CSSitters Agency Policies

CSSitters reserves the right to remove any family or sitter from the active roster(s) if they are no longer a fit and/or compatible with the agency overall. This can be determined by, but is not limited to: Feedback from family/sitters, interactions with the Super Sitter Team, overall compatibility with CSSitters’ values and expectations, and the agency’s ongoing ability to meet the needs of a particular sitter or family.

Feedback: while submitting feedback is not a specific policy requirement, it is an integral part of what makes our process work. Families are asked to complete feedback RE: sitters, and sitters are asked to complete feedback RE: families.

• New families must complete a Family Profile and an intake call prior to placing a request.
• Any booking between a family and an active Super Sitter must be submitted through a family’s online portal (provided after your intake call).
  • If a family and sitter who have met through CSS book directly without informing the agency and submitting an official request, it is grounds for dismissal from the roster for both parties.
• One Time Request fees are charged from the timestamp (date and time in CST) on the submission into our system.
  • Request Submissions via email, text, direct conversations, or other communication are not considered timestamped request submissions
  • Direct conversations or verbal agreements between family/Super Sitters are not considered timestamped request submissions

Request & Placement Timing

• All placements must meet a minimum of 3 paid hours per placement. If a request is submitted for less than 3 hours, CSS will contact the family to either extend the placement OR agree to still pay the sitter for 3 full hours.
• Requests/Placements can not be swapped, traded, or exchanged. Even if it’s the same sitter and same hours just a different day. Cancellations and/or additional days will be charged as such.
• Placement start time can be flexible +/- 2hrs max to be considered the same placement. If adjusted more than 2hr, this may be considered a cancellation/New Request and be charged as such.
• A CSSitters Placement is considered confirmed when a sitter is assigned, and details have been sent via email by CSS.
  • CSSitters timestamp (date and time in CST) and delivery confirmation system will be used as time/date reference.

Sickness

• Any ‘sickness’ in your home (child or adult) must be disclosed prior to booking or having your sitter in your home (on request form or via other correspondence). Any assigned sitter will be given this information to make an informed decision about working the placement.
• If a sitter is feeling ‘sick’, it must be disclosed prior to confirming a placement or going into a family home. Families will be given this information to make an informed decision about accepting the sitter or having a sitter replacement.
• Sickness includes ANYTHING ‘sick’, no matter how small or insignificant the family or sitter deems it to be. These include but are not limited to: runny nose, teething fever, regular fever, cough (wet or dry), pink eye, head lice, HFM, etc.
• If a Super Sitter arrives at a placement and finds sickness that has not been disclosed they are permitted to leave immediately, and full placement compensation is due.
• If a Super Sitter arrives at a home with an undisclosed sickness, a family is permitted to send them home with no payment and a refund for placement from CSSitters if a replacement can not be found.

Cancellation Fees:

• No fee due if a placement is cancelled before it is confirmed
• $50 Fee/day –  if a placement is cancelled after it has been confirmed (RECP or OTP)
• $Full Hourly for canceled placement/day – if placement is cancelled with less than 48 hours before placement start time (RECP or OTP)

Cancellation Policies:

• A CSSitters Placement is considered confirmed when a sitter is assigned, and details have been sent via email by CSS. CSSitters timestamp (date and time in CST) and delivery confirmation system will be used as time/date reference.
  
• Cancellation fees are applicable once the placement is confirmed.
  • Recurring placement dates canceled more than 4 weeks in advance will NOT incur a cancellation fee.
• Cancellations are charged/assessed based on the timestamp on the submitted Family Cancellation Form.
  • Cancellation requests via email, text, direct conversations or other communication are not considered timestamped cancellation submissions.
• Cancellation fees are paid directly to your Super Sitter via their payment handles.
  • If a Cancellation fee is not paid directly to a sitter after being requested, CSSitters will charge the cancellation fee to the family (due prior to any future request being placed) with a $5 transaction fee.
• Any placement fee is retained as charged for cancelled placements. Outstanding invoices for confirmed & canceled placements remain due. Credit of of placement fees are only issued if a placement can not be filled after sitter-cancellation. 

• There are TWO payments due for each placement: The placement fee to the agency, and the hourly rate to the sitter. 
• One Time Placements are charged per booking
• Recurring Placements are charged monthly
• Payment to CSSitters is due when the request/placement is confirmed. An invoice will be sent to you via email and is due within 3 days, or prior to your placement starting (whichever is sooner).
• Payment to your Super Sitter is due directly to the sitter via their payment handles at the end of the gig, before the sitter is sent home (including minimum hourly, any reimbursements, etc). Please discuss payment expectations with any other adults dismissing your sitter at the end of a placement.
• If a sitter has to ask for the agency’s help to receive payment, CSSitters will charge the full amount to the family (due prior to any future request being placed) with a $5 transaction fee and 20% tip.
• If you relieve your sitter before the scheduled end time, you are responsible for paying for the time worked, not the time booked, as long as it still meets the minimum of 3 paid hours.

• If a Super Sitter is too sick and unable to work their confirmed gig(s) they are required to submit a SITTER cancellation form, text the CSS Requests line, and also contact the family to let them know they have asked for a substitute sitter. 
• CSS can’t decide what “too sick” means for a sitter, child, or family. We will provide the sickness information to either/all parties so they can make an informed decision regarding their comfort level about any placement.
• If a Super Family (child OR parent) is too sick to invite a Super Sitter into their home they are required to submit a FAMILY cancellation form, text their sitter, and CSS will be in touch with cancellation fee details.
• CSS can’t decide what “too sick” means for a sitter, child, or family. We will provide the sickness information to either/all parties so they can make an informed decision regarding their comfort level about any placement.
• If a Super Sitter is under the weather, but healthy enough to comfortably work their confirmed gig(s), they are required to check their Super Family’s Germs Form info and text the family to disclose how they’re feeling and what their symptoms are. 
• If the family’s Germs Form says they are NOT comfortable with a sitter proceeding to come with mild sickness symptoms, or the family responds and says they are NOT comfortable with your symptoms, sitters are to text the CSS Requests line immediately (773-609-1277).
• If a Super Family (kiddo OR parent) is under the weather, but healthy enough to invite a Super Sitter into their home, they are required to check their Super Sitter’s Germs Form info and text the sitter to disclose how they’re feeling and what their symptoms are. 
• If the sitter’s Germs Form says they are NOT comfortable going into a home with a child displaying mild sickness, or the Super Sitter responds and says they are NOT comfortable with the symptoms, families (and sitters) are to text the CSS Requests line (773-609-1277) immediately.
• If a Super Sitter arrives at a placement and finds sickness that has not been disclosed they are permitted to leave immediately, and full placement compensation is due.

• If a Super Sitter arrives at a home with an undisclosed sickness the family is permitted to send them home with no payment and a refund for placement from CSSitters if a replacement can not be found.

• ‘Too Sick’ and ‘not comfortable’ are subjective and different for each individual. Unclear sickness scenarios will be handled case-by-case, as no policy can possibly include every situation.

Placement Fees (to the agency)

One Time Placements (In-home, hotel, home rentals, etc.):

Charged for each placement requested and confirmed. 

• 14+ days – $25
• 7+ days – $35
• 3-6 days – $50
• <48hrs – $75
• <24hrs – $100

SuperCard:

Available to purchase for $200 for 10 credits. More information here.
Credits are used toward one-time placements only (not usable for recurring placements). 

• 14+ days 1 SC credit
• 7+ days 1 SC credit
• 3-6 days 2 SC credits
• <48hrs 3 SC credits
• <24hrs 4 SC credits

Recurring Placements:

Charged monthly on the 1st of each month a recurring placement is active (prorated by half-months).

• 1 day/week $50/month
• 2 days/week $75/month
• 3 days/week $100/month
• 4 days/week $125month
• 5 days/week $150/month

Out of Office/Off-Hours Fee

An additional $25 will be charged (with the placement fee) if the request requires attention outside of office hours.

This means:

• Requests submitted after 3p for the following morning (placement starting before noon)
• Requests submitted after 3p on Friday for any time on the following Saturday or Sunday 
• Requests submitted after 3p on Friday for Monday morning (placement starting before noon)

Cancellation fees

• No fee due if a placement is cancelled before it is confirmed
• $50 Fee –  if a placement is cancelled after it has been confirmed
• $Full Hourly for cancelled placement – if placement is cancelled with less than 48 hours before placement start time.
• Placement fees are retained as charged for confirmed placements. Credit of of placement fees are only issued if a placement can not be filled after sitter-cancellation. 

Registration & Intake fees

• New families must complete a Family Profile and an intake call prior to receiving confirmation details for a placement. 

• 15-minute and 30-minute calls are available with a one-time registration fee of $50, booked through our scheduling page (provided after the Family Profile is completed)
• Families needing a call outside of the listed intake availability may choose to schedule a 15-minute or 30-minute call with us directly for an additional $50 fee (+$50 Registration fee, $100 total)

Hourly Rates

• Suggested hourly rates are determined by CSSitters
• Your hourly rate will stay the same sitter to sitter, an only changes if the criteria (listed below) change.
• Rates are for every hour and are paid directly to your sitter. Please see Payment Policies for more information.

• • One Time Placements:
    • 1 Child – $20/hour
    • 2 Children – $21/hour
    • 3 Children – $22/hour 
    • 4 Children – $TBD – based on age-spread, needs of placement.
    • 5+ Children – $TBD – based on age-spread, needs of placement.
  • Recurring Placements:
    • 1 Child – $22/hour
    • 2 Children – $23/hour
    • 3 Children – $24/hour
    • 4 Children – $TBD based on age-spread, needs of placement.
    • 5+ Children –  $TBD based on age-spread, needs of placement.
• Additions to hourly rate:
  • • Infant (under 6mos): +$1/hour
    • Two children under 2y: +$1/hour
    • Sitter in Hotel Room/Home Rental: +$1/hr
    • Sitter working somewhere other than the family home: +$1/hr
    • Combined Families (two or more): +$2/hr for each extra child from family #2, 3, etc.
• Possible TBD Extras:
  • Gas/Travel stipend: $TBD, based on location (will be known prior to booking)
  • Special Skills Required (Language, special training):  $TBD – depending on request.
  • Overnight Care: Rates vary based on sleeping habits, ages, etc. Inquire for more info.

Requests Inquiries:  Requests@chicagosupersitters.com

General Questions/Inquiries:  Hello@chicagosupersitters.com

Events and Weddings Contact:  Weddings@chicagosupersitters.com