Our Preschool Wants Us to Sign a Ridiculous Document. It's Basically a $5,000 IOU.

"My child's preschool just sent us a "babysitting agreement" that they told us we are required to sign. The agreement outlines the policies for what happens if any of the paid staff at my child's preschool perform babysitting tasks for us outside of school hours, on the staff member's own time. The policy includes things that make some sense (for example, absolutely no discussion of administrative issues or decisions at the school, a.k.a, don't use the staff member to pry for insider info)."

"The agreement also says that if there is an issue with the staff member, the family (that's me) has to pay a $200 an hour (minimum one hour) consultation fee to bring it up with the school. Also, if the staff member decides to quit working for the preschool and babysit full-time for a family instead, the family is required to pay the preschool $5,000."

A preschool sent families a mandatory babysitting agreement governing paid staff providing childcare outside school hours. The agreement forbids staff from discussing administrative issues or decisions at the school during off-hours arrangements. The agreement requires families to pay a $200-per-hour (one-hour minimum) consultation fee to raise concerns about a staff member. It also obligates families to pay the preschool $5,000 if a staff member quits to babysit full-time for the family. The agreement shifts penalties and noncompete-like restrictions onto parents rather than employees. The parent in Oregon refused to sign and questioned enforceability.

Read at Slate Magazine