Solved

Chloeann884

- SOLVED -

Thank you to everyone who answered. I'm handing in my notice tomorrow morning. I'll miss the child but I know everyone is right.

Thanks again

Xxx

SusieBlue

What an absolute joke, you are worth more than that and deserve at least minimum wage if not more. This family are taking you for a ride. I would walk immediately. You will pick up something else with better pay and conditions in no time.
Childminding is hard work and I'd rather not do it at all than do it for that insult of a wage. Have you asked your employers why they feel €5 an hour is a suitable wage for someone caring for a child with high level needs all day?
Sounds more like you're their skivvy rather than a properly paid, respected employee.

helimachoptor

Op, are you getting the dole aswell?

Chloeann884

helimachoptor wrote: »

Op, are you getting the dole aswell?

No this is my full time job

Chloeann884

WhiteRoses wrote: »

What an absolute joke, you are worth more than that and deserve at least minimum wage if not more. This family are taking you for a ride. I would walk immediately. You will pick up something else with better pay and conditions in no time.
Childminding is hard work and I'd rather not do it at all than do it for that insult of a wage. Have you asked your employers why they feel €5 an hour is a suitable wage for someone caring for a child with high level needs all day?
Sounds more like you're their skivvy rather than a properly paid, respected employee.

That's what my mother was saying, she isn't very happy with the situation at all. I've never said it to them, mainly because there was always promises. Thank you for your response!

helimachoptor

Chloeann884 wrote: »

No this is my full time job

i'll be honest at €5 an hour i assumed this was a cash in hand + dole situation.

You are a modern day slave at that wage. Looking after a "normal" child is tough never mind one with special needs.
They are 100% taking advantage, i would move on.

bee06

Legally, if you are minding the children in their home you are legally entitled to minimum wage. Your employer should also be paying PRSI etc.

Sleeper12

Chloeann884 wrote:

No this is my full time job

Do you live in the house with them?
Are they providing room & board on top of the 5 euro per hour?

wendydoll

Are you working as a live in au pair or a childminder?

Tayschren

Chloeann884 wrote: »

. Am I being underpaid?

Yes, there are 1,000s of jobs available for unskilled workers at twice this rate.

Mooooo

By post I take it you are living elsewhere? If so the minimum wage is over €9 now. There are plenty jobs that pay more than what you're getting now so simple enough say to them to pay you the legal requirement or you're gone.

Pelvis

I also assumed you were a live in nanny, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Are you not entitled to minimum wage for these kinds of jobs?

ads20101

Chloeann884 wrote: »

That's what my mother was saying, she isn't very happy with the situation at all. I've never said it to them, mainly because there was always promises. Thank you for your response!

Come back and let us know how you get on

Good luck

Chloeann884

wendydoll wrote: »

Are you working as a live in au pair or a childminder?

No, I don't live with them

Chloeann884

wendydoll wrote: »

Are you working as a live in au pair or a childminder?

Childminder, I don't live with them

wendydoll

If you are over 18 and working for last 3 years you are entitled to min wage of €9.25 per hour

Over 18 and working for 2 years, min wage is 8.33 per hour

Over 18 and work for 1 year, min wage is 7.40 per hour.

You are being underpaid! Are they providing you with a payslip?

Ragnar Lothbrok

You are being exploited. It's a disgrace that they only pay you €5 an hour - I doubt they would find a replacement for you too easily even at the minimum wage. You have a bit of leverage there, and you should without doubt be asking for a 100% increase at least.

Good luck with whatever decision you finally arrive at.

Cakerbaker

Maybe check out workplacerelations.ie if they let you go and won't pay you what you are owed in back pay and or won't increase your wages to minimum wage.

Chloeann884

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

You are being exploited. It's a disgrace that they only pay you €5 an hour - I doubt they would find a replacement for you too easily even at the minimum wage. You have a bit of leverage there, and you should without doubt be asking for a 100% increase at least.

Good luck with whatever decision you finally arrive at.

I tried to leave about two weeks ago and the mother guilt tripped me with the child and I stayed, but the husband was furious that I wanted to leave because even he knew they wouldn't find anyone. I believe his words were "what are we supposed to do now? We're screwed" so you're right, they wouldn't find anyone else.

When I took the job, they had been looking for about 5 months, that should have been a clue that it wasn't a good work environment

2Mad2BeMad

Chloeann884 wrote: »

Hi,

So I've been working for a family now since Feb, in their home. I care for their child with special needs, Monday to Friday 8-5 sometimes later, and sometimes Saturday. I also clean their house. I'm paid 5 an hour. When I took the job, I was told it would go up to 7 at the end of Feb, that never happened. I was also told a month or so ago that I would get an extra 50 a week which also never happened.

One week, I was underpaid, so an agreement was made that I would never be paid under 200 no matter how many days I worked as their child is a huge responsibility. I was happy with that but again that never happened.

I'm also expected to work even if the mother is home from work, she usually sleeps. That may seem fine to other people, but I was employed as a child carer for when the parents are at work, not when they're home. There's often been times as well where I've gone shopping with the mother and I'm just there to hold her bags.

I would get over all of that, it's the money that's an issue. I want to move out of home soon and I'm slowly realising that with rent prices I'll never been able to do that with less then 200 a week. Am I being underpaid?

Put it this way op,

You get 5e per hour for minding a child, which is a big responsibility and you have to have qualifications to do it (The legal way).

Where as I myself am in an unskilled job and earning just over 3 times the amount per hour.

Do you see where I am going with this?
They are treating you like a slave, get out now and get yourself a another job that will actually pay you a proper wage.

I'd report them as well while I am at it.

donegal.

I would give them an ultimatum .

either they employ you officially , paying prsi etc with a contract stating holidays, overtime rate etc and a salary of €10 per hour.

Dixie Chick

So-even though you were promised extra money and have since threatened to leave, they have not given this to you? Even though they have said they would be screwed.

This really is up to you now to either stand up for yourself and demand the proper wage or leave the job. You are an adult with a very serious job earning the wage of a teenager.

You must know this is not right and while it may not be an easy conversation, this is their child and not yours so the onus on guilt is on them if they choose to mistreat their clearly loyal and underpaid staff.

Ragnar Lothbrok

Chloeann884 wrote: »

I tried to leave about two weeks ago and the mother guilt tripped me with the child and I stayed, but the husband was furious that I wanted to leave because even he knew they wouldn't find anyone. I believe his words were "what are we supposed to do now? We're screwed" so you're right, they wouldn't find anyone else.

When I took the job, they had been looking for about 5 months, that should have been a clue that it wasn't a good work environment

They sound like a charming couple. Obviously they're trying to make you feel guilty, and I understand that you probably have a connection to the child, but THEY are the ones who should feel guilty. It's quite worrying that they don't seem willing to pay more than a fiver an hour for someone to look after their child.

I assume they're both working, so probably not exactly on the breadline either. I'm pretty sure that there would be financial support available to them too, if they needed it.

As hard as it might be for you to walk away from the child, I would strongly suggest that you do so, unless the parents are prepared to pay you what you deserve for your time and dedication to their child.

Delphinium

This situation stinks from your point and the child's welfare. How old is the child and does s/he get any special help outside the family? Are you qualified to care for a special need's child? What happens if there is an accident or unexpected sudden illness.
These parents should be registered as employers and paying PRSI and deducting PAYE from your wages(some hope of reaching that rate of earning here). You will have no entitlements if you leave or lose your job as you are effectively a slave.

Don't be blackmailed into staying. Child is their responsibility and you are actually enabling them to avoid dealing with the problem.

Value yourself more and work for someone who appreciates you. Get qualifications at recognised night classes if needed to advance. You could probably train for SNA and be properly paid.

Sleeper12

If you were my daughter I would suggest that you just give up the job.
These are nasty, nasty people and they are not going to change. Even if they doubled your wages I don't believe that you could ever be happy working for someone that would try take advantage of you like this.
Think about this. They are obviously older than you and they both work. They both know what the minimum wage is yet they are deliberately paying you half the minimum wage.
I also wouldn't accept cash in hand. Apart from it being illegal it won't benefit you much anyway.

stargazer 68

OP lidl, Penneys, Aldi, KFC are all looking for staff at the moment and pay well more than you are on now! I wouldn't even be looking for more money from them if I was you, I would be out of there!

jimmycrackcorm

Dovies wrote:

OP lidl, Penneys, Aldi, KFC are all looking for staff at the moment and pay well more than you are on now! I wouldn't even be looking for more money from them if I was you, I would be out of there!

Aldi / Lidl are paying above the minimum wage, around 11 AFAIR.

Apart from being severely underpaid, by not paying PRSI, you won't even be eligible for job seekers benefit.

When they try to guilt you then suggest either they put the child in a creche, of if too old then let them get a live in Nanny.

In any case it's not your problem and you have to look after number one because seemingly no-one else is.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Rubberchikken

Yes you are being underpaid. They are taking you for a fool. If I was your parent I'd be advising you to leave. People like this are in truth, shameful.

Chloeann884

Thank you so much to everyone for the replies!

Would anyone be able to talk me through the tax situation exactly?

Freindly

Switch to independent cleaning full time if you can. Pay for that alone is minimum of a €10 an hour. They are in short supply around me so you can choose your hours and even charge €15 or more if your decent.

You are being screwed. €5 an hour isn't worth getting out of bed for, never mind childcare and clean. I presume they give you less than the required breaks also.

Quit with little notice. Screw em.

Wexfordboy89

Slave labour much.5 euro an hour is terrible for everything you do cook clean and mind there kids all day long.you should be getting at least double.my mam used to do house cleaning for a few ppl and was getting 10 an hour.not saying go on the dole but all the work your doing for 5 more than u can get on the dole is bad.

BabyWillis

Chloeann884 wrote: »

Thank you so much to everyone for the replies!

Would anyone be able to talk me through the tax situation exactly?

The tax situation is that if they are only paying you €5 an hour they are more than likely not registered as an employer, they are therefore not paying employers prsi or deducting tax from your payslip although at €5 an hour you wouldn't be paying any tax.
But if they are not registered as an employer you are not getting any prsi credits attributed to you for social welfare, these credits determine your pension entitlements when you retire and job seekers entitlements should they make you redundant, which also means you won't get any redundancy payment.

bleary

The truth is that are more than likely claiming carers or half carers assistance and want to pay no more than that to you. Meanwhile you have no prsi or tax paid who mean you will be entitled to very little benefits.
They are taking advantage of you . Plenty of people will do that and cling to someone with a soft heart and wring all they can out of them. Listen to your mam. There are plenty of employers who are crying out for decent employees . Find one .

GalwayGrrrrrl

If a child goes to a childminder (in that childminders house) the usual payment is 5 Euro per hour per child. That could be where they think 5 Euro is suitable. However- in your situation OP you are working in their house so you are their employee and entitled to minimum wage. Tell them if they want to pay only 5 per hour they will have to send child out of house to a childminder.
Lots of support and info on www.rollercoaster.ie for people working in childcare, if you don't have enough info here.

Chloeann884

So I said it to them and they agreed to go above board with taxes,etc but they only offered me €7.50 an hour. I'd be happy with that but once I'm taxed wont I be left with much the same as what I was getting originally?

toadfly

You wont be liable for tax or prsi but will have to pay usc, probably not this year taking earnings to date into account. Are they going to register the employment?

groovyg

Op you would be better off on the dole although I'd say you might have some issues trying to claim the dole now as it's unlikely they have been paying anything towards tax credits. Do you know this family or are you related to them or something that you feel obliged to stay? Seriously just leave and start looking for another job.

December2012

Did you speak with NERA (employment advice) and find out what you should be getting?

They are still offering you less than minimum wage for a very skilled job.

You also need to check out the Organisation of Worktime Act. It sets out how many hours you should do a week, breaks, annual leave, etc.

And presumably by what they have now said to you about making it all above board it has not been?

GarIT

Chloeann884 wrote: »

So I said it to them and they agreed to go above board with taxes,etc but they only offered me €7.50 an hour. I'd be happy with that but once I'm taxed wont I be left with much the same as what I was getting originally?

They can't go above board and pay you less than €9.25. Paying €7.50 isn't above board. You don't pay any tax until you reach a cutoff, I haven't checked recently but 2 years ago it was €18k per year.

You have a right to sue for the difference between what they were paying you and minimum wage for the entire time you worked for them and you will win. I don't know how long you've been there but at least since February based on your posts and just for that time until now they owe you about €5,000 and it's not difficult at all to force them to pay it.

groovyg

Chloeann884 wrote: »

So I said it to them and they agreed to go above board with taxes,etc but they only offered me €7.50 an hour. I'd be happy with that but once I'm taxed wont I be left with much the same as what I was getting originally?

When they underpaid you previously did they make up the shortfall? What makes you think they will keep their word? They've made promises previously and haven't kept them. Do you have a qualification in childcare? And if so why not look for a job elsewhere ?

wendydoll

Chloeann884 wrote: »

So I said it to them and they agreed to go above board with taxes,etc but they only offered me €7.50 an hour. I'd be happy with that but once I'm taxed wont I be left with much the same as what I was getting originally?

Hang on you've been working for them for since Feb and they haven't been paying you min wage and they haven't been above board with tax, prsi, paye?!

You are entitled to the min wage. You are crazy to accept anything lower than your entitlement. They are taking you for a fool.

You are looking at the short term picture. If they left you do, with them not being above board with effect any jobseeker benefit claim you may have because in the eyes of the state you weren't working because no contributions have been paid for you.

Sleeper12

Chloeann884 wrote:

So I said it to them and they agreed to go above board with taxes,etc but they only offered me €7.50 an hour. I'd be happy with that but once I'm taxed wont I be left with much the same as what I was getting originally?

Don't sell yourself short. You should be getting at least minimum wage. I don't believe that they will pay tax or declare you to the tax. If they did this they would be providing a paper trail proving that they were under paying you.
From what you have said about them I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them

Jimbob1977

What kind of jobs do the parents have, OP?

I'm always sickened by stories where the father is a doctor and the mother is a barrister, yet they pay a pittance.

Nutser

Depending on your age/experience that may still be under minimum wage.
If you work 40hrs a week, your gross payment would be €300. You wouldn't pay tax as your tax credits would cover it. You would be below the threshold to pay PRSI, however your employer should pay 8.5% in employer's PRSI.
You should ask them to provide payslips to you.

julyjane

If you are a single person with no dependent children you are likely to have a tax credit of about €63.47 weekly. So the lower rate of tax is 20% - if you earn €400 then 20% tax is €80. Take away your tax credit of €63.47 and you only owe €16.53 in tax. USC would be about €4 and employees PRSI €16. So total deductions around €37-38 and you get take home pay of around €362, if not more.

Telling you that you'd end up paying much of it in tax is a lie, they are fobbing you off and well they know it. They would also be liable for employers PRSI of 10.75% so on top of your €400 they will have to pay €43 to revenue so the cost to them is €443 That's why they don't want to pay you properly - out of greed. You are worth more and so is their child

wendydoll

You also need to get a contract of employment from them, with working hours, public holidays, annual leave entitlements, sick leave, termination of employment.

You should also get a payslip of them regularly and set up "my account" with revenue to make sure you are registered as an employee of them.

Chloeann884

I've spoke to them again and they've offered me €1,320 a month, before taxes. The mother is also registering as my employer and I will have an employers contract. So at least I'll know they've done it.

What do you think? Is it worth it?

Chloeann884

Chloeann884 wrote: »

I've spoke to them again and they've offered me €1,320 a month, before taxes. The mother is also registering as my employer and I will have an employers contract. So at least I'll know they've done it.

What do you think? Is it worth it?

How many different ways do we have to say "no" ?
No, it is not. And they have a history of making promises they won't keep while you stay. Find another job.

Chloeann884

bluewolf wrote: »

How many different ways do we have to say "no" before you listen?

I'm trying to avoid being unemployed while I find another job

Tigger

Chloeann884 wrote: »

I've spoke to them again and they've offered me €1,320 a month, before taxes. The mother is also registering as my employer and I will have an employers contract. So at least I'll know they've done it.

What do you think? Is it worth it?

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