REQUIREMENTS
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Your information in your sitter profile must always be up to date and accurate. This includes: Phone, Email, Address, job preferences, and availability. Your profile must be a professional, clean head shot mid-torso up.
AVAILABILITY CALENDAR
We ask that you fill out your availability calendar as far in advance as possible. For uncertain days/times, please leave the calendar unavailable to avoid declining jobs. Scheduling can always be edited back to available as you approach the date and are more confident in your commitment to full- fill a job.If your availability is set as available and you receive a booking request from a family, you are expected to confirm and indeed be available for that booking.
DECLINE POLICY
Each sitter is allowed 3 booking request declines in a 6 month period (The 6 months will start from the date you become active on the site). If you decline 3 or more jobs within the 6 month time period PlatinumSitters has the right to remove sitter off our website after the 3rd rejection. Exceptions to this would be serious emergencies or sudden illness.
NO SHOW POLICY
If you fail to show up for a confirmed booking you will be removed from our site immediately.
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN
NO use of telephone while driving children other than GPS apps. No taking phone calls or answering text messages while children are in the car.
You must only go to and from the destination the parents have instructed. NO stopping anywhere else for any reason.
If your car is not reliable or suitable to be having children in the car, please do not mark YES to comfortable transporting children.
BOOKING REQUESTS
Requests are sent to the email on file. Please check your email regularly for booking requests. We ask that you respond within 1-2 hours, or sooner, from the time you receive the request (with exception of bookings made overnight, while in class or at work) to allow the family to find someone else in the case you use one of your declines.
COMPLETING YOUR BOOKINGS
Sitters must adjust the START & END time accordingly to the ACTUAL time of when you have arrived and left your booking.
The only exception would be our two hour minimum booking rule. If you happen to physically be at a booking for less than two hours because the family no longer needed you, you will still receive the two hour minimum pay and close the booking out for 2 hours.
INVOICES MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE HOME YOU ARE SITTING AT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE JOB. CONFIRM THE END TIME WITH THE PARENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ARE ENDING
THE BOOKING.
CANCELLING A CONFIRMED BOOKING
Cancellations are NOT permitted. If you have confirmed a booking, we expect you to show up for that booking.
If you have an emergency or suddenly become ill you are responsible for contacting PlatinumSitters with as much time in advance so we are able to attempt finding a replacement.
CELL PHONE / SOCIAL MEDIA / PHOTO POLICY
While at a booking and children are awake, personal cell phone use is prohibited for any reason other than emergencies or communicating with the parents.
Social media posts and pictures of the children are not allowed. None of the children or homes you sit for should be on your social media platforms. (Snap chat, Facebook, Instagram etc.) Should we find out you are breaching the family’s privacy, there is the possibility of removal from PlatinumSitters website.
If children are sleeping AND all responsibilities/duties/cleaning (dishes cleaned up/put away, toys cleaned up, counters wiped down, etc) are completed you may then use your phone, read a book, do work/homework, or watch TV.
RATINGS AND REVIEWS
After each booking, parents are prompted to rate you through our 5 star rating system and leave a testimonial about their experience with you.
If you receive a 2 star rating (or lower) or an unsatisfactory parent review is posted online or sent directly to PlatinumSitters, the situation will be put under review with the possibility of removal from PlatinumSitters website.
HIRING DIRECTLY / SIDE JOBS
One of the main benefits of being a PlatinumSitter is that you have access to our family database and jobs come straight to you based on your availability.
If a parent tries to hire you outside of PlatinumSitters, please let the family know that all jobs must go through PlatinumSitters.com.
Side jobs are not permitted and parents and/or sitters using our site for this reason will be removed from the site.
ON THE JOB REQUIREMENTS
While on the job Platinum Sitters must always respect the family, children, and household. Below are our requirements and how we expect you to represent yourself and the PlatinumSitters name.
DRESS CODE
No short shorts, no midriffs showing, no extremely low cut shirts, and/or tight revealing clothing of any kind. Please dress respectfully, professional, comfortable and able to have fun and play with the children.
TECHNOLOGY / TV / SCREEN TIMES
PlatinumSitters MUST follow all guidelines and rules the parents have set and given for screen time. Each parent has their own preferences and they must be followed despite your personal opinions.
Please always ask if it is not specified to be sure you are following the household rules.
DISCIPLINING / COMFORTING
Always ask what type of discipline/comforting techniques are to be used during meltdowns, not listening, etc. Platinum Sitters must only administer discipline that would be acceptable in a school setting if not specified otherwise. Keep children and yourself safe and make parents aware of all/any issues when they return home and they can choose to address themselves.
CLEANING AND TIDYING
PlatinumSitter's moto is “Our sitters leave the house nice/cleaner than when they arrived." If children are asleep, sitters should do a 5-10 minute sweep of the house to be sure toys, clothes, and/or dishes are cleaned up and put away. Go above and beyond by tidying up and wiping down surfaces! If children are not asleep while you are there, have them involved in helping you clean up. Parents appreciate this A LOT and we want our clients to know that they will always come home to a clean house.
SICK CHILDREN
Do what you can to make the child comfortable while keeping them calm. Always contact the parents to give THEM the choice to come home or instruct you on how to handle the situation.
Emergencies: Call 911 FIRST, then immediately contact the parents to alert them of the situation. If you are not able to reach the parents, call the emergency contact listed on the family’s profile.
Medications should never be given to children without the parents consent. This also goes for slightly older children who want to take medication on their own. NO medications should be taken by children or administered while under your care unless the parent/guardian has given you direct instructions or given consent.
NUTRITION / ALLERGIES
Sitters must follow parents instructions on nutrition. Always ask and be aware of any known allergies in the family. If the family profile does not have details about this please ask when arriving in the home. If you plan on baking or making treats with the children this also needs to be ok’d by the parents.
SAFETY INFORMATION / TIPS
Always be Safety Focused. Your first priority in babysitting is to keep kids safe. Being a good babysitter means knowing how to handle everything from a splinter to a real emergency. Always act in a way that puts safety first and NEVER leave the children unattended.
Locked doors/ House Safety: Make sure all windows and doors are closed, shut and locked while you’re in the house and that outside lights are on at night. If you go outside with the children and do not have a key, don't go further than the yard. Never answer the door if you are not expecting someone or if the parents have not made you aware of a delivery or someone coming by.
Choking: Did you know that young kids can choke on anything smaller than a grape? It's true! Never let kids play with toys that are not made for their age group. Be aware of your surroundings and check the floor for anything a child could pick up and choke on.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE IN MY PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY?
A: Personal Biographies are one of the most important parts of your profile. This is the main thing families use to decide on which sitter to use! Below is an example of a good outline to create a biography that will bring you nothing but success! 1. Intro- describe yourself, hobbies or interests briefly. 2. List all experience you have had with childcare (i.e. dealing with multiples, special needs, your own children, siblings, teaching, volunteering, camps, babysitting, nannying, church etc). Anything that can justify that you are THE one they should choose. 3. Favorite thing about babysitting children or favorite thing to do with children when babysitting. 4. Certifications, schooling, degrees, etc. *Examples of 5 Star PlatinumSitter biographies are available by request!
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP MY SITTER PROFILE INFO UP TO DATE? A:
Phone: Your phone number is used by both Parents and PlatinumSitters regularly. Parents are granted access to your phone number on file once you have confirmed the booking in case they need/want to contact you before the scheduled booking. PlatinumSitters will stay in close contact with you as a sitter via phone to ensure your time as a PlatinumSitter is successful.
Address: Checks, Promos, bonuses, etc will be mailed to the address on file. This address is also what is used to calculate travel distance for your sitting jobs!
Email: Email is used for booking requests as well as communication with PlatinumSitters. Profile Picture: We require a clear, professional head shot (torso up).
AM I REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ANY CERTIFICATIONS?
A: We recommend obtaining a CPR/First Aid certification but it is not mandatory to be a part of PlatinumSitters. PlatinumSitters thrives to provide certification opportunities in each city we service.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE PARENTS CALL ME TO CANCEL THE BOOKING?
A: Please kindly remind them to also cancel online if they have not already. When a parent cancels online it will generate an email to you letting you know it has been cancelled as well as open you back up to available so you are able to pick up a new booking for that time. *Please refer to sitter payout flyer for cancellation compensations*
WHAT SHOULD I SAY IF A PARENT ASKS ABOUT TIPPING?
A: At the end of a booking if a parent asks if they are supposed to tip you, the response we prefer is “Tipping is not expected or encouraged with PlatinumSitters but we are able to accept them" We do not encourage or expect tips from our families because we believe our rates are fair and upfront at the beginning of the job. IF a parent is insistent on giving you a tip (which some of them are) you can take the tip and kindly thank them!
IS THERE A MINIMUM AMOUNT A TIME I WILL BE BOOKED FOR?
A: PlatinumSitters has a 2 hour minimum booking policy. If you are physically at a job for less than 2 hours because the parents let you leave, you will still be paid for 2 hours.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE ANOTHER BOOKING TO GET TO AND THE PARENTS ARE LATE GETTING HOME?
A: If you have a commitment after one of your bookings, we ask that you kindly and respectfully be upfront and communicate this with the parents before they leave the house or give them a call before arriving. Something along the lines of “ I know you have me booked till X YZ time and I am ok with staying just a few minutes later than that, but I did want to let you know that I do have another booking I am committed to after I leave here and will need to leave by XYZ time in order to make it there on time.” We do have an automatic built in buffer time for you before and after each booking; but to avoid stress about making it to your next commitment on time, please be proactive and communicate these things up front!
HOW EXACTLY DOES PAYROLL WORK AND WHEN WILL I GET PAID?
A: Our payroll system works on a weekly basis. A payroll week starts each Friday and is cut off every Thursday at midnight. Payroll begins being processed on Friday and is deposited at latest by Monday end of day (with exception of major holidays on Fridays or Mondays). Example of a Payroll Week: Any job worked on or between Friday to the following Thursday, will be added together and a lump sum of all jobs worked will be deposited by booking. You will be paid the cash earnings/set rates. No taxes or fees are taken out of your wages, you are a 1099 employee.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER?
A: We use a similar policy to schools in the area. If schools are closed or delayed our sitters are not expected to drive to their bookings. With this being said, YOU AS A SITTER must communicate directly with the parent ahead of time to see if they will still need a sitter and/or let them know if you ARE or ARE NOT comfortable driving to the booking. We leave this decision to the sitters as we do not want anyone risking their safety.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM CALLED BEFOREHAND OR SHOW UP TO THE BOOKING AND A CHILD IS VISIBLY SICK OR I AM TOLD HE/SHE IS CONTAGIOUS?
A: PlatinumSitters has a sick policy similar to schools/daycares. If a child is sick with a temperature, flu like symptoms, or has a contagious illness and has not been on antibiotics for an appropriate amount of time, our sitters have the right to communicate to the family that they are not comfortable caring for the sick child. We do our best to communicate this policy to families to avoid sitters being put in this position. If this should arise, professionally and kindly let the family know you are not comfortable caring for sick/contagious children. If you ARE comfortable with caring for sick children that is okay too! Feel free to still work bookings at your discretion.
With COVID we ask that all parents and sitters please do not use our service if any person in your household is sick with any type of virus, infection, etc. Should you be exposed to someone who has tested positive we need to know IMMEDIATELY and be sure to get all upcoming bookings filled with other sitters.