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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Parents' Vacation
Mom o Col 10:42 AM 09-26-2014
Do you charge for parents' vacations when the kids DO NOT come to daycare? I just added this to my "contract" this year. I put contract in quotes because I tend to have a more casual approach to things with my business (I know that isn't good but beside the point). I used to only charge for days a child was actually in care but it was getting to the point where I had no way to know what my income would be from week to week. I DO NOT charge for my own vacation or any days I take off. I let everyone know in writing that this would be the case and everyone signed off and agreed. One of my kids was on vaca this week and when her mom paid me last Friday she only paid me for the week we just finished (I get paid at the end of the week for the week we are in). I texted the same day to ask if/when she planned to pay me for this week and she said she would drop it off today after work (she is back from vaca but child is with grandma). We are friendly with each other to the point where we text back and forth (I know, also not good, but again, beside the point). Anyway, I'm getting a vibe that she is upset with me and I believe it is probably because she is expected to pay for the unused days. Besides the fact that I've been too casual and newly implemented this policy and we are friends am I wrong? How do you deal with this? Are you paid for any day a child is normally scheduled whether they are there or not? Or do you only get paid for days they do attend? 
melilley 10:53 AM 09-26-2014
I get paid whether they are here or not. This includes my 1 week vacation, holidays including the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, as well as 5 paid personal days.
I do give dcf's one week of vacation where they do not have to pay. Some of them do not even take it.
I do give dcf's one week of vacation where they do not have to pay. Some of them do not even take it.
jenboo 11:13 AM 09-26-2014
I only get paid for holidays. Any day I take off that is not a holiday is unpaid.
Parents get one week 1/2 off per calendar year. I do not remind them of this though so they have to remember to tell me.
Parents get one week 1/2 off per calendar year. I do not remind them of this though so they have to remember to tell me.
Annalee 11:28 AM 09-26-2014
I get paid for 52 weeks per year...holidays, personal days, vacation days, emergency days, professional days.....works much better for me this way! 
KSDC 11:29 AM 09-26-2014
My families pay for the spot in my daycare, not for hours used. If I am open, they pay whether their child is there or not. You aren't going to fill her spot in the daycare with another child for that week. KWIM?
Personally, I don't charge when I am closed, but I am starting to rethink that for my next handbook update.
Personally, I don't charge when I am closed, but I am starting to rethink that for my next handbook update.
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:33 AM 09-26-2014
The only time I am unpaid is if a parent remembers to use their 1 week vacation credit to have their child out per calendar year OR if I close unexpectedly.
All 16 days off per year (holidays included) are paid. 8 of those are from Dec. 24-Jan. 2. I just added inclement weather days as being paid, too.
All 16 days off per year (holidays included) are paid. 8 of those are from Dec. 24-Jan. 2. I just added inclement weather days as being paid, too.
e.j. 11:50 AM 09-26-2014
As long as I am open or it's a holiday, I'm paid whether the child is here or not.
I don't charge when I make the decision to close the day care due to my own illness, my own vacation time, dr. appointment, etc. Parents usually plan their vacation time around mine so they don't have to pay when they go on vacation.
Are you wrong? In my opinion as long as you informed her about the policy change and gave her enough notice to find a new provider if she disagreed with it, you weren't wrong. If she was aware of your policy and chose to keep her child in your care, she should expect to pay even if her child was with her on vacation.
I don't charge when I make the decision to close the day care due to my own illness, my own vacation time, dr. appointment, etc. Parents usually plan their vacation time around mine so they don't have to pay when they go on vacation.
Are you wrong? In my opinion as long as you informed her about the policy change and gave her enough notice to find a new provider if she disagreed with it, you weren't wrong. If she was aware of your policy and chose to keep her child in your care, she should expect to pay even if her child was with her on vacation.
CurtainCrawlerCaretaker 02:28 PM 09-26-2014
All parents pay for their spot whether they are here or not, regardless their reason for not being here. However, I do not charge for my sick days, holidays or even stat holidays. This is consistent with most licensed family/center daycares in my community. I used to run my business as pay-as-you-come. But soon found out that it wasn't worth my while. I became the "back up" option. If parents could farm their kids out to friends or family for free then they would. If they couldn't find a play date for their child that day then they would bring them. It was terrible not knowing what your income would be for the month.
Thriftylady 03:02 PM 09-26-2014
I have a clause in my contract where they get one week for vacation where they pay half price to hold the spot. Anything above that, they pay full price.
Crazy8 04:36 PM 09-26-2014
I give them a certain number of free days per year. It is their choice to use them for a weeks vacation or individual sick days. Any additional days they take require payment.
finsup 11:40 AM 09-29-2014
I don't charge for there vacation weeks provided they give me a two week notice. I figure it's nice for parents to go on vacation and have a little extra to spend that week, I can accomodate that. But, I need to be aware of it so I can make adjustments to my budget. I send out one, maybe two reminders a year. If they forget or don't give me a full 2 weeks notice, they have to pay for the week. I had a few parents REALLY struggle with keeping me informed about anything, despite me asking multiple times. This way it "rewards" good planning and communication. Don't use good planning or communicate with me on days off? Well guess who gets to pay for that
I don't charge for my vacation or any days I close.
I don't charge for my vacation or any days I close.
Blackcat31 11:54 AM 09-29-2014
Originally Posted by Mom o Col:
Do you charge for parents' vacations when the kids DO NOT come to daycare? I just added this to my "contract" this year. I put contract in quotes because I tend to have a more casual approach to things with my business (I know that isn't good but beside the point). I used to only charge for days a child was actually in care but it was getting to the point where I had no way to know what my income would be from week to week. I DO NOT charge for my own vacation or any days I take off. I let everyone know in writing that this would be the case and everyone signed off and agreed. One of my kids was on vaca this week and when her mom paid me last Friday she only paid me for the week we just finished (I get paid at the end of the week for the week we are in). I texted the same day to ask if/when she planned to pay me for this week and she said she would drop it off today after work (she is back from vaca but child is with grandma). We are friendly with each other to the point where we text back and forth (I know, also not good, but again, beside the point). Anyway, I'm getting a vibe that she is upset with me and I believe it is probably because she is expected to pay for the unused days. Besides the fact that I've been too casual and newly implemented this policy and we are friends am I wrong? How do you deal with this? Are you paid for any day a child is normally scheduled whether they are there or not? Or do you only get paid for days they do attend?
Why not just be straight up with her and ask?Do you charge for parents' vacations when the kids DO NOT come to daycare? I just added this to my "contract" this year. I put contract in quotes because I tend to have a more casual approach to things with my business (I know that isn't good but beside the point). I used to only charge for days a child was actually in care but it was getting to the point where I had no way to know what my income would be from week to week. I DO NOT charge for my own vacation or any days I take off. I let everyone know in writing that this would be the case and everyone signed off and agreed. One of my kids was on vaca this week and when her mom paid me last Friday she only paid me for the week we just finished (I get paid at the end of the week for the week we are in). I texted the same day to ask if/when she planned to pay me for this week and she said she would drop it off today after work (she is back from vaca but child is with grandma). We are friendly with each other to the point where we text back and forth (I know, also not good, but again, beside the point). Anyway, I'm getting a vibe that she is upset with me and I believe it is probably because she is expected to pay for the unused days. Besides the fact that I've been too casual and newly implemented this policy and we are friends am I wrong? How do you deal with this? Are you paid for any day a child is normally scheduled whether they are there or not? Or do you only get paid for days they do attend?
If you are used to operating on a casual basis and are friendly enough to text back and forth, you should be asking her what the issue is.
While I agree that how we each run our businesses is up to us and it's always wise to do what works best for you, I don't feel that having a casual approach to your work or being friendly with a parent is beside the point.
From my perspective, it's pretty much the reason you are getting a bad vibe from this parent....she feels you are normally much more laid back (than to expect payment for unused days) and she feels you are friends (so you should be cutting her a break).
How would I handle this..... I would straight up say something to the mom.
"Hey JoAnn..I am getting this weird vibe that you maybe upset about something and I am just curious if it's anything you'd like to talk about?"
If she says no, then leave it alone. If she says yes...then the door is open for you two to work it out.
Soccermom 11:57 AM 09-29-2014
I only care for teachers kids so I don't charge them for Christmas break, spring break or summer. (Mostly because I enjoy the time off and if I charge they will bring them) I also don't charge when I need to take a day off so they can pay for alternate care.
I figure they are spoiled enough so if they go away during the school year I do charge them for that time.
I figure they are spoiled enough so if they go away during the school year I do charge them for that time.
AmyKidsCo 03:22 PM 09-29-2014
I just changed my policies.
Parents don't get any free vacation time. But my vacation pay is pro-rated and included with weekly fees so they don't have to give me a check for my vacation weeks.
It kills me to do this but I had way too many families giving me notice right before my paid vacation. This way I've already been paid for my vacation.
Parents don't get any free vacation time. But my vacation pay is pro-rated and included with weekly fees so they don't have to give me a check for my vacation weeks.
It kills me to do this but I had way too many families giving me notice right before my paid vacation. This way I've already been paid for my vacation.
TwinKristi 06:37 PM 09-29-2014
The only time they don't pay is if I'm closed for illness or personal time off. If they're not here but I'm still open, they still pay.