“Oh I forgot to get money from the ATM; I will give it to you tomorrow”
Or,
“We forgot we were supposed to pay you tonight”
Finally fed up with their excuses,
“Well can you pay me with a check?”
Their answer?
“We don’t use checks.”
I will admit that this job has been a learning experience. I have never used a contract with any of the three families that I have worked for in the past, yet I have never had a problem with a family not paying me on time. I work overnight shifts 6pm to 7-8am the next morning, and prefer to be paid nightly because my schedule is the same as the parents’ and hectic. After at least ten times in the last three months of not being paid on time, I was getting fed up. One night, I had been cancelled for all but one of my nights to work that week, and on the night that I did work; I was given the unusual yet oversized task of five loads of family laundry and four loads of dishes. I did everything I would usually do during my time at work, as well as the extras of the night. The next morning as normal I assumed that my MB (mom boss) would be home shortly after my charges got on the bus to pay me. I waited and waited thirty minutes after she would normally be home, I texted her asking if she would like me to meet her somewhere between her work and the home, or if I should just wait for her to come home, she asked me for what. I was floored, how could you employ someone to take care of your children and then “forget” to pay them? For those of you wondering, it was four days before I was able to get the money I was owed.
Fed up with the inconsistency, I went to Wal-Mart that morning after work. I had seen the advertisements for the Square Credit Card reader on TV. I had always thought it was a good idea (though I had never really looked into it) for ten dollars and a free app downloaded on my iPad and droid (the app works for both apple and droid smart products). I had a way to ensure I got paid on time. The reader is a little white square that you plug into your headphone hole on your phone or other electronic smart device, the app lets you put in the amount you are owed and then they swipe their card and within twenty-four hours the money is in your connected bank account. The downside to the Square I have found is that one, you have to keep up with the little reader which is no bigger than a strawberry, and two, it charges you the square holder a 2.75% charge rate. This means when someone swipes you are charged 2.75% though, I have been adding it into the parents amount owed as a tax percent so that I am not stuck with the charge.
Other payment options that are out there to avoid the “forgetting” to get cash or a check is the PayPal option, I’ve also used this option, you can go into your PayPal account and send an invoice or sign up for the free card swiper that they have which doesn’t charge an interest rate and the funds go into your PayPal account, which you can then send straight to your bank account or leave as a PayPal option.
The square credit card swiper and the PayPal one both have their pros and cons, but it is nice to have a way for families to pay their childcare provider whether you may be a nanny or just babysitting for the evening, a safe, reliable and on time way to receive their money.
Article By:
Maryann King is the overnight nanny to two school aged children. She has worked as a nanny for 1.5 years, and intends on making nannying her career despite all of the bumps she’s encountered in the road. She has begun to incorporate modern conveniences into her and her employers relationship to smooth out some of the difficulties that employers and nannies face when working together.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maryann.king.792 Twitter: nanny_mar
In my contract I STRONGLY suggest using a payroll company and direct deposit, so I have never been in your situation in my 23 yrs of being nanny. It sounds frustrating and I am glad you found a solution.