Need some advice about how much to get paid for a job

[Mind_your_head]

A friend of my college-aged daughter was offered a six-week summer job tutoring three school-aged children who are below grade level in reading & spelling. There are also 3 very young children in the same family, for a total of 6 kids. The mom is/will be undergoing chemo-therapy for breast cancer during this time. The dad will be working full-time and there will be a 'grandpa' around to help with the kids as well.

This girl will be expected to (besides tutoring) do 'lite laundry' and fix breakfast & lunch for the kids. She will get room & board (although if she weren't living with this family to help them out, she would be living with her own parents and getting room & board). She will have 'car priviledges' on the weekends to go where she wants on weekends, but will be driving the kids around during the week. There will be an occassional baby-sitter during the week to help with the little ones.

How much do you think this girl should be paid?

Thanks for any info/insights/thoughts - she's asked me for 'advice' and I really just don't know how much she should ask for.

Peace and good wishes,
M_Y_H

on edit: maybe I posted this in the wrong place, but I need an answer fairly quickly (this woman if calling this girl every day and wants to get it all 'in-place'. That's okay, but she needs to know how to value that work. If you think I should post this somewhere else, please suggest. Again....many thanks for your consideration of my question.)

[sniffa]

1. just a guess

$16-20/hr.

pick somewhere in the range based on whatever factors appLy.

edit: i hope this heLps as i just used my 20,000th post, that i was supposed to save for a big bLow-out post. no guiLt or anything. :P

[Mind_your_head]

3. Congratulations on your 20,000th post!!!

Holey-Moley that's a lotta typing! You're a great DU-er sniffa and thanks for using such a fortuitous occasion to answer my question :blush:

Right now they're offering her $240/week ($35/day).....methinks that's waaay too low, but this family is also in a sort of 'suffering situation' as well. Difficult to evaluate it.

on edit: I forgot, I wanted to give you one of these too.... :hug:

[salin]

21. doubt the family can afford a rate of $36,000 a year.

$18 an hour would get about to that level

[wildhorses]

2. what are her actual hours?

is this a 24/7 responsibility? are the children required to reach grade level at the end of the 6 weeks?

[Mind_your_head]

4. Technically it's NOT a 24/7 job, but hey.....the reality is (as far as I'm thinking) that

this family is in crisis with the mom being so sick.....so, if you've got these kids who need love & attention, OF COURSE you're (she's - the girl) is going to give it to them.

No, the kids aren't REQUIRED to reach grade level, but she'll do the best she can (which will be substantial).....'all help is good'

[wildhorses]

5. this is a tough call --

and one has to realize that room and board are worth something. still, the girl should have some time to herself. i want to be fair to the family's devastating situation, also.

[Mind_your_head]

6. I know it's a 'toughy'

that's why I asked for help in thinking this through. Thank you for considering this question.

My thought is that the 'room & board' is moot b/c were she not helping this family out, she would just be living with her parents with no cost to the girl - I don't think room/board should be considered, but maybe I'm just a 'marshmallow'. Regardless, I still don't have any BASIS for coming up with a good 'number' for the work she will be required/asked to do.

Peace,
M_Y_H

[wildhorses]

10. there needs to be more discussion and open communication --

is her family friends with this family? can the adults get together and agree to something? there is too much gray area. there needs to be some definition as to wants and needs from both sides...

[Mind_your_head]

11. I agree with 'more discussion'

I was the one this morning who asked her to ask about 'car privileges', other babysitters, etc.....to which this family answered.

And 'no', her family is not friends with this family - they don't know each other at ALL. She was 'referred' to this family b/c, well, she's catholic....this family is catholic (and the family lives in a Baptist area).

Should I add more? Not only is she catholic, but she hopes to become a 'nun' (read between the lines on that).

I don't know. This is a family in need, but it sorta seems (to me) like this family might be seeing 'an opportunity' to take advantage of this girl's good nature. I'm sure she can be of benefit, but I hope that SHE (and those she cares about/what's important to her) will benefit as well, be it money (it's prolly NOT money) or ????

[wildhorses]

13. i am not sure i understood that last statement

but, if i am understanding you correctly you are worried about her privacy (trying to be delicate and fair, here)

i think it is time for her father to have communication with the husband and, i don't think she should be staying in the house overnight.

whatever the kids bedtime is, then she should be free to go to her own home.

that is the way i am leaning at this moment:shrug:

[Mind_your_head]

17. She can't 'go home' for the night

Her folks live in Florida....this job is in the Carolina's.

[wildhorses]

18. she needs to be able to lock her door at night

does her room have its own private bathroom?

the more i am reading into this the less i am liking it!!!

[wildhorses]

9. posted in wrong place

oopsie

[Gormy Cuss]

7. First off, she should set boundaries on her time.

Six days a week is plenty and they need to agree to a defined schedule of hours and how the compensation changes should they need her outside of the normal hours.
None of this "occasional babysitter" crap. They need to hire a second person to backstop her at least one day a week. They're not thinking clearly if they believe that a college student can play full time mommy with only a vague promise of a break. It's a bad enough situation for their kids to have a sick mother. They don't need a stressed-out tutor/nanny, grandpa or no grandpa.

Second, even if she only puts in a 40 hour work week that's $6.00 an hour -- barely above the minimum wage. The room and board do add value if she actually needed it, but for a lot of reasons it would be saner for her to go home to her parents' house when she's off duty. Only the student can say if it's worth it to her to tutor and babysit for that pay but it seems pretty low to me. If you're in a low wage market maybe $8.00 to $10.00 an hour. In a high wage market I'd go with Sniffa's range.

I feel for the family but they need to be realistic about it. They're hiring an outsider to take care of their most precious resource. It's not a time to cheap out.

[Mind_your_head]

15. You and I are on the 'same page'

I feel for the family but they need to be realistic about it. They're hiring an outsider to take care of their most precious resource. It's not a time to cheap out.

:hug:

(btw, thanks for the advice about the zucchini on the other thread ;-) - you seem to be 'well-rounded' in your knowledge and I admire that)

Peace,
M_Y_H

[Gormy Cuss]

27. Oh! That IS you.

I didn't make the connection.
Happy zucchini production. As for my knowledge, I will attest to only one thing: I try not to talk out of my hat, if you know what I mean.

[Lars39]

8. It doesn't sound like money is a problem for this family, or they're willing

to shell out just to get thru this difficult time in their lives.
She's essentially going to be on-call 24/7, depending on how the mom does with the chemo, how much help granpa actually is, and how often a baby-sitter is available.

Is this 6 week job going to be the only money she is able to earn this summer? Would it help for her to call an employment agency or look at ads to see how much room and board is actually worth in that area?

[rug]

12. $2,500 flat for the whole 6 weeks.

It's not an hourly situation but a living situation. As long as the basic responsibilities are laid out, there will be plenty of flexibility on the time.

[S n o w b a l l]

14. Well, let's see...

room and board, personal car priviledges and $20/hr? Where do I apply?

Seriously...she's a student and this is a summer job. Driving the kids around, doing laundry and fixing breakfast and lunch doesn't require a lot of skill. The tutoring is basic. With the perks she's getting, $10/hr seems way more than fair. There are a whole lot of people working much harder making way less than this that have to take out living expenses.

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. I noticed you posted $35/day in another post.

My daughter receives more for this ($8 an hour) for babysitting in an evening. Considering there are 6 children, she is also expected to tutor, I am also imagining there will be some helping out for a chemotherapy patient as well, I would say (at the very least if she wishes to be a little charitable in a tough situation) $15/hour. She's not really getting a great deal out of this and it will be a horrendous job for her.

[Mind_your_head]

20. I agree MrsGrumpy

$15/hour is probably charitable. But should she base that on 24/7 duty? Which would be $15,120 for six weeks.

$15 x 24 = $360/DAY x 6 weeks (7 days/week x 6 weeks) = 42 days

$360/day x 42 days = $15,120

---------

How should I advise this girl? And how many people work far, far below 'what they are worth'?

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. If it were me I would say that 24x7 is unacceptable and unrealistic.

That's a lot of work. I would offer $15 for a maximum 10 hours of work...perhaps only charging for 8, which again is still charitable, with perhaps special nights or days that I would work longer. That is 6 children. Whoo. I couldn't do it as a mom.

[bleedingheart]

25. I watched two babies when I was 17...and it nearly killed me

but I will say it was the best birth control ever!

I have two of my own now and I have to say that 6 would kill me...and I am rather organized...

[S n o w b a l l]

19. Maybe this will help...

I know she's doing more than nanny duties, but room and board accounts for quite a bit.


Nanny and other Household Help...
Wages are generally based on the following factors:
experience
education
geographic location
job responsibilities
The following is a general rate per hour guideline for household help in the United States. These salaries are listed as gross salaries before payroll taxes are deducted. You can calculate net amounts (take home amount) by using our Payroll Calculator.

LOW/ hr HIGH/ hr MEDIAN
Alaska 7.50 14.42 11.97
Alabama 13.00 13.00 13.00
Arizona 5.15 11.00 10.50
Arkansas 5.15 17.50 10.75
California 6.75 35.45 14.71
Colorado 6.94 20.00 12.25
Connecticut 6.92 35.42 14.58
Delaware 12.00 15.00 13.50
District of Columbia 6.67 18.75 11.51
Florida 5.15 24.04 12.06
Georgia 5.15 16.88 11.63
Hawaii 10.25 20.00 17.18
Idaho 6.25 6.25 6.25
Illinois 5.50 21.63 13.82
Indiana 11.00 17.77 13.44
Iowa 6.25 10.67 8.64
Kansas 12.50 19.79 16.14
Kentucky 10.00 13.00 11.67
Louisiana 5.15 5.15 5.15
Maine 8.39 13.50 11.30
Maryland 5.15 26.25 12.53
Massachusetts 6.75 33.00 14.30
Michigan 9.38 11.00 10.01
Minnesota 10.63 22.52 14.79
Mississippi 5.15 5.15 5.15
Missouri 6.50 16.59 12.14
Montana 5.15 5.15 5.15
Nebraska 5.15 8.13 6.56
Nevada 5.15 27.50 12.50
New Hampshire 6.00 20.00 13.74
New Jersey 5.15 34.90 13.27
New Mexico 10.00 14.27 12.76
New York 6.00 37.02 12.71
North Carolina 6.25 15.00 11.30
North Dakota 13.75 13.75 13.75
Ohio 6.25 20.00 11.85
Oklahoma 5.15 5.15 5.15
Oregon 7.50 7.50 7.50
Pennsylvania 5.15 35.55 13.48
Rhode Island 10.07 21.88 15.25
South Carolina 10.00 12.50 11.13
South Dakota 12.50 12.50 12.50
Tennessee 8.75 17.60 11.89
Texas 5.15 21.25 11.78
Utah 8.25 10.06 9.16
Vermont 6.75 6.75 6.75
Virginia 5.15 23.50 13.66
Washington 7.16 22.50 13.52
West Virginia 5.15 5.15 5.15
Wisconsin 6.88 14.18 11.55
Wyoming 5.15 5.15 5.15

[bleedingheart]

23. Technically the child to caregiver ratio is really awful..

you say that there are three very young children...hell you would need one person just for those three...and then another adult to assist with the household chores and the older kids.

I watched two very young children when I was 17 and it was exhausting. One active toddler and a baby...and I was responsible for household chores...

I really don't like the idea of driving the kids around either without additional liability insurance...but that's me...hell social workers take out special policies to drive kids around...

I would not do it for less than $15 an hour...not with 6 kids..

And while grandpa is helping out...how much?

[bleedingheart]

24. I have a summer babysitter coming to my home...I pay $50 a day

for 8 hours of work...and my two kids are in elementary school.

My sitter (a relative) is a college student who will play with my kids in the pool, hang out with them, take them to the park,...etc

He is not responsible for anything else...not the dishes, no cleaning...nothing...his only job is to watch my children.

Meanwhile I will be working from home most of the summer but I want them to be supervised.

[struggle4progress]

26. Nannies and the Fair Labor Standards Act

http://www.nannynetwork.com/library/Parentlib/flsa.cfm