I’ve been a babysitter for roughly four years. I’ve worked for many different clients, from distant relatives to interested Facebook users. Needless to say, I have plenty of experience with every aspect of the job. During the hiring process, one of the first questions asked of me is usually some form of, “How much do you charge?” Although, some people avoid this question entirely.
Babysitting is a unique job in the sense that employee to employer dynamics differ drastically from other industries like customer service. This is derived mostly from the self-employment aspect of babysitting. When I meet with families in need of a babysitter, expressing my desired hourly wage is always a bit awkward. The parents either try to negotiate down my price or assure me that their kids are easy. Parents who assume the rate or avoid questions about pay put babysitters in an uncomfortable position that requires them to initiate conversations about compensation.
People often consider babysitting a part of American culture. Many American teenagers have provided some form of caregiving in their lifetimes, like watching a neighbor’s kid as a side job to make additional money. Because babysitting entails a lot of responsibility, babysitters should be met with the same respect and fair wages as employees in other fields.
Though the rate varies based on number of children and responsibilities, the average babysitter in Michigan makes about $14 an hour. Some, however, are paid as low as $7.96, which is below the state’s minimum wage of $10.33. Babysitters should at least make minimum wage, like they would at any government-regulated job.
Families hire babysitters for different purposes. It is important to note that there are clear distinctions between a nanny, a babysitter and a maid. A babysitter’s primary responsibility is to ensure children are safe, fed and entertained. A nanny’s responsibilities may extend beyond basic needs and include light housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation to extracurricular activities. They also often work more hours. A maid is entirely separate from the two roles. Their focus is on household chores like mopping, vacuuming, organizing and doing laundry.
In my experience, some parents double dip into the responsibilities of each of these positions for unfair pay. As a babysitter, I typically tidy up the children’s toys after I put them to bed since they made the mess while I entertained them. However, it’s unfair when parents ask or expect me to do dishes that were already dirty, load and fold their laundry or vacuum the house without reflecting the extra work in my pay.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, rising LSA sophomore Isabella Yatooma shared a similar perspective in her experience as a babysitter.
“Babysitters often take on extra activities like household chores or helping the kids with homework — educational chores, things that go beyond basic childcare,” Yatooma said. “This extra effort isn’t always reflected in pay.”
It is easy to take advantage of nannies or babysitters because of the freelance nature of the job. Some young female babysitters report there is a societal assumption that they should not ask for a raise because of their personal interest in caring for children. But this argument, based on stereotypes, is problematic — everyone deserves a fair wage.
Parents should be willing to pay a good price for babysitters who will carefully look after their children. Babysitting is just as taxing as any other job, particularly because the babysitter is responsible for the lives of the children. The issue is that people don’t always take self-employment seriously.
We should acknowledge the role babysitters play in our society, considering modern shifts in family dynamics. Now, many families require both parents to work to afford living expenses. As of this year, in 70% of two-parent households, both parents work outside the home. Many of these families opt for nannies during the day and, if they want time for themselves, seek out babysitters at night.
The shift in household dynamics leads to a higher demand for babysitters. Admittedly, childcare is expensive. But if parents want the best care for their children, they should be willing to pay a price that works well for them and their children’s caregiver.
Because informal in-home care like babysitting is not regulated by the government, conversations about pay can feel awkward and tense. The dynamic between parents and their babysitter is different than that of a manager and a cashier, for example. It’s a bit more casual, which may increase anxiety when discussing compensation.
When asked about conversations regarding pay as a babysitter, Yatooma described the experience as uncomfortable.
“I find it incredibly awkward to ask for a raise from a family I babysit for,” Yatooma said. “You develop a personal relationship with the children and family you’re babysitting for. A fear I have about asking for a raise or more money is that it would create awkward tension. Conversations about money can be sensitive and uncomfortable.”
More broadly, we need to normalize talking about compensation with our employers, no matter what field we work in. Employees asking for a raise should not elicit a jumpy or defensive response from their employer. Each of us are doing what we can to survive in the current aggressive economic climate.
Babysitting can be an easy way to make money since the hours are flexible. This flexibility is helpful for college students looking to balance a job with busy schedules. Living in college towns like Ann Arbor is pricey, and a fear of rejection or awkwardness should not deter us from seeking fair compensation.
A babysitter’s role in caregiving is significant. If you babysit for various families regularly and believe you do more work than you get paid for, speak up and spark a conversation about a fairer wage.
Giselle Sesi is an Opinion Columnist who writes about the overlap between politics and the human condition. She can be reached at gigisesi@umich.edu.
The post Adventures in babysitting: ask for fair pay appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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