling over £20 if my SEN child had a trusted person. How much would it cost you to drop off DC?

I do understand that costs are rising for you too and it’s two rises in quick succession. Do you get the full amount of DLA to help towards it, can you use direct payments to top up? If she gets £310 how much does it actually cost you?

But putting it another way - she's working 4 weekends and getting over £1200 a month. For working 2 days a week

Two days and two nights continuous care with no breaks. Not two * eight hour days.

@CoastalWave as I said there is nothing stopping you do the same or a similar role. Personally I can't stand looking after other people's children for that long.

A nanny is employed by you and works at your house. You do tax and NI and pay expenses. Usually you offer a salary and they decide whether to accept it and work for you.

A CM is self employed and works from their house/ place of business. They do their own tax, NI etc. They charge their set fees, and you decide whether to accept them and send you child to their setting. They are Ofsted registered.

It doesnt matter what it costs her or whether she previously had a full time job & would do it for less.

It is supply and demand. She is willing to provide a service that you need. She is entitled to charge as much as possible - she isn't a charity.

There's a price point at which you will find you can get what you need elsewhere for less. At that point she's charging too much and you can vote with your feet

I think I going to have to accept that I’m being unreasonable then!!

As the role has evolved it sounds like a good time to re evaluate terms and price etc. If overnights and proof of her insurance etc to facilitate such things aren't in the contract I'd also want them included, I know you say it's like an aunt relationship but in reality it's not, you're paying for childcare services. The cost of fuel has risen ridiculous amounts i don't think it's wild to ask for a rise, a proper contract will protect you both.

But putting it another way - she's working 4 weekends and getting over £1200 a month. For working 2 days a week. That's not low.

It is £310 for a 32 hour week if is 9am sat to 5pm Sunday - two day and a night shift with no break are equivalent to almost full time hours for most people. Usually when care staff do residential sleep in they don't get woken at night between 10-6am except in em emergencies (don't know if same applies for DS as he has SEN and may have disturbances in the night, or if that is relevant)

@DysmalRadius

The minimum wage requirements don't apply if an employee is expected to spend some of their 'work time' sleeping, so I think you need to work out what her actual hourly rate is and consider if it is reasonable /affordable to add an additional £18 per week to cover her travel.

I’m relieved to hear that! I was really worried by some posts that I should be paying her to sleep.

But putting it another way - she's working 4 weekends and getting over £1200 a month. For working 2 days a week

And? A lawyer charges more in terms of hourly rates. This is arguably a more valuable service.

She is not a charity. She doesnt have to provide this work at the lowest possible price to keep herself fed/housed.

OP - is your child over 8.

If not, it's illegal to look after them in her house anyway without being registered with Ofsted.

www.gov.uk/guidance/childminders-and-childcare-providers-register-with-ofsted/registration-exemptions

@AdviceNeeded367

She is only “an employee” as she does not want the faff of being self employed. I use a nanny tax service for wages slips, tax calcs, NICs etc

Which is another expense on top of everything else.

Why is “an employee” in quotes?

Are you suggesting she’s not an employee? You chose to employ her

I’m relieved to hear that! I was really worried by some posts that I should be paying her to sleep.

But you do. Overnight care is not free. It's like an on call doctor, they can be called upon at any time.

If you can get this service cheaper go elsewhere.

So you're fine for her to ignore your son should he wake in the night?

And she is not a childminder! Sounds like she is doing a great job but speaking as a registered childminder who has to , rightly , be insured and regulated, its infuriating to see the title of your post.
If she was a childminder she would be self employed and if she was a nanny she should be paid minimum wage. You are not being fair to her. Is she insured to provide a service from her home? It's illegal to do so for more than 2 hours a day without being registered if being paid......

Are you happy for her to leave the house overnight? Or to be drinking? Then you need to pay her overnight. Maybe not as much as the day time but you need to include those hours. Someone I babysit for asked me to stay the night and then told me she wouldn't pay me whilst I slept so I said I'd head home at 11pm to sleep so. I'm either providing her a service or not.

If she is an employee it's worth your while fully understanding your obligations as an employer, and also whether she is legally covered to provide this sort of care. It all sounds like a more informal arrangement that has escalated?

As an employee she shouldn't be taking your child to her house and definitely not overnight. For paid childcare in your own home over 2 hours a day you have to be registered as a childminder. She is breaking the law if she is not registered with Ofsted. Would her insurance cover her if anything happened to your child whilst in her care? I would not be happy with this arrangement at all. 45p is the recommended mileage cost to cover fuel and wear and tear.

I think you need to contact a few agencies and request a quote for the service she is providing you. This will give you an idea of how much going elsewhere will cost you and you can then agree to the increase or not based upon this.
You can also look at the adverts for respite Nannies and use the middle quote as a reasonable payment- just be ready to get a shock about how generous your nanny is currently being.

Is she paying tax?