Have you run into any (or even many) parents who are really put off by you taking holidays?

We provided our holidays list for 2013 (10 paid holidays, 5 unpaid that goes towards their own vacation) and have found one to be completely miffed by the fact that we take them.

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Are they upset that you are taking them or taking them paid. Now what I'm a little confused on do you take 15 holidays off? If so what ones do you take beyond the normal ones. As I'm seeing it you take 10 paid ones and 5 unpaid that they can use towards their vacations. The 5 upaid is whats confusing me.

Anyway, all but one of my sets of parents get all federal holidays off. I think they really only get maybe 6 holidays and I don't know if they are paid or not. So I guess if anyone would get upset it might be them but they have never said anything about it.

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I take all state holidays off with pay and one week paid vacation. so that is 16 days Do they get mad ? No if it does not work for them they do not enroll in my program. Yes it limits my group to no retail people but it works for me.

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I haven't had any parents be upset, but I only take major holidays. I am open Veterans Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc. as where I am located most schools are still open. So I open.

I will say when I needed daycare I would not be able to enroll in a program that took off 2 weeks or even 1 whole week for Christmas. My job only gave us off Christmas Eve and day. The other days would be unpaid if they even allowed me to take vacation days. So that would be a big turn off for me.

But I am lucky in that I the majority of my families are students and are already off during that time and my other families have family in the area that could watch their child when I closed. Therefore I am closing Dec 24-Jan 5!!! and I am SO excited.

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I have never had parents upset that I take any days off (paid or unpaid) as they are all FULLY aware of the policies before enrolling so no one complains after they agree to it.

I do have a couple parents who I know would bring their child(ren) every day all day if I were open 7 days a week but since I am not, they do whatever they need to do to cover their care needs when I am closed.

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My families also know about my holiday policy before they sign on. I am very clear. I take 15 days unpaid per year of vacation and 10 paid stat holidays.

If a parent was upset I would tell them, "I work hard all year and have my vacation clearly laid out in my contract. I understand that it might not be convenient for you and so if yu are upset please vent to your partner and not to me. I am a better provider because I take time for myself and family. Don't begrudge me my vacation."

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I get around 10 paid holidays plus two weeks paid vacation. i dont care if the parents like it or not, as long as they pay the bill. every now and then someone will complain but i really dont even listen....if they really dont like it, they can leave.

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One of my dcm's was VERY mad that I was closed Christmas Eve, the day after Christmas and New Years day. She is going to die when she sees my week vacation next summer (and good riddance if she goes, she knew my policy prior to enrolling!) I cannot help it that you decided to take a second (retail) job. It isn't MY problem, kwim?

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This was in the notice that went home.

Hours of Operation
___ is open Monday through Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM, excluding the following paid holidays in 2012:
December 24, 2012-January 2, 2013 Christmas Break
March 29 Good Friday
May 27 Memorial Day
July 4-5 Fourth of July Break
September 2 Labor Day
November 28-29 Thanksgiving Break
December 24, 2013-January 2, 2014 Christmas Break

Any additional closings will be unpaid and credited back to your account.

Please pick your child up before 5:00PM, unless there are written prior arrangements made with the teacher for Extended Day Care. If you are late, there will be a charge of $1.00 per minute past your contracted time. This late fee will need to be paid prior to your child returning to school the next day.


Please also review the Vacation policy on page 3 of the Parent Handbook:
Vacation
Following six months of enrollment, you will receive credit for one vacation week (free of tuition being charged) per year for your child’s regularly scheduled program and tuition. A two-week advance written notice is required for the credit to be applied.

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Nope. This is the very first thing I go over during the interview process and it's one of the first things that is touched on in my handbook - it's also written into my contracts.
My current parents all seem more than happy for me to have time away - which often translates into a happy and refreshed childcare provider.

I never have to explain myself when I take a personal day either!

If I had issues, I would simply let the client go. I'm not about fight for my right to having time off with pay (and yes, as the owner of my own business, I do certaintly have the right to give myself paid days off if I see fit)!

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Before I started my dc business, I worked in an office setting which was made up primarily of woman with kids who were in day care. There was a lot of complaining about having to pay for days when the dc was closed whether it be for holidays, sick time, vacation, etc. Based on that, I assume that at least some of my own dc parents thorughout the years may have had an issue with me taking holidays off and having to pay for them. None have ever complained to me directly, though. I go through my policies very thoroughly during the initial interview so I would hope I'd weed out anyone who had a problem with it before they even started here.

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