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A Canadian mom of two has got the internet seeing red after a babysitting ad she placed was posted to the Beggars can't be choosers! Subreddit community.
According to the woman's ad, potential applicants would need to be willing to work 60-hour weeks, including weekends with no notice for 100 Canadian dollars (C$) per month.
Considering the number of hours the potential employee would be working, this amounts to less than C$2 per hour well below the country's minimum wage (C$14).
Another odd stipulation the mom added to her post was that the potential nanny would be required to provide only organic, vegan food for her children.
“No, you cannot sleep at my condo. No, you cannot have friends over. No, you cannot study/watch YouTube/be on your phone while on duty,” were a few of her other requirements.
Some Reddit users were convinced that the post was a joke and others were furious at "the nerve" of the woman, calling her "ridiculous, unrealistic and entitled."
Here are a few of their comments:
"This person literally wants a volunteer slave."
"What a joke. The only people who will take her offer are on a certain registry. People like this are idiots. never skimp on childcare!"
"Wow, as a parent this pisses me off... watching kids, let alone raising them, is totally hard work and sitters deserve to be paid accordingly."
"She's not looking for a babysitter she is looking for a new mom."
Others just needed a little more clarity on that "vegan organic food only" bit:
"Is the babysitter expected to buy the food or simply prepare it?"
"Maybe the sitter has to provide her own meals and can only eat what is permitted in this home just in case one of the kids happen to ingest a crumb?"
"Lady feed your own damn kids. How can anyone expect a babysitter to provide for the kids she’s watching."
"If you’re going to stipulate that your child only eat a certain type of food, it’s up to you to provide it."
Others felt the demands were not altogether unreasonable but thought the payment on offer (which many posters said was well below minimum wage for the area) was the issue for them.
"Life hacks: just employ someone... and make it their responsibility to bear all associated costs such as food for your children."
"I make more than that per week for walking three dogs."
"I don't think it's out of sorts to want your kids to be watched instead of babysat by the TV. I don't think wanting someone to be smoke-free is bad... But if you want that daily for nearly 12 hours a day plus no notice weekends you better be willing to pay for it."
Are ridiculous demands okay if the salary fits? Tell us your opinion.
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Compiled for Parent24 by Lesley-Anne Johannes.
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