Shift workers

[madredann]

Hi all
I have a family interested in using me but both parents work shifts. I have been given the next 3 months Shift pattern and most weeks give me enough for a weekly wage sufficient to pay my bills but a couple of weeks they only need me 9 hours and a couple at 18 hours which I feel isnt enough. Do you think it is fair to ask for a minimum of 2o hours a week which makes me £70?
What does everyone else do with shift workers?
Julie

[jane5]

I worked out what hours my shift worker wanted over how many days, she wanted 7am - 12 noon over 5 days using 3 sessions a week. I charged full fee for 3 days and 1/2 fee for the other 5 hours on 2 days. I also charged time and a half for 7am-8am as it was out side my normal hours.

I wasn't prepared to save days for her at no charge and I also wasn't prepared to charge just for the hours she used.

[AliceK]

I have 4 shift workers and I charge a minimum number of hours per week / month. I decide at the time financially what I can accept and then that is the minimum I will accept. It works for me and parents are happy

xxx

[2kidsunder5]

One of my mums is a nurse and works shift. She pays me from 8:30 to 5:30 every day regardless of whether lo comes. LO is taking up a full time space and as mum knows if he was to go to nursery they would also charge for a full time place. He can be with me as little as 1 day a week or can be here full time. May seem unfair but I can't take on another child as i don't know what days would be available