Requesting a Special Rate For Vacation - Ugh. I Love Being Put In Awkward Positions

[blandino]

I got this message from a DCD tonight. Please keep in mind, there is a language barrier, so some of the wording is a little off

Hi DCP,
I hope your weekend was going well, I forgot to bring up something on Friday when I picked up DCB.
We are scheduled for going on vacation soon (Apr 21st - May 4th), and thereafter planning to go onto a Business trip to Europe (May 19th - Jun 8th).
During these 5 weeks DCB will not be able to attend the day care at all.
With having said this can you please think about offering a special deal for this time? I understand that normally we have to pay when the kids are not present, and I am generally OK with this rule. However, since this is a 5 week period, I would like to ask for a special rule.
Please let me know. Thank you very much.
best regards,
DCD

I didn't have time to ask for wording help, but this was my response (already sent) so hopefully everyone agrees with how I worded it.

Hi DCD,
Yes, DCM gave me your vacation schedule for the next few months, and I saw how much daycare DCB would be missing. Unfortunately the way daycares are set up, is that we only have 12 spots available at any given time. So when DCB goes on vacation, we cannot take on another child to fill his spot just for 2 weeks & again for 3 weeks, since he is coming back at the end of your vacation. So if we give you a special rate, we would be losing income that we cannot make-up by taking another child, since you will be back in only a few weeks. So if we are saving a spot for DCB, it is only fair to us to get the full-time rate, since we are saving a spot for him at the daycare - even if he is not here. You do have the option to not pay for the time you are on vacation, however we cannot guarantee that we will have an opening for DCB when you return from vacation without full-payment being received. It is very standard for all daycares to charge for the spot, even when a child is not in attendance. I really hope you can understand where we are coming from. Please let me know if you have any more questions. We understand where you are coming from, and I hope I have explained why this rule is in place.
Per our contract, If you decide that you do not want to pay for DCBs spot while you are gone, we require a two week written notice where payment is still required for those two weeks.
Thank you,
DCPs

Our contract states payment is requires regardless of attendance, and we also specifically went over this point at the interview because DCD seemed surprised (actually I posted about how surprised he was), so he knew the policy. Plus DCB isn't even gone for 5 weeks straight, it is 2 weeks and then again for 3 weeks.

[Patches]

I think what you said was just fine. It seems like he's just testing to see what he can get away with because he clearly knows yor rule since he said it right in his message.

[Sunnyyy1]

I don't see anything wrong with what you wrote. Stand your ground no matter what.

[momofboys]

Your response is great!!! I am just curious though, when did they tell you about the vac time? Another thing I have told parents before & I am rather blunt is this - I am sure you would not want your employer to tell you, "We won't need you for the next 4 weeks so we can't pay you. However, don't go looking for another job as we want you back in a month" :: Most parents understand when they put themselves in your shoes.

[blandino]

Your response is great!!! I am just curious though, when did they tell you about the vac time? Another thing I have told parents before & I am rather blunt is this - I am sure you would not want your employer to tell you, "We won't need you for the next 4 weeks so we can't pay you. However, don't go looking for another job as we want you back in a month" :: Most parents understand when they put themselves in your shoes.

They only told me last Thursday. Not even a months notice.

[MamaBearCanada]

You did the right thing! Why should you suffer financially because they want to go on vacation? :confused:

[blandino]

You did the right thing! Why should you suffer financially because they want to go on vacation? :confused:

And they are still getting paid while they go on vacation. It just bothers me, because we explicitly went over vacation time when they interviewed, so he is well aware of the policy - so it irritates me that he would ask.

[momofboys]

And they are still getting paid while they go on vacation. It just bothers me, because we explicitly went over vacation time when they interviewed, so he is well aware of the policy - so it irritates me that he would ask.

So did they respond back to your answer??

[littlemissmuffet]

Hi DCP,
I hope your weekend was going well, I forgot to bring up something on Friday when I picked up DCB.
We are scheduled for going on vacation soon (Apr 21st - May 4th), and thereafter planning to go onto a Business trip to Europe (May 19th - Jun 8th).
During these 5 weeks DCB will not be able to attend the day care at all.
With having said this can you please think about offering a special deal for this time? I understand that normally we have to pay when the kids are not present, and I am generally OK with this rule. However, since this is a 5 week period, I would like to ask for a special rule.
Please let me know. Thank you very much.
best regards,
DCD

Hi Jane,

I'm sorry but I do not offer discounts for any reason. You knew this upon signing a contract with me. I don't appreciate being put in a position where a family asks me forfeit a month plus worth of income. I'm sure you understand.
Fees will be due as usual on (this date) in full, regardless of attendence.
Enjoy your vacation.

DCP

[TheGoodLife]

Your response is great!!! I am just curious though, when did they tell you about the vac time? Another thing I have told parents before & I am rather blunt is this - I am sure you would not want your employer to tell you, "We won't need you for the next 4 weeks so we can't pay you. However, don't go looking for another job as we want you back in a month" :: Most parents understand when they put themselves in your shoes.

I agree- I like your response, but I would try to verbally explain it like that as well! Good luck and stand your ground- it's not your problem that they will be taking those vacations, and you know they knew about it at the interview and had planned to try to talk you out of your policy when they started!

[rbmom]

I think your response was great!!

[AmyKidsCo]

Your response is great!!! I am just curious though, when did they tell you about the vac time? Another thing I have told parents before & I am rather blunt is this - I am sure you would not want your employer to tell you, "We won't need you for the next 4 weeks so we can't pay you. However, don't go looking for another job as we want you back in a month" :: Most parents understand when they put themselves in your shoes.

I love that! I've found that most parents are understanding when you're able to make a comparison like that. Sometimes they don't think about it from our point of view until we make that comparison.

[blandino]

So did they respond back to your answer??

No response ! DCM dropped off and picked up today, without a word. Also, I know DCD saw the message because it was a FB message to our business page and it shows you "read at xx:xx".

No response at all. Not even a "okay, we understand".

[laceylmm]

Anyone else thinking if they can afford two vacations, including a trip to Europe they can definitely afford to still pay for childcare!

Some people.

[momofboys]

No response ! DCM dropped off and picked up today, without a word. Also, I know DCD saw the message because it was a FB message to our business page and it shows you "read at xx:xx".

No response at all. Not even a "okay, we understand".

Are you worried that this family may leave??