Debating Paid Vacations/Holidays

[DanielleS]

Here's what I am thinking.

2 weeks (planned before families even start) of unpaid vacation including one week in June and the week of Christmas.

Major holidays that fall on week days (paid)
January 1
July 4th
Thanksgiving
The Friday following Thanksgiving
(not Christmas, since it's already part of the unpaid week off)

Plus (and this is the part I am debating)
5 paid days used for training, professional development, regulation compliance, appointments or personal days planned more than 14 days in advance in a week where 4 other days of care are provided as contracted.

My justification for the five paid days off is continued training/certification (CPR, First Aid, CEUs etc.) as well as personal days to make appointments take kids to the doctor or just have a long weekend.

I also say in the intro paragraph that I will make every effort to give parents as much notice as possible and even collaborate with them on convenient days to take off in an effort to minimize the inconvenience.

-A little background-

I will only be caring for two children, infants, in my home. I am planning to market heavily to the people who work at the large University. It is highly likely that one or both parents of the kids will work at UF.

These employees are always off (and paid) on the holidays above (and more!), plus they accrue ample sick and vacation time. Nearly all departments are closed (with pay) during Christmas and everything slows down quite a bit during June and many departments that are student centers even close completely (but pay their employees) during times when there are no students (which would match the June vacation).

[Play Care]

Here's what I am thinking.

2 weeks (planned before families even start) of unpaid vacation including one week in June and the week of Christmas.

Major holidays that fall on week days (paid)
January 1
July 4th
Thanksgiving
The Friday following Thanksgiving
(not Christmas, since it's already part of the unpaid week off)

Plus (and this is the part I am debating)
5 paid days used for training, professional development, regulation compliance, appointments or personal days planned more than 14 days in advance in a week where 4 other days of care are provided as contracted.

My justification for the five paid days off is continued training/certification (CPR, First Aid, CEUs etc.) as well as personal days to make appointments take kids to the doctor or just have a long weekend.

I also say in the intro paragraph that I will make every effort to give parents as much notice as possible and even collaborate with them on convenient days to take off in an effort to minimize the inconvenience.

-A little background-

I will only be caring for two children, infants, in my home. I am planning to market heavily to the people who work at the large University. It is highly likely that one or both parents of the kids will work at UF.

These employees are always off (and paid) on the holidays above (and more!), plus they accrue ample sick and vacation time. Nearly all departments are closed (with pay) during Christmas and everything slows down quite a bit during June and many departments that are student centers even close completely (but pay their employees) during times when there are no students (which would match the June vacation).

I think paid training time is good. I would NOT offer to collaborate for time off. Been there, done that, it was awful! Essentially no one ever wanted me to take a day off, so they would be deliberately vague until it was too late. Part of being your own boss is being able to say "I'm closed this day for training. Per the contract it's a paid day. Thanks"

[butterfly]

I think paid training time is good. I would NOT offer to collaborate for time off. Been there, done that, it was awful! Essentially no one ever wanted me to take a day off, so they would be deliberately vague until it was too late. Part of being your own boss is being able to say "I'm closed this day for training. Per the contract it's a paid day. Thanks"

I wouldn't even explain in the contract what these days can be used for. If I want a day off, I don't feel it necessary to tell the parents what I'm doing that day off. None of their business in my opinion.

[melilley]

Here's what I am thinking.

2 weeks (planned before families even start) of unpaid vacation including one week in June and the week of Christmas.

Major holidays that fall on week days (paid)
January 1
July 4th
Thanksgiving
The Friday following Thanksgiving
(not Christmas, since it's already part of the unpaid week off)

Plus (and this is the part I am debating)
5 paid days used for training, professional development, regulation compliance, appointments or personal days planned more than 14 days in advance in a week where 4 other days of care are provided as contracted.

My justification for the five paid days off is continued training/certification (CPR, First Aid, CEUs etc.) as well as personal days to make appointments take kids to the doctor or just have a long weekend.

I take 5 personal/sick/educational days. I wouldn't put the part that is in bold above. You never know if you may need to take a couple in a row and that statement limits you.

I also have 2 weeks of vacation, one paid, one not. The paid vac is scheduled in advance (same week every year) and I have it that I may or may not take the unpaid one, but will give a 2 week notice. But, I also have it that if I don't use all of my personal days that I will use the unused days the week of Christmas. That way they know and I'll get to use them all. It also gives me some leway as to whether I need to take Christmas week paid or unpaid. I only used one personal day last year and the rest the week of Christmas so it was paid, plus I could have taken an unpaid vac (didn't though) Does that make sense?

What about Memorial and Labor Day too?

[butterfly]

If you are marketing to the university. I would take off ALL holidays with pay. This includes MLK JR day and President's day, etc. If they have the day off with pay why shouldn't you? Just something to think about - I don't want you to later become resentful of all their time off while you are working (Been there, done that! )

[Annalee]

I wouldn't even explain in the contract what these days can be used for. If I want a day off, I don't feel it necessary to tell the parents what I'm doing that day off. None of their business in my opinion.

The less you discuss with parents the better. I have found the more you try to explain the more the parent feels they can negotiate with you. No win, JUST DO IT! I get paid 52 weeks a year...holidays, professional days, personal days, emergency days and 2 weeks vacation to be used consecutive or apart, whichever I choose. Best of Luck! happyface

[NeedaVaca]

Why wouldn't you take Christmas as a paid holiday? Use vacation days around the paid holiday. I agree with PP if you plan to market to a specific group then take ALL the the University holidays (MLK, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day) off paid.

I take all major holidays off paid, 2 weeks vacation paid and 3 personal days paid. I have a lot of University families as well and have never had a complaint I get paid the same 52 weeks per year.

[DanielleS]

Good feedback!

I guess I always air on the side of over-explaining, but you're right I could back myself into a corner.

I think I will still *try* to collaborate on closings that are voluntary and not on holidays, but probably not put it in the contract. Simply because I know for my husband that Thursday is lab meeting day. It $*%&s his whole week if he can't make lab meeting. Sure, if there was an emergency, whatever. However, if your DC lady just decided to schedule an eye exam that day, it kind of ****s. Especially if she could have tried to schedule it on a Tuesday and it be NBD. We'll see though. I will take it out of the contract so that it's just a nice thing I do.

Also, I didn't want to *only* cater to university people and taking ALL the holidays would probably be really crappy for others. Plus if there are scientists (which seem to be the people that are showing the most interest) that can't always take the holiday due to timed experiments. I might add a few more in there though that most people get off....

Thanks for the input!! Keep it coming!
Once I have a final draft, I'll upload it to the forms section and get opinions on other stuff.

[melilley]

Good feedback!

I guess I always air on the side of over-explaining, but you're right I could back myself into a corner.

I think I will still *try* to collaborate on closings that are voluntary and not on holidays, but probably not put it in the contract. Simply because I know for my husband that Thursday is lab meeting day. It $*%&s his whole week if he can't make lab meeting. Sure, if there was an emergency, whatever. However, if your DC lady just decided to schedule an eye exam that day, it kind of ****s. Especially if she could have tried to schedule it on a Tuesday and it be NBD. We'll see though. I will take it out of the contract so that it's just a nice thing I do.

Also, I didn't want to *only* cater to university people and taking ALL the holidays would probably be really crappy for others. Plus if there are scientists (which seem to be the people that are showing the most interest) that can't always take the holiday due to timed experiments. I might add a few more in there though that most people get off....

Thanks for the input!! Keep it coming!
Once I have a final draft, I'll upload it to the forms section and get opinions on other stuff.

One thing I have learned from the ladies in this forum is to do what you want to do. Take the days you want to take (especially holidays) and let the parents figure it out from there. You can't please everyone and you will get burned out.

[DanielleS]

Why wouldn't you take Christmas as a paid holiday? Use vacation days around the paid holiday. I agree with PP if you plan to market to a specific group then take ALL the the University holidays (MLK, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day) off paid.

I take all major holidays off paid, 2 weeks vacation paid and 3 personal days paid. I have a lot of University families as well and have never had a complaint I get paid the same 52 weeks per year.

Nice!

I kept Christmas unpaid simply to be nice. My daycare money is "extra"-ish and we've structures some other stuff so that we get paid out for things right around Christmas. I'll probably keep that. A lot of people aren't from here and there's extra travel expenses and stuff. I could get it, sure, but I don't really want it that way.