Q: A babysitter watched our children for an hour on Yom Tov. May we pay her?
A: Chazal prohibited paying wages for work done on Shabbos or Yom Tov — s’char Shabbos — even if the work itself entails no melachah and is permitted (O.C. 306:4, 585:5; Mishnah Berurah 306:16).
Therefore you may not pay the babysitter outright for watching the children.
However when work is done also during the week, Chazal allowed including payment for Shabbos as part of payment for the week — havlaah (“swallowing”) — when there isn’t specific payment for the hour on Shabbos (ibid.).
Thus if the babysitter works regularly during the week for a set weekly sum, the hour on Yom Tov may be included, and she may work one hour less during the week (see Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasah 28:65).
If the babysitter does not have a weekly or monthly arrangement, you can arrange that she works as a favor without wages on Yom Tov, and afterwards give her money or something else as a gift in appreciation for her help (Mishnah Berurah 306:15; Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasah 28:58 but see Orchos Shabbos 22:97[151]).
Alternatively, afterwards you can pay her twice the regular rate for an hour she works during the week, without indicating that this is in lieu of her hour on Yom Tov.
