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Do you still charge for the days that you are sick, or closed due to an emergency?
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I don't, but I know that a lot of providers do. -
Same here. I do not charge for days that I am not available, but I know a lot of providers that do.Comment
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I charge a flat rate weekly, regardless of any situation. I explain to parents that they are essentially leasing a spot, and to consider it tuition, just like at a school. I don't discount for vacation days, sick days or anything else. I figured when I started that I couldn't live with charging any less than I decided to charge. I made a lot of money at my last job working about 140 days a year. I work a lot more hours now for a lot less money. There is no reason, IMO, that parents can't pay for sick days. I had NO problem paying my provider for days off-I thought she deserved them (I told her more than once that she didn't take enough!). If parents don't feel the same about me, they can try to find someone else.Comment
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Thank you Blackcat 31. Your advice has been very helpful to me this week.
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I don't charge for sick days, the main reason being that I could definitely see some parents thinking that I wasn't really sick. I once got Violently Ill about 6:00 one evening, and I called all my parents and told them that I was calling in for the next day. One of the parents all but accused me of taking a day I didn't need.
I do have a few holidays that are paid (not as many as a bank or municipal workers in more populated areas), and I take fifteen days of vacation per year, for which parents pay half the normal rate but only for the days that their child would be in attendance.Comment
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I don't understand this line of thinking...
Because a parent felt you were lying about being sick, you no longer charge for sick days??
Who cares if you are or aren't sick...if YOU, as the business owner, want to take time off work because you fell sick, that is your right to do and if a parent accused me of lying about that, then I would term them because I refuse to do business with some who doesn't respect, trust or believe me.Comment
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I took my first 2 sick days last month, and told the parents I would prorate their fee. Half voluntarily gave me the full amount while the other half paid the prorated amount. I will include in my next amended contract that I will take paid sick days up to a certain amount per calendar year, I think. I also worry that parents will think I'm abusing it, but Blackcat is right - if they think that then they must not trust me and if that's the case I shouldn't be caring for their children.Comment
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I never did charge for sick days. But I wouldn't want my parents thinking that I was abusing that, and there are always 'those' parents, so I don't charge. Being made to feel like crap when you've got mount Vesuvius blowing out of your face is not a nice feeling. Jeez I hate calling in sick.
I make up for no sick pay in other ways-a few paid holidays and partial vacay pay. And besides, if I did get really sick and have to miss a whole week of work I wouldn't want families to have to pay for that. I do reserve the right to use vacation days when I am ill.
BTW, that family I am referring to did end up termed when I downsized at one point. Mom was nuts. She was the type who writes you a thesis on why she doesn't think you should be raising your rates by 25 cents an hour, and leaves it on the counter like a sixth grader for you to find at some point in your day.
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IME, there are some parents that just don't trust anybody. I've had two families like that in all my years and they were just the worst. Both were cases where the moms needed to just quit working and stay home with their kids, period because nobody in the world would do it right, not even Mary Poppins herself...Comment
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I have one of those right now. It's taken me a while to just let her issues be hers and not stress about what things ruffle her feathers.
BTW, that family I am referring to did end up termed when I downsized at one point. Mom was nuts. She was the type who writes you a thesis on why she doesn't think you should be raising your rates by 25 cents an hour, and leaves it on the counter like a sixth grader for you to find at some point in your day.
Mine e-mails me a LONG e-mail and I purposely send a reply one back saying
"Thanks for letting me know your thoughts on this."
I know it bothers her when I refuse to engage in an on-going discussion about MY policies.
I have zero issues explaining or elaborating on my rules for clients who truly don't understand but I refuse to allow a parent to think that THEIR opinion matters in MY business decisions.
If I enact or have a rule, it's because it is what is best for ME and MY family. If that rule doesn't work for a client, that is ok. We all have to do what works best for us.
I get that too but I won't work with families that won't, can't or don't trust me.
It has to go both ways for me to feel successful in my business.
Again, if that doesn't work for a specific family, that is fine. NO judgment from me. But I won't bend, waive or break a policy for that family.
They would simply not be the right fit for my program.
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BC, ITA with your thinking. Over the years I have had to find my backbone through the usual uncomfortable situations. Spending time worrying about everybody else's opinion can really make you sick with stress. Glad I am mostly past that stage of my life.
OP, sorry I didn't mean to derail.Comment
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