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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Policies... Question... What Do You Do?
lflick 11:06 AM 06-11-2013
Good afternoon all....

I am just curious what your policies are regarding a child that is not in attendance... do you allow a certain number of sick days per contract year? A certain number of vacation days?

I am asking as I set my policies a while back and since then it has come to my attention that many of the "home" daycares either do not charge for days absent or charge hourly...

My current policy allows 5 sick days per child, per contract year and my vacation policy allows one consecutive week (so the parents aren't using a sporadic day here and there) and each week after that I charge 1/2 their regular tuition to hold their spot. I did this policy more so because I am aware there are people with an obnoxious amount of vacation and I would hate to lose so much income each year.
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e.j. 11:19 AM 06-11-2013
Originally Posted by lflick:
Good afternoon all....

I am just curious what your policies are regarding a child that is not in attendance... do you allow a certain number of sick days per contract year? A certain number of vacation days?
My policy is that as long as I am open and available for care, if the parent has contracted for that time, they pay whether their child is in attendance or not. The only time I don't charge is when I close the day care for some reason - I'm sick, on vacation, have jury duty, an appointment, etc.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:22 AM 06-11-2013
Children pay whether they are in attendance or not and I include a list of paid holidays.
After 6 months of enrollment, I do permit the parents to submit in writing their plans for a 1 week vacation to which I will credit their account for that week. They get one per year.
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melilley 11:26 AM 06-11-2013
I charge whether they are here or not and do not give any sick days. My parents pay before care takes place for that week so they have already paid regardless of attendance.
I do however, give parents a week free (5 consecutive days) per calendar year for their vacation after they have been here for 90 days. After that, they have to pay their full tuition.
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Play Care 11:45 AM 06-11-2013
I give the parents two "free" vacation weeks per year - the child has to be OUT of care, they don't get "free" care

But they pay when the child is sick, or if they decide to keep kids home a day here or there...
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williams2008 11:59 AM 06-11-2013
Originally Posted by e.j.:
My policy is that as long as I am open and available for care, if the parent has contracted for that time, they pay whether their child is in attendance or not. The only time I don't charge is when I close the day care for some reason - I'm sick, on vacation, have jury duty, an appointment, etc.
Same here!
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mema 12:15 PM 06-11-2013
I charge everyday I am open with the exception of 5 vacation days they may use with notice. If they are sick or out for a day with grandma, it is a paid day. If I am sick or out for a day with grandma, they don't pay.
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Cat Herder 12:20 PM 06-11-2013
I allow two weeks unpaid vacation time WITH adequate notice.

It must be a consecutive 5 days in a row, though. Kid sick days are paid. My sick days are unpaid, can't remember the last one.

Instead of using 52 weeks to set my annual tuition rate, I adjust to 50 to make up the difference.

If nobody takes vacation with their kids all year, I actually get a bonus.
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jenn 12:36 PM 06-11-2013
I do not charge for days I am closed due to illness, vacation,...however, I usually have a sub for those days, so I don't really close that often.

My parents get 12 "free days" per year to use for illness, vacation,...however, they can only use 2 days per week. So, if they take a week long vacation or have a week long illness, they can use 2 free days and have to pay for the other 3 days.
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daycare 01:12 PM 06-11-2013
you pay if you are here or not.

I do allow 5 days of vacation for full time families only. they must use all 5 days in a row and will pay 1/2 their normal weekly rate.

On a case by case basis, I have credited a family for an ill child. The child was very very sick and was in the hospital for 3 days and out of care for 15 total. I gave them a week off free.

I take 5 days of paid vacation each year and all major holidays...
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nanglgrl 01:14 PM 06-11-2013
My parents pay if I'm open. They also pay for 16 paid closed holidays/personal days a year. If they are gone for illness/vacation they pay the same. I always take 1 or 2 weeks if unpaid vacation a year. My parents usually schedule their vacation at the same time as me.
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bunnyslippers 03:03 PM 06-11-2013
If I am open, parents must pay, regardless of attendance. I also take 5 PAID vacation/sick days per year. I think it would be too hard to plan and budget if parents were allowed to pick and choose their days that they pay or not.
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littlemissmuffet 08:55 PM 06-11-2013
Parents pay me the same monthly fee 12 months a year, no matter what. I do not give free or discounted sick or vacation days to families. I give myself 2 weeks paid vacation, 5 paid sick/personal days and all stat holidays off with pay every year.
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blandino 09:09 PM 06-11-2013
My weekly tuition is the same all 52 weeks per year. Holidays we are closed, paid, and we take 5 vacation days, which are also paid.
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Laurel 04:15 AM 06-12-2013
Originally Posted by Play Care:
I give the parents two "free" vacation weeks per year - the child has to be OUT of care, they don't get "free" care

But they pay when the child is sick, or if they decide to keep kids home a day here or there...
This is what I do also.

Laurel

P.S. I do not take any paid sick days/personal days for myself and also 2 weeks unpaid vacation.
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lovemykidstoo 04:55 AM 06-12-2013
I used to give 2 weeks worth of free days for the parents. I stopped doing tha because I was out alot of money. Now, they pay whether the child is here or not unles it's a day that I take off for my vacation or illness. I do get paid for I think it's 5 national holidays.

I know that we've talked about this before, but how do parents react when they pay for the providers vacation? I have never done that because I figure if they pay me $100 a week and I'm on vacation then they have to pay $200 for daycare for that week as they have to find someone else to watch their child when I'm gone. So many, if not all, of my parents would not be able to afford that. Also, I know that some have said that they could take their vacation at the same time as me so they don't have to pay it. What if they don't even get vacation days at their job? has anyone ever gotten flak about it?
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itlw8 09:29 AM 06-12-2013
parents pay no matter what. No free days... That includes when I take off. if I take off and extra unscheduled day I tell them it is no charge.
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MarinaVanessa 09:51 AM 06-12-2013
Originally Posted by lflick:
Good afternoon all....

I am just curious what your policies are regarding a child that is not in attendance... do you allow a certain number of sick days per contract year? A certain number of vacation days?

I am asking as I set my policies a while back and since then it has come to my attention that many of the "home" daycares either do not charge for days absent or charge hourly...

My current policy allows 5 sick days per child, per contract year and my vacation policy allows one consecutive week (so the parents aren't using a sporadic day here and there) and each week after that I charge 1/2 their regular tuition to hold their spot. I did this policy more so because I am aware there are people with an obnoxious amount of vacation and I would hate to lose so much income each year.
My policy is that my client pays a flat weekly rate each week which is based on enrollment, not attendance. That means that they pay for the week regardless of whether the child attends or not. If the child is sick, has a Dr's appointment, goes on vacation or just takes a day off to stay home with mom and dad they still don't get a discount or break in price. Holidays when I close are a part of their rate so when I close for a holiday (10 a year) they don't get a discount for that either.

On the flip side I personally don't allot myself any paid vacation or sick time so when I close due to illness or when I go on vacation then I don't charge my clients for those days but this works for me because my family only takes one long vacation in the summer each year so I only close for 5 days (I kept this in mind when I decided on my rates) and other trips are taken on weekends or holiday weekends so we don't need to take additional days off (both my family and my DH's family all live close and within driving distance so we don't have far to travel). I rarely get sick and when I do get sick my DH is able to stay home and help with daycare so I rarely if ever need to close when I get sick.
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WDW 10:17 AM 06-12-2013
My families get 5 "sick" days and 5 "vacation" days - I have to be notified two weeks in advance for them to use a vacation day(s). I get 8 pd holidays and 10 "paid" days off to use for sick/vacation. I give them at least two weeks (usually WAY more) for vacation. Other than that, if I'm off, I'm not paid. After their 10 days, if I'm open, they pay.
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melilley 11:28 AM 06-12-2013
Originally Posted by lovemykidstoo:
I used to give 2 weeks worth of free days for the parents. I stopped doing tha because I was out alot of money. Now, they pay whether the child is here or not unles it's a day that I take off for my vacation or illness. I do get paid for I think it's 5 national holidays.

I know that we've talked about this before, but how do parents react when they pay for the providers vacation? I have never done that because I figure if they pay me $100 a week and I'm on vacation then they have to pay $200 for daycare for that week as they have to find someone else to watch their child when I'm gone. So many, if not all, of my parents would not be able to afford that. Also, I know that some have said that they could take their vacation at the same time as me so they don't have to pay it. What if they don't even get vacation days at their job? has anyone ever gotten flak about it?
I gave my parents a schedule of closed days and one vacation week that I am taking that is paid and one week that is not paid. I also tell them in person during the interview that I get a week paid and nobody has had a problem with it. I also offer families one week of vacation where they don't have to pay so I think that it evens it out, plus right now they can take their vacation in the same week as mine.
BUT, I just opened and my paid vacation is in July-let's see if anyone gets upset that they have to pay!
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JoseyJo 11:57 AM 06-12-2013
I take 2 weeks vacation unpaid. If I ever had to close for illness/appointments that would be unpaid (I have never closed other than vacation in 5 years but if I had to).

Other than that parents pay whether their child is there or not.
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AmyKidsCo 02:05 PM 06-12-2013
Originally Posted by e.j.:
My policy is that as long as I am open and available for care, if the parent has contracted for that time, they pay whether their child is in attendance or not. The only time I don't charge is when I close the day care for some reason - I'm sick, on vacation, have jury duty, an appointment, etc.
Me too, almost. I don't charge if I close because I'm sick or because of an emergency that I can't provide care (like no running water). If I'd have an appointment I'll either close early or take a paid personal day for it.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 03:41 PM 06-12-2013
Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo:
Me too, almost. I don't charge if I close because I'm sick or because of an emergency that I can't provide care (like no running water). If I'd have an appointment I'll either close early or take a paid personal day for it.
I would not charge if I closed outside of my holidays that I provided a list for at the beginning of the year. It states this in my handbook.

My maternity leave will be unpaid. Other than that, I haven't closed unpaid.
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Familycare71 04:40 AM 06-13-2013
I am closed unpaid right now because of a stinking stomach virus!
I have three weeks vacation per year (with 30 days notice) per year that is 1/2 pay. I also have most federal holidays off with full pay. Parents seem more open to that than higher rates...
My parents get a week (whatever that is for them p/t or f/t) off with half pay once per year.
Every other day their child misses is full pay- you pay for the spot not attendance.
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