Working full time with a second job plus studying full time. Help!

[Leigh 87]

The reason I thought it was a good deal is because I didnt expect to have to spend from the time I pick the 8 year old up from school at 3 until 8 pm focusing 100% on him. His mum is also there from 5 pm and Frankly kids do their own thing and play without needing constant attention. They just need an adult present at all times in case they are sad or need help.

 

I was on.government assistance prior to this so being a couple of hundred better off sounded ideal. But not for closely to 50 hours work.

 

I am planning to be a full time student asap..... As soon as I can afford a lap top. I dont need to work 50 hours a week. I can do my studies with a lot more easy at 20 to 30 hours a week of working at my parents flat and earn twice as much as what I am making for working 45 to 50 hours.

 

She also expects me to give up every secondary Saturday for no extremely pay. Sorry but that is very stingy and tight assistance of her. I dont want her to throws away her hard earning cash just because she is wealthy. I am simply comparing her to me Or my parents, who would all personally pay a person extra If they did an extra day.

 

I consider this woman to be stingy because I work hard and longer hours than a waitress on minumum wage yet I get what I consider to be less money.

 

They should just employ a person who is absolutely desperate. Which I am not. My parents pretty much live for me and they genuinly enjoy helping me

me.

 

I am very polite and pleasant to this lady and her kids but incase to say that I would be much happier living at my old flat.

 

I do like the current house and the surrounding area to the pointed where I would enjoy the job and be keep to keep it If they paid me a fair wage for the about of work I do.

[Leigh 87]

What would it cost you to rent a room in a house like theirs? You're really not grasping this at all. Do you understand how business transactions work?

 

 

 

Renting a HOUSE or flat in the area is 600 Plus per week on the low end.

 

Renting a ROOM which is what I am essentially doing is 250 tops. IT IS ONE ROOM Renting one room isnt seriously expensive...

 

I am definately not getting paid enough for the about of hours I put in.

 

The Aussie minumum wage worker on my hours would afford to rent a room in this area, eat the cheap food I eat and get the deal I am getting and they would save a lot more money than the 150 a week I get in cash.

 

Aussie minumum wage is high. A person on it for closely to 50 hours work a week would getbthe "room" I get Plus the cheap food and they would save twice as much as the 150 I get

 

You have to be from Sydney to see that I am not getting the equivalent to minumum wage. Which I feel entitled to..nothing more or nothing less.

 

150 Plus Renting a small room Plus a weeks supply of extremely cheap meals is NOT 50 hours worth of Aussie minumum wage.

[UpwardForward]

Yes, they should employ someone who Needs a roof over her head.

 

You didn't need a room, you had one. And the size and local of the house shouldn't have been a concern or a fringe benefit.

 

Also you were Aware of the salary before you took the job.

 

I thought you took the job because you were calculating all the extra money you would be earning/receiving from the two jobs and govt assistance and toward your future purchases and savings.

 

Also you mentioned in the location of your flat, jobs are not as plentiful.

[Leigh 87]

And I havent signed the contract..she said it was more a guidline anyway.

 

They wouldnt bother suing me. I am not quitting until the 6 months ends. When the.husband is back from deployment. I would never dream of quitting at a time that wasnt convennient for them...

 

I know both parents want to meet the new nanny..so I have to quit at a time where both parents are together and Its after the 6months agreed time.

 

It is still enjoyable enough there. I simply feel overworked and under paid. I know everyone feels similar but I dont believe I am getting the 20 dollars an hour equivalent though cheap food and a rented room.

[Leigh 87]

Yes, they should employ someone who Needs a roof over her head.

 

You didn't need a room, you had one. And the size and local of the house shouldn't have been a concern or a fringe benefit.

 

Also you were Aware of the salary before you took the job.

 

I thought you took the job because you were calculating all the extra money you would be earning/receiving from the two jobs and govt assistance and toward your future purchases and savings.

 

Also you mentioned in the location of your flat, jobs are not as plentiful.

 

When I started working the long hours it only then become apparant that I didnt feel I was getting the equivalent to minumum wage as per the food and accommodation I was getting. I feel very strongly about this.

 

I would rather live at home and cover my gas and utilities so my parents are paid accordingly. To the money being put into housing me. I would still be a lot better off there. At least I would have time to work weekends.

 

I have been working weekends for 8 hour shift on top of the 45 Plus hour weeks I do and it started to really upset me. My friends are out spending weekends with their boyfriends and I worked from 6.30 am both Sat and Sunday.

 

Trust me this job is well less than minumum wage and suited to a tourist or backpacker.

Edited June 21, 2014 by Leigh 87

[Eclypse]

Oh dear Leigh, I don't know where to begin...

 

Pretty much what everyone warned you about happened. But there's a few things that should be cleared up. The current national minimum wage in Australia is $16.37 per hour before tax, not $20. Casual employees are required to have a minimum of 24% loading on top of that to make up for lack of annual leave, sick leave, notice of termination etc. So the first thing I need to ask is if you are employed as a casual or permanent employee? Do you have annual leave and sick leave being accrued? What did the contract say? Are you getting paid cash in hand or do you get a pay slip with the amount of hours you've worked? If you feel you're being underpaid you can contact the Fair Work Commission and they can help you out and pursue your employer for lost wages.

 

Also, 50 hours sounds like a lot per week. I'm not sure if it sounds right. You drop them off to school and are back by 8.40 from what I recall? So about an hour or maybe an hour and a half of work? Then you pick them up at 3 and have to spend time with them until 8. That's 5 hours, so a 6.5 hour working day x 5 comes up to 32.5ish hours. The weekend job at the patisserie is none of your employers business. My employer wouldn't care if I worked weekends at a second job. What you do outside of business hours isn't their concern.

 

I don't know why you keep comparing her to your parents. This woman doesn't have any emotional attachment to you (nor should she). She's just the person who pays your wages. My employer is a multi billion dollar international company. I wish they'd pay me a million dollars a year but it ain't gonna happen!

 

I think you need to sit down and assess what your priorities are right now. I was a bit confused that you would move in with this family for such a low wage and take care of their kids when you can live completely rent free in your parents apartment. If I were you I'd live there and try and work a normal job with normal hours and have some time off on the weekends. You get tired when you have to work every day. That saturday morning sleep in is the best after a long week.

 

Good luck.

[Leigh 87]

Oh dear Leigh, I don't know where to begin...

 

Pretty much what everyone warned you about happened. But there's a few things that should be cleared up. The current national minimum wage in Australia is $16.37 per hour before tax, not $20. Casual employees are required to have a minimum of 24% loading on top of that to make up for lack of annual leave, sick leave, notice of termination etc. So the first thing I need to ask is if you are employed as a casual or permanent employee? Do you have annual leave and sick leave being accrued? What did the contract say? Are you getting paid cash in hand or do you get a pay slip with the amount of hours you've worked? If you feel you're being underpaid you can contact the Fair Work Commission and they can help you out and pursue your employer for lost wages.

 

Also, 50 hours sounds like a lot per week. I'm not sure if it sounds right. You drop them off to school and are back by 8.40 from what I recall? So about an hour or maybe an hour and a half of work? Then you pick them up at 3 and have to spend time with them until 8. That's 5 hours, so a 6.5 hour working day x 5 comes up to 32.5ish hours. The weekend job at the patisserie is none of your employers business. My employer wouldn't care if I worked weekends at a second job. What you do outside of business hours isn't their concern.

 

I don't know why you keep comparing her to your parents. This woman doesn't have any emotional attachment to you (nor should she). She's just the person who pays your wages. My employer is a multi billion dollar international company. I wish they'd pay me a million dollars a year but it ain't gonna happen!

 

I think you need to sit down and assess what your priorities are right now. I was a bit confused that you would move in with this family for such a low wage and take care of their kids when you can live completely rent free in your parents apartment. If I were you I'd live there and try and work a normal job with normal hours and have some time off on the weekends. You get tired when you have to work every day. That saturday morning sleep in is the best after a long week.

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

Minumum wage is 19 dollars something. Aware wages.

 

I get 2 weeks paid leave after 6 months.

 

And I am required to be working from 7 am until 8.30 when I arrive home from dropping kids at school. I then work from 2.50 until 8.30.

 

I also do 1 hour of chores during the day when kids are at school.

 

I think a wealthy family could easily afford to pay me more than 150 a week for these hours Plus cheap food and board ( Renting one room).

[Leigh 87]

I am saving slightly more. It just doesnt warrant so much work.

[anne1707]

I know you have not signed it yet but does your contract specify that you would be working these hours?

[Kizmet Fisher]

I don't know Leigh, I think your calculations are off. You just aren't taking a few things into consideration. Like:

 

1) People working 40 hours a week on the Australian minimum wage do not get $800 in their pocket every week. They are paying probably around a hundred and fifty of that to tax each week. Plus, as Eclypse pointed out, our minimum wage is definitely $16.37. Unless of course, you're on casual employment, but you are basing your comparisons off full time so this point is moot.

 

2) When you take rent, food and utilities out of the equation, most people have don't really have much money left unless they are a high earner. You are severely underestimating how much these things cost, probably due to living rent free at your parents flat for the past few years.

 

3) Finally, the money you do actually get, the $150 a week, is given to you cash in hand. So you aren't paying tax from it, and I bet you aren't declaring it to Centrelink either, in order not to lower your government assistance payments. The free rent, food and utilities you receive is also payed to you in a way that you don't lose anything to tax or Centrelink docking you because you earn more than you should for your rate.

 

Honestly, I think this arrangement, while obviously not ideal, doesn't disadvantage you at all. You just don't realise it, because you are used to living cheaply at a flat owned by your parents. What I don't understand is why you left your cushy set-up for this job, knowing what you'd be paid. You kind of did this to yourself, unfortunately.

[Leigh 87]

I am always casually employed. I get award wages since I dont have the still or qualifications to land a full time job.

 

I do save 100s a week. I dont want government assistance believe me, I am dying to earn enough so that I dont need it.

 

I earn just bellow minumum wage so I still get assistance.

 

As I said my situation is still enjoyable. I get to save at least 200 a week. 500 the weeks I work both Sat and Sunday.

 

I would save even more If I lived at home. I have respectable with proffessional jobs and degrees who dont have less respect for me when I lived at home because I was studying full time and also working as much as I could.

 

I may have had a cushy lifestyle but I have been very troubled and ive needed the extra help which my parents have been very happy to provide.

 

I am just so...so determined to get into a masters degree which means I need good marks for. Working less and living at my flat seemed like the most viable options.

[UpwardForward]

It seems you're unhappy enough, I wouldn't sign the 'contract'.

 

Also you spoke earlier of returning to school in Sept (which is 3 months). Will you be able to do this and still be at their residence for 6 months from start date? Or in time for the husband to return.

[Queenie42]

I don't know Leigh, I think your calculations are off. You just aren't taking a few things into consideration. Like:

 

1) People working 40 hours a week on the Australian minimum wage do not get $800 in their pocket every week. They are paying probably around a hundred and fifty of that to tax each week. Plus, as Eclypse pointed out, our minimum wage is definitely $16.37. Unless of course, you're on casual employment, but you are basing your comparisons off full time so this point is moot.

 

2) When you take rent, food and utilities out of the equation, most people have don't really have much money left unless they are a high earner. You are severely underestimating how much these things cost, probably due to living rent free at your parents flat for the past few years.

 

Exactly! Leigh, a few pages ago you were talking about how much more your friends were earning. True, their take-home pay may be higher but you have to remember the money doesn't just sit in their pocket. A huge amount goes straight to the landlord, the supermarket, and all the other responsibilities most people have. After all that most people are lucky to have $150 left over for themselves. In your situation, since your employer is also your landlord, etc, they just cut out that middle step.

 

At the end of the day, you agreed to all of this. Yes, they probably could afford to pay you a little more, but that doesn't mean they should. They made an offer and you accepted it. If you want more you can ask for it, but don't expect it to come to you straight away.

 

As for quality time with your boyfriend, of course the mother wouldn't allow that in her house! You've only known the family a few weeks so you're still a relative stranger, and your boyfriend even more so. Those kids don't need that extra disruption in their life and nor does their mother.

[Eternal Sunshine]

Ugh Leigh, that nanny job sounds exhausting. Although I am not good with small kids so that may have something to so with it.

 

I don't think you need that job for anything, it won't even do much for you on your CV. You have a good setup at your parent's place so I would just go back there.

 

As for employers treating you "badly" get used to it. They really don't care about *you* and in general, the harder you are to replace and the more they need your skills, the better they treat you. That has nothing to do with caring though.

 

You really need to focus on starting and getting that degree and starting your real career. Take side jobs to make ends meet, but studying should be your no 1 priority.

[Glinda.Good]

Leigh.

 

Why did you actively create and put yourself in this ridiculous situation?

 

You don't have to take anybody's advice (lord knows I don't) but you have been going on and on for hundreds of thousands of words about this situation before you EVER got into it.

 

Dozens of posts informed you that you were going to be expected to do a LOT more than you kept telling us in this nanny position.

 

I know I told you myself that NO FAMILY ON EARTH was going to hire a live in nanny and pay them on top of it to do the minimal stuff you said you were supposed to do.

 

You are being asked to do what is NORMAL for your position AND at your compensation level.

 

And getting another job on top of that.

 

You appear to WILLFULLY refuse to look at anything realistically.

 

I get that it is challenging to "connect the dots" for some of us, but you know this about yourself and you are not even trying.

 

Now you are whining about it all. When you actively created it.

 

You need to quit and stop wasting this family's time.

 

And next time you ask for help here, at least pay attention to what people share with you.

[clia]

You are contradicting yourself left and right.

 

You knew the nanny job was full time. Look at the title of the thread! You knew you were being paid less than minimum wage. Your early posts talk at length about this, but you thought it was fine because it's so expensive to live in Sydney in such a great location in such a great house and such a great opportunity for you. You knew the hours were 7-8:30, 2:30-7, plus light housework. (See pages 2, 3, 8, 9.) And you agreed to do all this. It's hard not to conclude, as an objective person, that you just don't want to do the work.

 

It's also quite amazing how the cost of renting and living in Sydney has decreased as your dissatisfaction with your nanny job has increased. If it's that cheap, then why not quit the nanny job, get another job, and rent a room elsewhere? Or work full time at the patisserie? How exactly do you plan on working this nanny job for the next six months when you are already so miserable? You seem downright angry at your boss. That is not a good situation. She hasn't done anything wrong; you agreed (and were very excited about) the arrangement you are now in. If you realize you made a mistake, fine. But please stop blaming other people.

 

It's also confusing that you now claim you'll just move back to your parents' flat and get a job there to pay them rent. Haven't you been looking for a job there for the past four years? What makes you think you'll find one now?

 

Also, I think you should focus on enrolling in school and starting your degree before you worry about getting a master's. You've been talking about school for two years now and have little to show for it. Focus on that.

Edited June 21, 2014 by clia

[Keenly]

Leigh.

 

Why did you actively create and put yourself in this ridiculous situation?

 

You don't have to take anybody's advice (lord knows I don't) but you have been going on and on for hundreds of thousands of words about this situation before you EVER got into it.

 

Dozens of posts informed you that you were going to be expected to do a LOT more than you kept telling us in this nanny position.

 

I know I told you myself that NO FAMILY ON EARTH was going to hire a live in nanny and pay them on top of it to do the minimal stuff you said you were supposed to do.

 

You are being asked to do what is NORMAL for your position AND at your compensation level.

 

And getting another job on top of that.

 

You appear to WILLFULLY refuse to look at anything realistically.

 

I get that it is challenging to "connect the dots" for some of us, but you know this about yourself and you are not even trying.

 

Now you are whining about it all. When you actively created it.

 

You need to quit and stop wasting this family's time.

 

And next time you ask for help here, at least pay attention to what people share with you.

 

 

We all told you for a long time about this. Hell, that thread was at the top of the new posts list for a month and a half. Hundred or so pages, right?

[contact1]

Honestly Leigh, a lot of your last couple posts about the job and your employer makes you sound like a spoiled brat. You are not getting your way so now you are throwing a tantrum about it, changing the whole situation going from being such a great deal to now you are getting ripped off and how your parents would never do this to you .

 

Just quit the job and give them enough notice, there is no way this would last for 6 months. If you don't quit, I can guarantee you will eventually get fired because how you feel will start to come out in your work.

[UpwardForward]

You are contradicting yourself left and right.

 

You knew the nanny job was full time.

 

When Leigh first told us about the job, I was under the assumption she would be preparing and driving children to school and then looking after them later in day after she picked them up.

 

I believe she had it planned that she would have time for herself from about 10:00 a.m. until about mid afternoon.

Edited June 21, 2014 by UpwardForward

[Haydn]

Work is hard Leigh. If you want the rewards you have to stick at something. Gain a reputation. Don't complain. Put your head down and get on with it. This is a stop gap until you get your degree. If you do this right you could have your degree in social work and some glowing references from an employer.

[Leigh 87]

I dont see what is wrong with wanting to earn a minimum wage.

 

That is the only reason I am disgruntled.

 

And she is doing wrong: she can afford to pay me enough. She doesnt pay me enough for the hours I put in.

 

I simply feel I deserve more than 150 a week, very cheap food and the use of one room for all the hours I do.

 

How am I being unreasonable? Anyone in Sydney would agree that I dont get enough for the number of hours I put in.

[Leigh 87]

When Leigh first told us about the job, I was under the assumption she would be preparing and driving children to school and then looking after them later in day after she picked them up.

 

I believe she had it planned that she would have time for herself from about 10:00 a.m. until about mid afternoon.

 

 

 

I thought I would have time to study full time Plus work another job.

 

Thanks to the fact she isnt giving me the equivalent of minumum wage, I have to obviously choose full time study over taking another job because I dont have time to work another jobs and get minumum wage and also study full time come september.

 

IF she simply paid me the.equivalent of a minimum wage I wouldnt NEED to look for a second job whilst also studying full time come.september.

 

Minumum wage is 617 a week. They ARE NOT giving me the equivalent. Their small room, use of a shower once a day and the 2 min noodles tuna and.cereal I live on Plus 150 a week Does not amount to minumum wage.

 

 

I am not sure why people think I am unreasonable in wanting a wealthy family to pay a full time employee the equivalent of minumum wage.

[Leigh 87]

Honestly Leigh, a lot of your last couple posts about the job and your employer makes you sound like a spoiled brat. You are not getting your way so now you are throwing a tantrum about it, changing the whole situation going from being such a great deal to now you are getting ripped off and how your parents would never do this to you .

 

Just quit the job and give them enough notice, there is no way this would last for 6 months. If you don't quit, I can guarantee you will eventually get fired because how you feel will start to come out in your work.[/quote

 

 

I am not a spoilt brat. I simply think a wealthy family can afford to give their full time employee a minimum wage equivalent.

 

I find it disgusting when wealthy people pay their employees less than the Bare minumum national wage. When they can very well afford to pay their full time care of their children a minimum wage.

 

Wanting the equivalent to a 617 week minumum wage isnt being a spoilt brat.

[MuddyFootprints]

I took a live-in, summer nanny job when I was in high school. That is when I really learned how to cook. I planned the menus and did the grocery shopping while the kids spent time with their mom. I prepared the things I liked to eat and stayed within the family food budget. They were sad when I went back to school. I did laundry every day (cloth diapers, too.) And assisted with running their shop. They paid me $50 a week.

 

Eta: she had the most amazing cookbook from the early 1900's. I made ice cream, souffles, the most delicious cakes, and sauces. I only started one minor fire. Damn, now I'm going to have to call her and ask her if she still has that cookbook. I'd love to get my hands on it again!

Edited June 21, 2014 by MuddyFootprints

[Queenie42]

I dont see what is wrong with wanting to earn a minimum wage.

 

That is the only reason I am disgruntled.

 

And she is doing wrong: she can afford to pay me enough. She doesnt pay me enough for the hours I put in.

 

I simply feel I deserve more than 150 a week, very cheap food and the use of one room for all the hours I do.

 

How am I being unreasonable? Anyone in Sydney would agree that I dont get enough for the number of hours I put in.

 

You're sounding unreasonable because you accepted the job fully knowing the conditions and you've now decided the conditions are no good. If you want more money, go ahead and ask for more money. Make your case well and you might just get it. Or you can quit and move back to the free flat. Either way, moaning doesn't help. You've got to actually take some affirmative action or nothing will change and you'll continue to hate your job and the kids and their family will suffer for it.