"I Was Paid Less Than Half for Babysitting"...The Reason? "Because I Wore a Sleeveless Top"

Teenage Babysitter in the U.S. Claims Unpaid Wages Due to "Inappropriate Attire"
Online Outrage Over Alleged Exploitation and Religious Discrimination

A teenage babysitter in the United States has sparked controversy after claiming she was denied fair wages due to "inappropriate attire."

According to the New York Post on July 1 (local time), a 15-year-old girl living in the U.S., identified as Mei (a pseudonym), shared her experience on social media, asking, "Am I being overly sensitive?" She explained that she had been consistently working for about a year, caring for two children in a household. However, one day, she suddenly did not receive her promised hourly wage, and she claimed the reason given was an "issue with her attire."

Sleeveless top worn by Meiyang. Reddit·New York Post

According to Mei, on the day of the incident, she wore a strappy sleeveless top layered with a sweatshirt when she arrived at the house to babysit. While playing actively with the children indoors, she began to sweat and removed her outer layer, continuing her work in the sleeveless top. Mei said the children followed her as usual and there were no issues at all.

The problem began when her hourly wage was not paid even after several days had passed. Mei messaged the children's mother, Marianne, to request payment. She wrote, "I'm reaching out again in case you forgot because of the Easter holiday," and asked, "Please send the payment when you have time." However, the reply was unexpected. Marianne responded, "After discussing with my husband, we decided that the clothes you wore were inappropriate," and added, "Although the children liked you, this time we will only pay you $50." Mei's daily wage was $150.

Mei also hinted at religious conflict with the family. She explained that differences in values between her own Jewish family and her Catholic employers may have influenced the situation. In fact, when Mei requested payment again via text, Marianne criticized her, saying, "It's a shame you're becoming like your mother," and, "I prayed you would become a more ordinary child, but I'm disappointed that you haven't."

In the end, Marianne's husband, Dan, secretly transferred the full promised amount of $150 to Mei, reportedly bringing the situation to a close. However, Mei stated that she would no longer work as a babysitter for the family. She said, "I can't continue working in this house because they disrespected me and my family, broke their promise, and tried to take advantage of me."

Upon hearing Mei's story, online users expressed outrage, commenting, "If her attire was an issue, they should have warned her in advance. Making her work and then paying only half is clear exploitation," "If she was treated unfairly due to different religious values, that's a discrimination issue," "An employer's subjective standards about appearance or clothing can be a form of violence against underage workers," "What's wrong with wearing a sleeveless top?" and "If the children followed her without any problems, that should be enough."