I Feel Awkward Taking Paid Holidays!

[misspollywog]

Is it the norm to charge for holidays and vacation days? If so, why do I feel so awkward doing so???

Just not feeling right about it. I don't have an official contract or policies yet, those are in the works and my one and only dcf is aware that I'm drawing them up but I'm not sure what the reaction will be if I include paid holidays/vacation time.

I wish I knew if every other dc around here did this, it would make it easier .

Do you charge for holidays/vacation?? :confused:

[momma2girls]

I have paid vac. days and pd. Holidays written into my contract. I always say everyone, no matter what line of work you do, deserves these both!!!

[Kaddidle Care]

Please don't feel guilty - you deserve it!

Go with the attitude that it's all included in one low price! I'm sure a good percentage of your parents don't question getting paid during their vacation.

[AnneCordelia]

I don't take paid vacations (but I do take up to 3 weeks/year). I do take paid holidays though (Christmas, New Years, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, ect).

Where I live, this is the norm for home daycares. I'd love to take paid vacation too but one of the reasons people choose home daycare in our area is because the cost is significantly less than center care (I still do OK tho!) and I don't know many who would pay while I vacation, kwim? I have no trouble filling spots now but if I added paid vacay I'm sure I suddenly would.

[Unregistered]

Is it the norm to charge for holidays and vacation days? If so, why do I feel so awkward doing so???

Just not feeling right about it. I don't have an official contract or policies yet, those are in the works and my one and only dcf is aware that I'm drawing them up but I'm not sure what the reaction will be if I include paid holidays/vacation time.

I wish I knew if every other dc around here did this, it would make it easier .

Do you charge for holidays/vacation?? :confused:

I charge for holidays and 6 sick/personal days a year but I do not charge for my week vacation as I understand parents need to pay someone else to watch there child I also charge full rate when parents go on there week vacation.

[MyAngels]

I take all the major holidays plus the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve paid. I also take ten paid vacation days per year. I allow each of my full-time families ten paid vacation days unpaid with two weeks written notice. Part-time families get however many days they are contracted for X 2, with the two week written notice.

Nobody has ever even mentioned that it's a problem for them.

[wahmof3]

Here is the way I have started to look at it:

My full-time rates are 3 or more days. Typically a holiday is 1 day of the week, so I no longer feel bad for getting paid for the holiday. I do have the holidays spelled out in my contracts, so if there is a question Im covered.

[SilverSabre25]

If you're uncomfortable about it, you could always raise rates enough that you cover those days off--save the extra into your saving's account and voila! "paid days off"

That's what I'm doing for next year--I am still taking the holidays as paid, but the vacation days, not so much. I'm saving the few dollars each week it will take to cover the time off.

[PitterPatter]

Is it the norm to charge for holidays and vacation days? If so, why do I feel so awkward doing so???

Just not feeling right about it. I don't have an official contract or policies yet, those are in the works and my one and only dcf is aware that I'm drawing them up but I'm not sure what the reaction will be if I include paid holidays/vacation time.

I wish I knew if every other dc around here did this, it would make it easier .

Do you charge for holidays/vacation?? :confused:

I don't take paid holidays because I am not allowed to. (state clients)
I have had private paying in the past but I have been literally laughed at in my face when I told them I was taking a couple paid Holidays. Cleints refused to pay me to take a day off. Around here they just don't get it I guess. So no I don't take paid holidays. It's ok because I guess I do feel kinda akward after being laughed at.

[Maddy'sMommy]

I don't take any paid holidays, sick days, or vacation. In my opinion by choosing to be self-employed, I have to give up certain things. I feel those things are provided by employers, to employees, which I am not.

Just my opinion though, no disrespect to those who feel differently.

[Mandy_Jane]

I charge for 13 paid holidays and vacation days every year. They are listed in my contract so the parents know before they even enroll their child, which days I am taking off. I also take off one full week of vacation each year that I do not ask to be paid for. All providers deserve to be able to take a vacation every now and then without worrying about it affecting their bills. I have every right to ask for these days, and a parent who doesn't like it can move on to another provider who is willing to have a fluctuating income. The only parents that give me issues with paid holidays are parents that I would most likely have trouble with anyway. Families who respect me and what I do for their child are HAPPY pay for my holidays off. And those are really the only kind of families I want to work with. Those who respect me and realize how much I am worth.

[DCMom]

I think the norm is different in each part of the country.

I have no problem asking for paid holidays and my dcp's don't bat an eye.

Vacations are a little different, because that can vary so much from employer to employer for the dcp's I take two weeks, one in February and one in July, at half rate for 'vacations', but I also take 5 mental health/personal/sick days that are paid, so I look at that as another week, just more spread out.

When I first started out, I got paid for the days I worked. No vacations, a few holidays, the major ones. It took me 22 years to get where I am now, I did it by adding a little at a time. I added one or two paid holiday/vacation/personal days each year in lieu of rate increases.

If had to do it over, I would start out with them in my contract. And don't feel guilty about it ~ everyone needs a break and chances are the dcp's are getting paid for them too.

[Nellie]

I don't charge for my holidays or vacation. I don't charge for when families aren't here either so ............ I'd go for it. Right now I'm in a pickle myself. I have a full time rate and charge hourly for pt. One of my families is pt. 3 out of 4 weeks he is here 37 hours and the other week he is here 20 something. The hourly rate at 38 is the same as the full time rate. Occasionally the husband picks up a few hours of overtime and when it lands on the 37 hour week, they think they are full time and pay the full time rate. I didn't know what to say the first time they handed me the money and said "Here is x sense he is full time this week." The full time rate is for kids that are here every week and I can depend on the money. That is why they get a little break over pt. It only happens once every month or two and I'm typically out only 5 or 6 dollars, but I'm trying to get the nerve up to clearly fix this in my contracts the first of the year.
Before you dismiss not doing any paid holidays or vacation, you could do a few paid holidays this year and next add a couple of more. You could always call around and see what other providers are doing.

[misspollywog]

Thanks for the input everyone. I can totally see both sides and I'm still so torn on this!

I think I'll peruse some of the local dc websites and see what they do. A lot of them put their parent handbook up so I can investigate. I guess if it is the norm I should do it. Then again, it might be a way to steal customers if I don't! ::

Kidding, of course.

Ugh, why is this so hard?

[momofsix]

If I don't work, I don't get paid. I think it really matters where you live, what's normal in some parts of the country (or world) seem so crazy in other parts!