Hi everyone so my friend was complaining to me constantly about not being able to find any nannying/babysitting jobs (she doesn’t even try or look just complains btw) so I finally offered to help her and told her i’d tell my main client whom I see 2-3x a week if her friends were looking. She told me she’d ask and recommend her only after she meets her and sits for her kids once and I thought okay no problem. My friend sits for her and everything goes great, my client tells her friends and they say when we need one they will call my friend. Well then I start noticing she’s babysitting a lot and when I check her location it’s at clients house… At first i’m confused because they’re my clients and didn’t even ask me if I was available on the days she was sitting and i’m also confused bc i’m hired through an agency and we have a contract. Then it starts happening a lot and finally my client tells me my “friend” will message her almost daily asking for shifts because she needs money (for partying) and none of my clients friends text her. Am I the asshole if I say something to her? I think it’s extremely wrong to go behind your friends back and steal their main source of income and client just because it’s easy. Please let me know if I am over reacting or what.
NTA. Your friend stabbed you in the back by taking your job and you should let her know it’s a rotten thing to do.
NTA. I’m not familiar with the babysitting business but it sounds like your friend is pressuring your client, making them break the agreement they have with your agency. I would tell the “friend” that they are stripping away your income and harassing the client to break their contract.
for real, its messed up she would just swoop in like that and not even ask
It’s not pressure. The friend isn’t through the agency and is therefore cheaper. (Client doesn’t have to pay the agency fee for her.) The client is fucking this gal over as much as the friend.
Personally, I’d take this as a lesson learned. The friend is not a good one, and you should NEVER intro a client in any field to someone who does the same work as you unless you are trying to leave the client yourself.
NTA you were being a good friend trying to help her and she turned around and took your client. I would address it with her? And should you be contacting whichever agency you have a contract through? Why are they able to bypass the contract ?
As soon as you said that she would only recommend after she had sat for your client’s kids once, I knew how this was going to go. It’s nice to be sympathetic to your friends, but, giving them your client/sitter information is a recipe for them being poached away to your so-called “friend.”
NTA. You did her a favor, and she turned around and poached your client and income. That’s not a misunderstanding, that’s disrespectful and unprofessional. You’re absolutely allowed to confront her and set boundaries, especially since you have a contract with the agency. She didn’t “find work,” she took yours.
If she’s your friend, you should be able to talk to her about it. You both need money and work shifts. And it sounds like you tried to find work for her. Is she also trying to find work for you? If she’s not willing to help you out, she’s not your friend.
Obviously you can’t control who the clients want to employ as their babysitters, but is it possible this client has to pay you slightly more since you are via an agency, whereas they pay your friend directly?
Perhaps next time you’ll have to let any friends know they should also sign up with your agency. Or maybe you and your friends could team up to start your own agency, rather than competing with each other ?
NTA You were doing your friend a favor and she poached your main client even though you gave her a network of other potential options. She knew that it was your main source of income as well. It is strange that you are contracted out and your client hired your friend for hours knowing she was your friend as well. Did your client give any other explanation? I think you probably should talk to your friend about it
Wow, it’s one thing to go and sit for your client’s friends, but to steal your client is an AH move. Now you know this person is not a friend. Say something to her and tell her to back off your client. You’re NTA.
NTA.
It is wrong for your friend to “steal” your client. But realize that it takes two here. Your client is no doubt saving money by not booking through the agency. And she may have assured your friend that you are fine with their arrangement.
Before you confront your friend, be sure of your facts, vs. what the client is claiming. You might want to start with questions instead of accusations. Maybe ask to see the actual texts.
The person is not a friend if they are hurting you to benefit themselves.
NTA. You helped her and she stole your client. That’s shady and you have every right to address it.