NicAnn Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I'm kind of having a moral dilemma about my job. I care for two middle school kids about 12 hours a week. I also do some housecleaning while I'm there. The job is easy. I'm the first outside person they've hired. My issue is that I'm being paid quite a bit more than my usual rate. When the mother told me the rate she said she wanted to pay well so Id stick around. I can really appreciate that, having been in education and childcare for years. But even still, I'd do the job for less. Would you say something? Or maybe even collect the extra money and donate it or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readwithem Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Your employer is paying you what she thinks is a fair rate. I no longer require babysitting services, but when I did I ALWAYS paid more than the going rate. I wanted to keep my babysitters happy so they would come back. :)Your children are your greatest assets, how can you put a price tag on their care? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_JWM Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 No way! You're not being overpaid; you're being well-compensated. This isn't an issue of dishonesty or taking advantage of someone. Enjoy your job and its monetary benefits. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 The parents chose how much they wanted to pay. You certainly didn't mislead them in any way. Since she said she wanted to pay you well, I would guess that she has an idea of the market rate. She said that she values you and wants to keep you. I would take her for her word, take good care of her children, and let the extra money bless your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicAnn Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thank you for the responses. I suppose I'm concerned about taking advantage of her, since she's never hired anyone before. She might not realize what the going rate is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 What you're describing isn't being overpaid, at least not how I think of it. To me, overpaid is when your employer accidentally pays you more than your agreed upon wage. It sounds like this family is compensating you how they stated they would. They feel you're worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Let your employer do as she likes with her money. Sounds like she made a conscious decision to pay you the rate. Enjoy it. If you want to donate the excess, do it, or if you want to spend it like a drunken sailor on payday, do it - it's your money to do with as you please. I also overpaid babysitters in the form of a large tip every time. It's important to keep a good babysitter happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 If you both agreed to a rate before you started working, you aren't being overpaid. Your subject line made it sound like you were given extra money by mistake, and that's not the case. I don't think being well compensated should cause an ethical dilemma for you. She already explained that she wants to pay you well, so I don't see that you are taking advantage of her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicAnn Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Ok thanks everyone. I'll try not to feel guilty about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Imo, it would only be a moral dilemma if she was mistakingly overpaying you. She is *choosing* to pay you that rate, so I wouldn't worry about it! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I'm kind of having a moral dilemma about my job. I care for two middle school kids about 12 hours a week. I also do some housecleaning while I'm there. The job is easy. I'm the first outside person they've hired. My issue is that I'm being paid quite a bit more than my usual rate. When the mother told me the rate she said she wanted to pay well so Id stick around. I can really appreciate that, having been in education and childcare for years. But even still, I'd do the job for less. Would you say something? Or maybe even collect the extra money and donate it or something? I'd keep the money and be thankful! It sounds like you do a good job for her. Often, people want to pay more as an extra incentive to keep you happy and, as the mom told you, to keep you around. It doesn't matter if you'd work for less. When I was a kid and babysat, some people always paid more. It didn't mean I wouldn't work for people who paid less, but it meant that I was always happy to work for the people who paid more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I agree with the others. I have been on the side of paying more, it's a choice, just appreciate it! I have sometimes felt someone was underpaid at the going rate for what they were offering me, and paying more was my attempt to show them how much I valued the work they were giving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 You aren't being overpaid. That would be an error in your paycheck (like getting more change back then was owed to you). In that type of circumstance, of course you should speak up. In your situation though, your employer has determined your salary & is totally aware of your duties and set wage. I'd feel blessed & enjoy it! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 It sounds like an honest arm's length arrangement to me. Maybe it would make you feel better if you added some more value-added activities such as homework help/afterschooling or the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 PS I pay $20/hr for my two 2nd graders, because I want to be able to demand certain things, and I don't want to be in the position of having to ask a relative stranger or someone I don't really trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 You are not being overpaid. You are under valuing a child care service. It's a REAL problem. It's so bad that a teaching degree is now a bad financial investment. Just think about that for a minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Can you describe how much you are being overpaid? 10 percent over the going rate? Twice as much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex-bex Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 We always round up when we pay our sitter. I like to keep her happy because she is awesome. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 As others are pointing out, some people are perfectly happy to "overpay" for service that they value. The going rate for wait staff is generally around 20%. We frequent a particular restaurant where one waitress in particular is so wonderful that we usually tip her over 100%. We don't hire people to care for our children, but if we did, I'd surely want to compensate them well. Well-paid people tend to take more pride in the work they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebra Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Well paid people feel less resentful, and isn't that exactly the attitude you want from someone caring for your children? I would absolutely overpay someone I loved, if I had the money. I think it's a wonderful investment in these children. Don't feel the least bit guilty. Feel appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammie Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Just shows how much you were undervaluing your services! If they feel they are getting their money's worth - you are getting what the service is worth to them. Feel happy that you are so appreciated and enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Honestly it sounds like you may be undercharging your other customers/undervaluing yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Dude, do NOT feel guilty about this, lol. Rock on. Seriously. Coming from the other end, as someone who was/is providing 10 hours of care and one-on-one tutoring for a child and being grossly UNDERpaid, please know that sometimes employers pay more than the going rate, to keep a good thing going. We pay our own sitter more than the going rate for a teenage sitter - we love her, she's trustworthy, and the children adore her... we want to keep her and we want her to know that we value her. Since we only use her once a month or so, it is important to us that she knows we want her to stick around :) It sounds like you're undervaluing yourself (as some lovely ladies here have pointed out to me recently). It sounds like your employer is happy with the arrangement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoseInABook Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 She'll probably well aware and is paying you what she thinks you deserve. I always paid our date night sitters more than they said they charged because I valued their time and wanted to be sure that they knew that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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