Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Funeral Leave Policy
284878 10:57 AM 07-26-2016
I had someone ask me what my funeral policy is and I am trying to decide what I would do, give them a credit or charge them. If I decided to give families credit for the day of the funeral, then in turn I would write the policy to charge if I have to close for a funeral. Or if I charge them for funeral leave then not charge them if I have funeral leave. (Currently I do not charge for days that I am sick or vacation)
Do you have a policy for Funeral leave, either for you or your clients? Can you post what it is compared to your sick policy?
Reply
Play Care 11:22 AM 07-26-2016
Originally Posted by 284878:
I had someone ask me what my funeral policy is and I am trying to decide what I would do, give them a credit or charge them. If I decided to give families credit for the day of the funeral, then in turn I would write the policy to charge if I have to close for a funeral. Or if I charge them for funeral leave then not charge them if I have funeral leave. (Currently I do not charge for days that I am sick or vacation)
Do you have a policy for Funeral leave, either for you or your clients? Can you post what it is compared to your sick policy?
In general I would say absence is absence regardless of the reason.
For me to consider not charging, it would depend on who died (a child's parent, YES! A close grandma or uncle? Maybe. Third cousin twice removed? No) and if the child is actually going to be out all day (calling hours here start in the afternoons now with no day calling hours anymore).

I might tell the parent "because I already generously do not charge for my time off, I don't have a specific funeral policy. It would fall under my regular absence policy."
Reply
Blackcat31 11:30 AM 07-26-2016
Originally Posted by 284878:
I had someone ask me what my funeral policy is and I am trying to decide what I would do, give them a credit or charge them. If I decided to give families credit for the day of the funeral, then in turn I would write the policy to charge if I have to close for a funeral. Or if I charge them for funeral leave then not charge them if I have funeral leave. (Currently I do not charge for days that I am sick or vacation)
Do you have a policy for Funeral leave, either for you or your clients? Can you post what it is compared to your sick policy?
I charge clients the same weekly rate 52 week a year.

I have a set number of vacation days and a set number of personal days that I close but they still pay regardless.

I would credit for any days I had to close that were above and beyond the number of allotted days I have outlined in my contract.

I don't give daycare families credit for any absences for any reason if I am open and available for care.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:39 AM 07-26-2016
I charge to hold a spot. The tuition rate is the same regardless.

If I was feeling led to lower the tuition rate for the week IF a child's PARENT died then I would do so at the time. I wouldn't create a policy concerning it, though.

If I had to close due to a funeral it would be considered a closure outside of my scheduled paid holidays and inclement weather days. I wouldn't charge.
Reply
Cat Herder 11:51 AM 07-26-2016
How many funerals is this person expecting to attend.

I think I would leave it as "decided on a case by case basis".

Immediate or extended family, number of siblings enrolled, how long in care, etc. would have to be considered.
Reply
finsup 06:17 PM 07-26-2016
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
How many funerals is this person expecting to attend.

I think I would leave it as "decided on a case by case basis".

Immediate or extended family, number of siblings enrolled, how long in care, etc. would have to be considered.
That's exactly what I was thinking! Then my second thought was if I said a credit would be given how many times would this child be out due to a "funeral" :/ I would leave it as a case by case basis too.
Reply
Annalee 06:29 PM 07-26-2016
Originally Posted by 284878:
I had someone ask me what my funeral policy is and I am trying to decide what I would do, give them a credit or charge them. If I decided to give families credit for the day of the funeral, then in turn I would write the policy to charge if I have to close for a funeral. Or if I charge them for funeral leave then not charge them if I have funeral leave. (Currently I do not charge for days that I am sick or vacation)
Do you have a policy for Funeral leave, either for you or your clients? Can you post what it is compared to your sick policy?
In my contract it states "Ms. XXX child care will be closed for all emergencies....i.e. death or serious illness in family, etc.". I charge 52 weeks a year so I do not credit them due to an emergency....and over 24 years I have used this clause in my contract....I don't abuse it, but I do use it!

And I do not credit anyone if they are not at daycare for a funeral.....still 52 weeks pay a year!
Reply
284878 05:14 AM 07-27-2016
Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
How many funerals is this person expecting to attend.

I think I would leave it as "decided on a case by case basis".

Immediate or extended family, number of siblings enrolled, how long in care, etc. would have to be considered.
Originally Posted by finsup:
That's exactly what I was thinking! Then my second thought was if I said a credit would be given how many times would this child be out due to a "funeral" :/ I would leave it as a case by case basis too.
I know when I have a family member that is near the end, I tend to ask question so that when the time comes I don't have to worry, same as one would do if they were expecting, they would want to know what the policy is for maternity leave is.

This person that asked, said that another DC charged them for funeral but not when child was sick. Which they found that odd.
However when I think back, my previous employer did not pay me when I was sick but did for funeral of close family . So it makes sense, what this other providers did, make charges equal to what parent got paid for.

If I gave a credit, I was going to require proof, (a bulletin card from the funeral), only credit the day off the funeral, (if the child was gone for the whole day,) and for a small list of direct relatives (example mom dad sibling parent or child)

I am considering on writing up an unpublished policy for this. Have it written for case by case, but not published in my handbook, only discuss the policy when and if it happens.
Reply
Thriftylady 05:41 AM 07-27-2016
Originally Posted by 284878:
I know when I have a family member that is near the end, I tend to ask question so that when the time comes I don't have to worry, same as one would do if they were expecting, they would want to know what the policy is for maternity leave is.

This person that asked, said that another DC charged them for funeral but not when child was sick. Which they found that odd.
However when I think back, my previous employer did not pay me when I was sick but did for funeral of close family . So it makes sense, what this other providers did, make charges equal to what parent got paid for.

If I gave a credit, I was going to require proof, (a bulletin card from the funeral), only credit the day off the funeral, (if the child was gone for the whole day,) and for a small list of direct relatives (example mom dad sibling parent or child)

I am considering on writing up an unpublished policy for this. Have it written for case by case, but not published in my handbook, only discuss the policy when and if it happens.
That is fine if you are okay with it. It is your business, you get to decide!
Reply
Josiegirl 04:20 PM 07-27-2016
Hmmm, that's a question I've never been asked. And I don't have a funeral policy. I had a family with 3 siblings that lost their grandmother, I refused their payment that week. Plus I took care of another relative the night of the wake for free. I also have a dcg whose parents lost their baby at 7 months; I refused payment for 2 weeks from them but then grandma bought dc all this stuff which was nice but I was trying to be nice to them.
Without a funeral policy in place, I'd have to go with the case by case idea. While I wouldn't think twice about extending payment credit for a close member of the family, I couldn't be as generous with everyone's cousins, aunts and uncles. Kwim?
If I close due to a death in my family, I'd still charge my weekly rates.
Reply
Tags:funeral, leave, policy
Reply Up