Is this right?

[KAEKAE]

My next door neighbour has just taken on a small post, picking up three children from school, preparing their meal and taking them to their afterschool clubs etc. In between she'll do a bit of housekeeping, ironing and that sort of thing.

Anyway, she's now been told that as one of the parents will be taking a day off she won't be needed on that particular day, she'll get paid but she'll owe the family four hours that they will be able to request back at any time! Surely this isn't right? It isn't her fault that they want to take time off, therefore, I feel she should be paid without having to owe any hours?! Or am I totally wrong here?

I wouldn't be happy with this either. The employer is ensuring she's there if she's needed but wants to be able to not have her at her convenience. She holds all the balls in her court.

I think she should either renegotiate so that she also has flexibility regards her own short notice leave/is paid in full for the day with no hours owed.

The parents are employing her on set days I presume. In which case, if they don't require childcare on one of those days, they should still pay in full and no hours be owed.

It is possible that when negotiating the job, that this type of occurrence was discussed and it was agreed that hours would be owed... in which case that agreement should be in writing, so both parties are aware of the situation. Why someone would agree to such an agreement is another matter though!

Seems straightforward, as nannynick has explained. Do pass our/your opinions on to your neighbour.

The employers are being unfair. Set hours at a set time are allocated to that family for set pay. If the family does not need her that is fine but she should still be paid for the/her particular time she has allocated to that family. I assume she is not paid to be on call any other time. Think of the senario of someone working full-time whose employer shuts down when it snows- they aren't asked to come in weekends (their time off).

If the family want her another time they can ask if she is willing/able to fit this into her life and pay her for these extra hours, as a separate arrangement.

I'll bet this is a private and unofficial arrangement and the 'employer' will be able to manipulate the 'employee' as she wants to because of it. Naughty.