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Question: Do any other independent contractors out there get paid vacations? We are new to the in-home daycare thing and had our first interview last night...in her contract she listed 9 paid holidays and 15 days of paid vacation (aka we pay her for 15 days of service when she takes off and we still have to pay her, and then pay someone else to watch our child). I understand the need to be able to... take time off, but I'm confused at the concept of paid time off for independent contractors that work from home...my husband and I don't even get that much time off combined...and we accrue on a monthly basis, not in a lump sum...also our employers don't have to hire someone else to do our job when we take paid time off...and we don't get to enjoy the perks of working from home...not sure I understand this whole thing. Thoughts? Clarifications?
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24 days of paid closures in one year??? That's beyond outrageous. That's ridiculous even if she didn't require payment. A lot of providers charge for a few days vacation time and some holidays are a given...but fifteen is not even worth signing with her. They'd spend just as much money in backup care. Nah... -
I know there are providers out there that get people to sign that. Me personally, I don't charge for the days that I close. I state that I can take up to 14 days off each year, but never have.
I am closed all federal holidays and plus two, so that for me is paid vacation time.Comment
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Agree,Agree,Agree,WAIT WHAT??
That last sentance threw me off from agreeing with her fully. "and we don't get to enjoy the perks of working from home...not sure I understand this whole thing"
ETA ; I agree with "5 paid vacation days per year" whether she takes them all at the same time to make a week, or scattered.Comment
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Ah, the old "Provider Paid Time Off" beef.
My response to this would be: If this provider's policies do not meet your needs you need to keep looking until you find one that you agree with.
FTR I have no problem with her taking 24 paid days off per year, and if she can find families who are willing to sign on, I say go for it.Comment
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I take 15 days of paid holidays per year (3 weeks) plus 5 paid personal days to use for illness, funerals, appointments, etc. As well as all stats paid.
I guess I'm a little crazy but honestly a lot of people get 6 weeks of paid holidays per year, paid sick days and paid stats.
Never had a problem signing a family on and I would not reduce the amount of holiday time I take.
I get the same amount of holiday time as my husband, which was the whole idea. Meaning we can both take our holidays at the same time and have real family time!happyfaceComment
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JJ....did your cousin post what you stated above on Facebook.....and who is the provider, you or someone else? Curious because I recognize you as a provider here and your post says your cousin's facebook :confused:Comment
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Shrug.
I have 9 paid vacation days per year. I have 3 sick days and reserve the right to take unpaid days throughout the year. I typically take 3 and they are always notified for the full year ahead.
I take 10 days of 1/2 rate paid vacation, but my families get 5 days unpaid vacation. So I feel that it evens out. They have not once complained. If they do, I will remind them that there are plenty of providers out there that charge the same rate 52 weeks a year, regardless of days off, vacation, etc. And they charge WAY more than I do.Comment
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I take 10 paid statutory holidays per year and reserve the right to take up to 15 days of unpaid vacation.
All my families are off and paid for those stat holidays so that is a no-brainer for me to take. The three weeks vacation...well, my husband gets 4 and my daycare families all get 4 weeks vacation (each, meaning 8 weeks combined for each family if taken consecutively). I don't feel my 3 weeks vacay are a hardship, especially as they are unpaid.
I offer my DCFs one week of free vacation time for themselves to use as well.Comment
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I think she's confusing independent contractor with self employed. If she doesn't want to pay for the paid days off she can just pay an additional daily rate to cover the providers paid days off. It's better for the provider if she pays daily then the provider doesn't have the worry that come vacay time the parent will split to avoid the paid time off.Comment
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I have 2 weeks(10 days ) paid vac. days, and paid Holidays. I am adding 3 personal/sick days this next yr. There have been 3 times, when daycare gave their sicknesses to everyone in the daycare inc. myself and all my children!!!Comment
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That's similar to what I did. The first year I started I had paid holidays, and everyone all of a sudden had a problem paying for my 5 days, even though they signed a contract.
I changed my contract to 5 days of unpaid vacation, but changed all of the federal holidays off from unpaid to being paid holidays.
So actually, I get MORE paid time off this year than last year, and no one has a problem with paying for the holidays. I think a lot of the parental complaints from those who have a problem with paid holidays is that they are not using the service, and have to pay for someone else, so it can put a financial burdeon on them. If you took the financial burdeon out of the picture, they probably would be fine paying for our vacation.
That being said, there are parents out there that WANT their provider to have 15 days of paid vacation and paid holidays. There are parents that understand how hard we work, and that we care for their most precious little gifts in the world. They want their provider to be treated like gold because they know that 50+ hours a week of work for us is draining, and that fresh, happy, non-burnt out providers make better caretakers for their children.
I have said this before: You would not want a surgeon who is on the last few hours of his 48 hour shift to perform surgery on you, and you wouldnt want a childcare provider who hasn't been able to afford rest time or vacation, working 50-60 hour weeks for months on end without a break- to watch your kid. The human mind and body can only take so much- You put oil in your car- now put $$ into your childcare!
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I have 12 days a year paid and I also have paid holidays. I have never had anyone not sign because of my vacation time. I tell people when they call I am looking for someone that has very good back up care maybe a grandma because I take most of my time of during the summer. I have been doing this for 13 yrs and feel I should get my vacation like e everyone else.Comment
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