Adventures in Babysitting

When I was interviewing for the job I have had for about 4.5 years now, my boss asked what I thought to be a very strange question:

"Have you done any babysitting?"

I kind of laughed at the time, but in retrospect, this was the perfect question to ask, as this job requires a LOT of patience, hand-holding, repeating yourself like a broken record, reiterating that no means no, etc..  One small example of my patience being tried was the following email exchange I just had toward the end of my work day today:

 Manager:
Emily,

I am quite sure that #1 is making $50 an hour. Could you please verify that for me?

I am looking at her 40 hour work week and the pay says $2500! That can’t be right.

I thought that #2 makes $55. But can you please confirm that?

Me:

*system*  does not keep record of pay rates.  Only bill rates. #1 bill rate is $62.50.  #2 bill rate is $68.75

Manager:
Then how and where can I find out exactly what each is making per hour?

Would this mean ($62.50) that #1 is making about $55 an hour?

Me:

Usually the rate of pay is only a discussion between the temp and their employer.

Since both are with *agency*, I can guess that these were payrollees, which would mean that there is only a 25% markup over their pay.

If this is the case, then #1 pay rate would be $50/hr. #2 would be $55

Manager:
This seems to make sense. Thank you very much, Emily.

However, I am alarmed b/c on #1 timecard for 40 hours, the invoice is for $2500!!
Total Timecard Hours            40    40
Total Estimated Invoice Amount            2500.00    USD 2500.00

Me:

$62.50 times 40 hours = $2500…

Manager:
:-)!!!  #1 salary would be 25% of the 2500, then, before taxes.

Me:

Correct!   #1 would get $2000 gross.

Manager:
25% of $2500 is $1875. Wouldn’t this be her gross?

Me:

No.  Her pay rate is $50/hr.  $50 times 40 hours is $2000.  $2000 plus 25% is $2500

SIGH

Again, I submit my plea for vacation..