Families Taking Vacation...Do They Pay??

[SunflowerMama]

I am about to bring on a new family (3 kiddos) and I love them all and the parents are the greatest!

I don't have anything in the contract about families taking vacation. I just have my paid vacation days.

When your families go on vacation do they pay or do you give them one week, etc. of unpaid vacation during the year? I was planning on letting each family have 1 week's vacation where they wouldn't pay but if it extended beyond a week I would ask for payments to resume.

[mac60]

I charge whether you are here are not, vacations, holiday, sick days included. I usually take 2 weeks of unpaid vacation in the summer, and most families take theirs then so they don't have to pay, but if they do take vacation and I don't, they pay. I can't imagine letting 5 families take 2 weeks free per year. That is a lot of my income lost.

[gkids09]

Since I have 2 assistants, I am able to take my own vacation and stay open. I give each family one week unpaid vacation each year. If they are only enrolled 2 days a week, their vacation is only 2 days. I also ask that they take it all together, and not a day or two at a time until they fill their vacation week. After a week, they have to pay. I have several families who take several vacations, and I let them choose which one they want to use for their vacation week.

[tenderhearts]

I do not charge if they take vacations as long as they give me at least the 2 week required notice, I figure most people can't take more than 2 -3 weeks per year anyways. I just didn't like it when my kids use to be in daycare and we had to pay, we could barely afford to go on vacation let alone have to worry about coming up with that money as well, but that's how I do it

[Daycare Mommy]

I have the parents pay half when they are on vacation. I never limited it in the past since it was just used here and there a couple times a year for a week or two. However, I just got notice from 1 family that they are taking vacation for the WHOLE month of July and WHOLE month of December. O M G Time to update the ol' contract and put a cap on that!

[Daycare Mommy]

Oh yes. My point! If you do decide to discount, limitations are VERY important!

[melissa ann]

I allow 1 week unpaid,per family. After that my 3 day min rate is required. I am thinking of eliminating the 1 week, unpaid. I take a 1week vacation in July unpaid. So, I'm thinking of making my 3 day min rate required for any and all vacation time taken by parents.

[Pammie]

All of my families get 1 week free vacation (same # of free days as they usually pay for in a week) provided they give me 4 weeks notice. They don't pay for my vacation time though.

I send out my vacation schedule each April, and most of my families coordinate their vacation with time that I'm going to be off anyway - to avoid paying for daycare while they're away.

[momma2girls]

All my families pay whether they are here or not- I also have paid vac. every yr.

[emosks]

Our families get one business week free after that they pay.

[originalkat]

I give my families 1 vacation week each year free of charge.

[Former Teacher]

My former center allowed a free week after the child has been there for a year. After that they must pay the full amount. Part time families were not allowed any vacation time.

[QualiTcare]

i've agreed to ONE WEEK FREE for vacation - and anytime after that will be 1/2 price for vacation time.

most large daycares charge 1/2 price for weeks missed regardless - no matter what. so, the one free week is just a bonus (and i feel like an incentive) because if they have to pay me just as much as a "regular daycare" then why not send their child there?

i personally find it absurd to ask for full price when a child won't be there - as a parent and a child care provider.

[MarinaVanessa]

Anytime that I go on vacation my DC families don't pay, when a DC family is gone for vacation they get 1 week (5 days) of unpaid vacation then they pay. The way I see it is if it's my choice not to work they don't pay, if it's theirs they pay. If it's anything more than 2 weeks and they give me written notice of 4 weeks in advance or more they can pay for half of their weekly rate with the understanding that while they are away I will look for someone to fit their spot until they return.

[GretasLittleFriends]

Here's what my contract says:

If you are going to be out for vacation, let me know at least four weeks in advance. I will not charge you for two weeks of vacation time. If you take more than two weeks vacation, you will pay whether your child(ren) is here or not.

I usually take 1-2 weeks vacation per year. Sometimes I do not close at all. But if I do take vacation I will give you a 4 week notice. When or if I do take vacation I will NOT charge you for the vacation time that I take off.