Help With Wording Policy--End Of Care Around Vacations
I am re-thinking (again) my policy regarding parents giving notice. Parents are expected to give me (at least) 2 weeks' notice if their child is leaving. They are also expected to pay for my 3 weeks of vacation. I have a perpetual problem that I've tried to solve several ways. The current way is too complicated, so I'm trying to clarify and redo.
The problem is this-- I really like to take 1 week vacation at the end of August, as a mental reset from one "school year" to the next. I start back up the day after Labor Day, when most kids are starting school. Inevitably, I'll have a parent (or several), three weeks before that vacation, give me two weeks' notice--essentially getting out of paying for the vacation I've been earning all year. That means I end up taking an unpaid vacation, when I was clear all along they'd be paying for three weeks. I currently have a convoluted system of pre-payment to solve that problem, but it's a pain to explain and enforce. I'd like the new system to be pay the same every week regardless of vacations. And no--you don't get to withdraw right before vacation and get out of paying for it. But I can't think of a clear and polite way of wording that. Suggestions? Thank you! |
Maybe have a clause that if two week notice is filed right before vacation the vacation payment is still due.
"In order to terminate the contract a two week notice is required. If termination falls near the caregivers allotted vacation period payment for the vacation period is still due" Something to that effect. |
My withdrawal procedures simply state that notices cannot include providers vacation.
So if parents give notice right before my vacation time the notice period consists of two weeks AFTER my vacation or in some cases a week before and a week after. Hopefully that makes sense.. |
"Parents are expected to give a minimum of 2 weeks written notice (14 business days) of termination of contract."
The simpler it is worded the easier to enforce. :Sunny: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: |
Originally Posted by Ariana: |
Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy: |
Originally Posted by Cat Herder: |
This is the reason I take my "summer vacation" the very first week of May as of two years ago.
Most of mine are 2 day children, but withdrawing before my summer vacation was still occurring even then. Since I now take my vacation before the traditional school year ends I have yet to have anyone exit directly before it. Something to consider. :) |
Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy: |
The better option would be to not tell them when your vacation is!
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Originally Posted by nothingwithoutjoy: Lets say there are 4 nice, neat M-F weeks in the next month and I am planning on taking a vacation on week 2. Family submits withdrawal notice the Friday before the month begins. Their deposit (covering final two weeks of care) will cover Week 1 and Week 2 (my vacation week) but since withdrawal notices can not include provider vacations they will owe an additional week's payment which is required to be submitted WITH the written withdrawal notice. If they don't submit the payment WITH the withdrawal notice then I won't accept the notice as "proper" and in some cases would not be willing to provide care. So that is really my only "enforcement"....other than that, they can just up and leave and I'd still have their deposit so it wouldn't be a complete loss. Hopefully that helps. :) |
Thank you, everyone, for helping me to think this through. It's a tricky one!
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Originally Posted by Blackcat31: |
Up your rates and take an "unpaid" vacation. People stink sometimes, sorry:rolleyes:
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I sent you a PM.... hope it helps. In addition to what I sent you I know provider who charge an annual registration fee either in the start of the school year or the start of the calendar year (September or January) and they use that for their vacation pay instead of charging.... I did not go that route but they seem to get less push back / resentment from parents.
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I had the same issue and went to a pre-paid vacation system. It was the only way I could figure out to avoid the notice-before-vacation thing. It was hard to explain at first but the more times I've explained it the better I've gotten at it.
I also offer a flat rate monthly rate that's the same regardless of vacation, number of weeks in the month, etc. Some parents prefer that option. |
Originally Posted by midaycare: From reading this forum a bunch... Even when parents know they are paying the same each year, a lot of parents prefer to pay a little more each week and not pay for vacations. I also require the 2 week termination notice to consist of FULL weeks (where I'm open 4 days or more). |
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