Time is money.
And how we spend our time is up to us.
And demanding proper compensation is a sign of self-respect.
Get your money, cause they won’t give it.
Case in point…
Redditor ystudiesscience wanted to discuss their experience and get some feedback. So naturally, they came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
They asked:
“AITA for expecting payment when baby falls asleep while babysitting?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I think iIm the a**hole but I need perspective.”
“Background: I’ve been babysitting a 22 month old for the family for a year.”
“I get paid 20 dollars an hour, I’m an E[mergency] M[edical] T[echnician] sand speak Spanish.”
“So the baby learns Spanish (although, I admit I’ve been bad about it lately).
“Story: The dad has made 4 comments in the past about how ‘he hates that I’m there while the baby is napping.'”
“I’ve told him those four times that he didn’t have to pay me, and he just denied and paid me anyway.”
“While the baby is napping I clean up after messes, sometimes wash the bottles if he hasn’t yet, help the mom with Spanish homework, making flashcards, or make the baby food.”
“Today he said ‘you get expensive if you’re here while the baby is napping’ … which feels like a slap in the face because of what I do while she’s sleeping.”
“They’re pretty well off and its frustrating to think that they can spend money on lavish things but not a service.”
“I left, although i was supposed to stay another hour, because I got frustrated.”
“I’m thinking about quitting because this isn’t all I put up with.”
“I feel bad quitting because I love the child, she’s like a little sister to me.”
“Please give me perspective, am I the a**hole?!?!”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA?:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared our OP was NOT the A**hole.
It’s a tricky situation.
Let’s hear some thoughts…
“If you’re ‘on the clock,’ it doesn’t matter if the baby is napping or not.”
“Your job is to look after the child.”
“Would he prefer if every time the baby naps, you just take off?”
“‘Okay, baby’s asleep. I’m gonna go hang with some friends. Call me when baby wakes up.'”
“Wtf is he thinking? NTA.” ~ jstonesworld
“Yup. I work with the elderly, and a lot of them don’t like paying people for ‘sitting around and doing nothing.'”
“Well, you don’t need help 24/7 but you need help with washing, dressing, food prep, marketing – and making sure you don’t wander outside in your undies at 3am.”
“You pay people during your down times so that they will be there when you need them. NTA.” ~ ReluctantVegetarian
“Yeah, you’re there in case the baby wakes up; in case there’s a fire.”
“In case there’s a gas leak.”
“In case the parents get into a car accident and can’t come home when they said they would.”
“In case the baby gets sick; etc.”
“The ‘work’ is being present for the baby, awake or asleep.”
“That’s YOUR TIME and you deserve to be paid for it.”
“Quit this job and find an appreciative employer.” ~ JadieJang
“And for heaven’s sake, OP, don’t EVER decline payment for time rendered.”
“Asleep or awake, your time is valuable.”
“If they don’t pay you for the time the baby is asleep and you are there, you are devaluing yourself.”
“People take advantage of this stuff, because most don’t want to pay more than they have to.”
“You are giving them an out when services are still being rendered.”
“Don’t sell your services short.” ~ PickleNotaBigDill
“OP, you sound like a great babysitter and you provide a lot of value with your work.”
‘Hopefully you can find a new client or get past this one’s rude comments.”
“You go above and beyond with the ‘down time’ – if he can’t value it then he doesn’t get to benefit from it!” ~ Big_Variety_626
“If you aren’t being paid you should be able to leave and go home, go to a movie.”
“Whatever you want to do on your own time.”
“But you can’t, because you can’t leave the baby alone.”
“Which means you need to be paid.” ~ Trini1113
“Since you are learning – you will find frequently that rich people didn’t get rich by helping the poor and needy.”
“Rich people get rich by being stingy and trying to get out of paying people.”
“They frequently feel entitled to your time.”
“They feel like you should be happy just to be in their presence.”
“And when you stand up for yourself, they will tell everyone how entitled you are.”
“Not all well off people are this way, but it’s not uncommon…” ~ csharpwarrior
“I don’t want to be rude but your post has absolutely blown my mind.”
“What on earth were you thinking?”
“You were still in charge of the child, you couldn’t just walk away, of course you should be getting paid.”
“So not only did you volunteer not to be paid!!????!!!”
“You then decided to do some unpaid cleaning.”
“You need to learn your worth.”
“Never, ever, ever in any job ever again suggest taking less money.”
“It’s never ok to pay someone less than what is owed.”
“You have/had an agreement with this guy for X hours and Y amount per hour.”
“He owes you that amount.”
“You will never impress a boss by offering to take less money in the workplace.”
“They’ll either not hire you because they can see you’re desperate/don’t have appropriate work boundaries or they’ll screw you over and then fire you.”
“Good luck out there, but never undersell yourself!” ~ ACatGod
“NTA. This is probably why he is doing this to you.”
“He thinks he can make you believe this is normal, it is not.”
“The safety of his child is what matters.”
“Kids can wake up at any moment there is no downtime when you’re watching a kid.”
“You’re checking in on the baby while they nap (among doing other things).”
“That is why you are there to keep their little one safe at all times.” ~ YJM7
“And you are not hired as a Spanish teacher, but as a babysitter.”
“So your job is to watch and care for the baby, and sometimes the baby is sleeping.”
“If the parents only want to pay you when the baby is awake, they should hire you to only come over on hours where the baby is usually awake.”
“Most parents know when their child’s nap time is.”
“But then you should be free to leave when the child goes to sleep.”
“Don’t tell them again that they don’t have to pay you while the child is sleeping.”
“They are cheap and trying to take advantage of you.” ~ Elinesvendsen
“NTA, but you’re not being as clear with him as you need to be.”
“You are paid for your time.”
“Napping or not, a 22 month old can’t be left alone, he knows that.”
“So tell him.”
“Tell him you love the child, you’re an EMT with language skills, and that’s your rate.”
“I’m guessing he’d like to offer (or he’d like you to offer) a discount for when the kid is asleep.”
“You’re still spending your time, so the rate doesn’t change.” ~ Cjack66
“Seriously… OP is there to make sure that nothing happens to endanger the child while they’re napping.”
“Just because they aren’t watching the kid as actively doesn’t mean they’re not working.”
“OP’s boss needs to get his head out of his a**.” ~ calliatom
“Like I said in my last comment, OPs boss is rich.”
“He sounds like the wealthy, absent dad who basically just outsources the raising of his children to women or servants.”
“I have worked for many men like this.”
“They are absolutely fucking clueless as to how much work goes into a day with children.”
“I’d bet you money he’s never ‘babysat’ his own infant.” ~ Icy-Birthday159
“NTA. Regardless if the baby is napping or not, someone still has to be home with them whether it be you or a parent.”
“Pretty sure most states frown on leaving an almost 2 year old home alone without supervision.”
“Dad, on the other hand, is a massive AH and a cheapskate.” ~ BadBandit1970
“NTA. Quit. You already do more than childcare.”
“For that same work they would have to hire a cleaning person and a tutor.”
“If he wants to change hours, fine, but he should just ask instead of making comments about it.” ~ 4682458
“NTA. But I’d say you’re a nanny, not a babysitter.”
“For most people, a babysitter is someone that watches one or more children while the parent(s) are not there.”
“A nanny is someone that comes into a home to assist with raising a child.”
“This can be whether the parent(s) are home or not.”
“Bottom line, it doesn’t matter if the kid is awake or sleeping.”
“You are being paid to physically be there and care for the child.”
“If he doesn’t want to pay you for the time the child is sleeping, then you should be allowed to leave and return when the child wakes up.” ~ SigSauerPower320
OP… Reddit wants you to not let others take advantage.
Tell those people how you feel and wish them good luck.
You don’t need to be in that situation.