To pay the babysitter?

[Gorgeouscombes]

DH & I have a long planned night out. Babysitter is booked. We’ve not had a paid babysitter before (don’t go out much and if we do normally family would look after the DCs).
Then DC has a vomiting episode and we can’t go. Parent 1 thinks we should pay the babysitter who has kept her evening free for us. Parent 2 thinks this is unnecessary- the babysitter had several hours notice of the cancellation and the arrangement was to pay by the hour. 0 hours = 0 £.
Who is right? And what have you done in these circumstances?

Of course you should pay. How would you feel if your work gave you just a few hours notice you weren't needed for a shift and so didn't pay you?

Pay half is fair. The babysitter had you booked in so could take another booking.

Pay the babysitter

As a mum of children trying to earn money I definitely think you should pay babysitter 50% of earnings.

This seems reasonable. Not paying anything is rude.

Pay at least half. You may need this babysitter again. Think of it as earnest money.

You should definitely pay. The babysitter was expecting to get paid for an evenings work, and would have presumably taken on another booking if it hadn't been you. They'll be out of pocket if you don't pay.

Another who thinks paying half would be fair.

I mean, there are a lot of "it depends", but overall, that seems fairest.

Of course you should pay the full amount! Come on.

You pay the full amount if it’s less than 24 hour notice

I would pay an adult the whole amount, or at least offer to. Especially if it's someone you have a relationship with (eg our babysitter works at our son's nursery). If it was a teenager doing it, I'd pay at least half or possibly all of it if they were cheap.

My logic is that teenagers are more likely to be able to rearrange their plans and still see friends or enjoy their evening. And an adult who goes to the inconvenience of babysitting probably needs the money, while for a teen it's probably pocket money supplements.

I ageee it depends on who the babysitter is.

Neither of my daughters would have expected, or accepted, money in this situation. They only babysat for neighbours. But a "professional" babysitter would be different as they could have turned down another job.