New babysitting bill is going to ruin life for working moms

I have been a babysitter for many years now. I let the families set how much they are going to pay me as each family is in a different financial state. Babysitters already get breaks - it is called when the kids go to bed/naptime and when the kids eat lunch/dinner! Idiot government! Babysitting is NOT supposed to be a full or even part-time job! It is a way for teenagers who are too young to get a real job to make some money and provide occasional temporary relief for parents! This bill is going to hurt more than it will help. I have not been a nanny, but from what I understand, there is more that goes into it that makes it more like a real job. These girls still shouldn't be told that they have to take minimum wage as long as they are happy with the amount the family is already paying them!

the actual purpose of the bill, I suspect, is to remove the children from the home, away from troublesome parental influence, and require them to be in 'organized' day care (State controlled). California wants your children.

Ada, I am sorry but I have to come to the "Moms" aids when you made that comment about the "Nannies" being with the parents kids more than the parents. Well, first of all, I don't think most parents CHOOSE to be away from their kids that long. They have no choice to work a full time job in order just to keep their head afloat paying bills and living expenses and things. They are not saying that nannies don't or shouldn't get Lunch breaks and things, of course anyone should be expected to get that but all this other stuff, vacations, and such as that? Us parents who Have No other option but to work a fulltime job can't even afford a Vacation but we have to give someone else one???? I"m sorry but that part seems a little unfair to me. Lunch breaks are understandable, yes but when the kids take naps, that's when the nannies have time for themselves whether they eat, nap, watch t.v., read a book or whatever.... Full time moms have to learn how to "manage" their time while being with their kids, I'm sure nannies know how to do this as well...

R U freaking Kidding me???? I work a Full Time job and I don't even get the special benefits that they are requiring/requesting for nannies/babysitters this is just rediculous. I agree with Cargo Coffee with the same statement she made that I made.....

Well, unfortunately it looks like we're just going to have to keep hiring high-school age babysitters, as this rule seems to only apply to those over 18.

Just hire an illegal immigrant babysitter and don't report it. Duh.

Maybe people should watch their own kids!

Obviously the writer does not live in California. If they did they would seriously understand how unfairly babysitter, housekeepers, and nannies are treated here, especially by the well off.

Yes this bill sucks for us mediocre earning working families, but blame it on the greedy slave runners who try to save a dime by hiring those who are willing to put up with it.

Obviously this article was written in haste and therefore not credible.

I'm sure your exaggerating many points of the bill and making some up that you believed it be there. I won't know because you've ruined all your crediblilty getting so worked up. Not to mention that you didn't even bring up to oppositions points at all. I wish I could consider your argument but my AP Eng and Lang. teacher taught me too well on the logical fallacies, of which there are many here.

I'm going to try to attempt an argument here, bare with me. This (what your presenting not what the bill actually is) would never pass. People are always complaining 'California and their stupid liberals!' 'Always passing BS laws...' I bet those saying this haven't even looked at the actual bill, just at the article that is expressing a view.

People commenting on this aren't helping either. Its just like with the law they tried to pass in '08 about gay education wherein people where all 'there going to force my kids to watch gay porn!' Of course not. But people exaggerated as always.

Please moms out there do your research before you go out and tell all your friends about this. An election year is coming up and I would like it if people for once did research on what they're going to vote for. Not just read the voters summary. Not that this is up for public vote anyway but it'd be nice to know what legislators are passing and why. Most importantly know both sides of the argument and please don't believe everything you read on the internet. There is always another side.

Sidenote: Actually paying a sitter minimum wage would not be a bad idea.

I'm 99.999% sure this bill was written by stupid men and ignorant women with no kids.

Okay, while I understand and have sympathy for single moms. Here is something that they need to think about. If you cannot afford to pay appropriately for private care then you HAVE to use daycare. It's that simple. Most cities have at least one center or in home daycare that offers 24/7 hours of care for those who work graveyard shifts. In home daycare and centers are less than 200 a week. Private care parents need to understand that the person they are hiring rarely works for more than just ONE family which means this is their income. How would any of you parents feel if your job didn't want to provide you at LEAST minimum wage for your time and labor? Think about how hard it is to raise your own child and then realize that this person's job is harder than yours because it is NOT their child. Granted, most in this line of work do it because they truly love working with children, it does not however make the job easier. Parents do not seem to grasp all that private care providers have to deal with in raising someone else, or helping someone else to raise their child in their absence (ie when at work or school). So, while parts of this bill are taking things to the extreme, making it illegal to try and pay your nanny or full time private care provider below minimum wage is a good thing. Let me tell you, as someone with twenty years in this business it is very frustrating and DISRESPECTFUL for parents to think it's "okay" to pay us 100-200 per week when we work 40 hours or MORE. How would any of you working parents feel if YOU were paid that little for the 40 or more hours you may put in at your job?

Parents, you need to wake up and realize private care doesn't mean this is some kind of "hobby" for these women. This is their JOB or in many cases their CAREER which means they have every right to have, at the very least, minimum wage, sick time, vacation. After all, most jobs you parents have offer those things after a certain amount of time on the job, right? So why shouldn't your private care provider be given the same respect? Again, I understand single parents may not be able to afford it, in which case you need to wake up and realize you need to find a daycare center or an in home daycare. Parents, you have to realize you that, while those of us in this business understand when you cannot afford it, you need to realize we cannot cater to your financial problems. This is our livelihood and you need to realize that. If you cannot afford the cost of private care then find a daycare in home or center that is available during the hours you need.

Sincerely,
Under appreciated private care provider.

If what Irene is saying is correct, only nannies or sitters hired to work inside your home would be affected by this law. Which would only make sense. Any home daycare provider who provides services out of their home would have their own insurance in place. As far as the workmens comp inssue goes, it would cause a logistical nightmare for someone who worked out of their own home! If the sitter were to fall down their own stairs while watching 3 children from 3 different families, who would be liable? This law wouldn't work for daycares or babysitters working out of their own home. I can agree with most of the bill regarding fulltime nannies working or even living in the families home.

Yet another reason I'm glad I'm a SAHM. But the solution is, for those who can't afford to pay the babysitter the same amount they make, to quit your job and then sue the state for not providing the 8 an hour, breaks, and whatnot to you since your new job. Frivolous lawsuit, and stupid, yes, but it'll get the point across.
Luckily, there are tons of sitters who don't want to pay taxes or claim it as a real job, so find one of those.
I'mma move to CA and start a business where they have to pay me 75 dollars and I'll travel to your babysitting location and provide them with the required breaks, all in a row.

Oh California! why does it not surprise me???? this is bulls@##!!!!

I hope this bill doesn't pass. I can't afford more than $32 for 16 hours of babysitting. Besides, if we can't exploit children as babysitters, then what else will they take away from us?

I have 2 children and don't even make enough for babysitter cost. I did the math, my babysitter would make MORE THAN I DO!!! What are these people thinking? They are trying to run women out of every job in the state! That way the men who are unemployed will have the jobs. What about the single mothers??

this IS completely ridiculous.. if the babysitters were schooled in child care first aid and CPR, were taught how to make a learning plan, and had to make a nutritious complete meal for each of their charges, like home care providers, then i can understand.. but there is no such thing enforcing break times for home child care providers, even pick up times are flexible and aren't really enforced.. this bill is ridiculous.. and i'm not bagging on babysitters, i used to be one, but i was trained in child care, first aid and cpr.. i deserved the higher pay, whereas being able to call 911 isn't exactly something you need to go to training for..

sadly, this isn't much of a surprise from a state that let a massive group of mormons override the gay community's right to marriage. way to effing go california! my BF has brought up moving there, we (yes we) decided we'd rather not.

Funny thing. Most companies in California don't offer this to their employees. Paid vacation? Are you kidding me.

This is soooo stupid. I am a babysitter and nanny and worked at daycare! daycare providers dont get that so why should a babysitter! Seriously this is ridiculous and no one is going to live in california if this keeps up!