I Feel Awkward Taking Paid Holidays!

[lucky]

I take 10 paid Holidays ( I added President's Day this year) as well as 10 paid vacation days to use either as a week or broken up. I also raised my rates $5.00 per week per child starting Jan. 1st. and none of my parents have had any issue so far( I have gotten all but 1 signed contracts returned) I think these are fairly average policies in my area though.

[Ariana]

I have 10 days paid sick and personal days. My vacations are no charge but parents pay if they go on vacation. I charge a bit more for daycare though so it all works out in the end. I also give myself 4 weeks of vacay per year...my husband gets 5!

[mismatchedsocks]

I have one week of unpaid vacation for me a year. I do have paid holidays, and will hopefully change to me getting a paid vacation a year.

[TBird]

So far I have 6 PAID holidays (it may be more next year, it just depends). 3 weeks UNPAID vacation (because they'll have to pay alternate care providers), 3 Paid Personal & 3 Paid Sick. They pay for their vacations to reserve their spot in care.

This is all spelled out several times in my contract and on a separate addendum which I have them sign at the end of December each year. Plenty of notice and much like any person running a business or working for one. There is no guilt involved whatsoever.

[awestbrook713]

No paid holidays or vacations here. I have a hard enough trying to raise rates trying to get paid for holidays and vacations would be a nightmare.

[renodeb]

The way I do it is that when I take vacation I dont charge for that, when they take vacation its 1/2 of there weekly fee. I take all the school holidays off and I get paid for them. I know a lot of providers that do take paid vacations, there clients know it at enrollment and dont complain. Dont feel weird about taking paid days off. Chances are your clients are getting benefits like that at there work. You totally deserve it.
Debbie

[Daycare Diva]

I am in a military community so I take all federal holidays off with pay. I also have 5 sick days with pay built into my contract and any time I have to close for business related appts like training or recertertified health appts I get paid. I usually don't take vacations although I am considering taking 2 in the summer and 2 in the winter. Non paid.

[caligirl]

I take paid holidays and never give it a second thought. We work hard and deserve paid holidays just like everyone else.

[Christian Mother]

I have always had it in my contract that if the child is not in care whether it is sick/holiday/vacation they will not pay me. However; I made those rules bc my husband was the main supporter in the family so my low rates and policies reflected that I could afford to do that. I am not so lucky now to give those so Beginning of the yr I am making quiet a few changes. One of those is that I will no longer offer "no pay" while a child is not in my care. They will need to pay regardless. I feel I am extremely reliable...to the point that I never take a day off nor take vacations. I work around the parents when there on vacation so I don't miss out on extra pay so to speak. So now, I will need to make sure that my parents are just as reliable as I am to them. I will need them to pay regardless of whether their in care or not. I will however; allow 1 wks vacation time free however; they'd like to use it sick/holiday/vacation. And I won't charge for when I am out sick or my children. Also, I charge $25 a day for full time rate however; I will be charging $35 for drop in care or care that is under 3 days a week. That way anyone who is full time rate gets a break. Now how to write these up in my new contract and policies...!! Also, I plan to hand those out next month for a 1 month notice so they can either look for new care or stay with me. The families understand completely what we are going through so I am hoping they will take in consideration why I need to change these policies.

[karen]

I take all of the normal paid holidays. I explain to the parents that they get paid holidays/vacations and health benefits I am only asking for holidays.
I do not take any paid vacations because I can't see charging someone for my services and they have to pay another sitter for that week I am off so now they are paying twice as much in childcare.
If I don't work I don't get paid. I do give all of my parents a list of the holidays and my vacation days at the begining of each year as it is up to them to find other arrangements for the days I am closed.
I am jealous of those of you who get paid vacations!!!!!