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Is this typical of a babysitting contract?
My wife and I have had a pretty good relationship with our sitter for the past year, despite the fact that she's a bit anal about minor things. We've happily paid her for short notice cancellations even though we weren't required to. Up until now we haven't had a written contract and certainly never objected to one. However, she gave us a contract on Friday and wants us to sign it by Tuesday. Monday is President's Day. One clause in it, I don't agree with and I am wondering if this is typical of a babysitting contract. It reads as follows: "A full weekly rate will be charged for school holidays/in-service days, Christmas break, and Spring break." She told us that she was unavailable for Christmas break (I work at a school and it's 2 weeks) and yet she still wants to be paid for it. She also won't be available for Spring Break and yet it seems like she wants paid for it. Is this legal? Or ethical? Has anyone else faced this before? If so, what did you do about it?
Well, I certainly never intended on signing it, but I was curious if this was typical. Another clause in the contract reads: "Full time and part time fees are based on booked days, not attendance, therefore parents are responsible for fees whether child attends or not. (This includes sick days, legal holidays, Christmas break and Spring break). Summer break and child care providers days off is an exception).
I feel like she is attempting to extort money from us because child care in this town is very hard to find. Most of this contract I can agree with but to pay for services not rendered is wrong. I do intend on talking to her about it.
7 Answers
- TiggerLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
I don't think anyone should be paid for work they have not done. This sounds like big business and she is trying to take advantage of people. I have never heard of paying a babysitter for days they are not working, even if the child is full time. It might be legal since it is her contract but it sure is not ethical. You are the one doing the hiring, you make out the contract and have them follow your rules.'
- 8 years ago
A lot of babysitters have contracts. Most say that they will charge the full week even if you decide to not have your kid stay there one day or they leave early one day for whatever reason. Mostly it is so they still get paid for parents last minute mistakes. However, I have never heard of any babysitter wanting to be paid for a full week when THEY are the one choosing not to babysit. It would be different if you all chose not to have your child there because that's how they make their living and a lot of babysitters are moving toward this (although I don't completely agree with it.) It should be like any other job.. you don't work.. you don't get paid. I wouldn't sign it without asking her about it. Not only will you have to pay another babysitter during those times to babysit your child but then you will be paying her to NOT babysit. It ends up costing a whole lot. Maybe you all can come up with an agreement. If you sign it and then you don't pay her, you could face legal action because your signature is on the contract. Although you could easily fight it if it's not properly drawn up. Anyways, talk to her about it and maybe some of the other parents and voice your opinions to her. If you still don't agree with it, start looking for another babysitter.
- Anonymous6 years ago
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Is this typical of a babysitting contract?
My wife and I have had a pretty good relationship with our sitter for the past year, despite the fact that she's a bit anal about minor things. We've happily paid her for short notice cancellations even though we weren't required to. Up until now we haven't had a written contract...
Source(s): typical babysitting contract: https://biturl.im/BEoWb - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 8 years ago
Contracts are legally binding. If you sign this you will have to pay her for those days and if you don't, she can sue you and she will win because you agreed to pay her for those days.
It is legal but not ethical.
Tell her you won't sign it as you don't agree with it and you won't sign it unless she takes out the parts you don't agree with.
A contract is a legally binding agreement.
You don't go agreeing to things that you don't agree with, now do you?
So don't sign contracts you don't agree with.
Only sign ones you do agree with, it's that simple.
- shywinkLv 58 years ago
Tell her she will only get paid for the work that *she puts in*, not for work she hasn't done. That's only fair. Otherwise, it is unfair to YOU. If she doesn't like it then she can walk away. It's up to her, but don't let her bully you into paying for services that she doesn't do! Hope it all works out for you! Good Luck!
- karen wLv 48 years ago
I would just tell her that while we appreciate her watching the kids and that she does a great job at it, you will only pay for the time that she actually works and that if you do cancel at short notice of course she would get paid for that time like you have in the past. I really doubt that your boss will pay you while you are not working so you could have spring or Christmas break off.
