With Winter Weather Coming

[sahm2three]

What is your policy about snow days? I am leaning towards if there is no travel, no way of getting out, I will not charge. If it is iffy out, but I am going to remain open, I will charge for that day. What are your policies?

[QualiTcare]

i think your policy would be abused. that's a perfect way for parents to use their PTO and sick days for the winter months and not pay for childcare because "they can't get out."

how about going with the local school schedule? if school is closed, and a child can't make it, then they don't have to pay? there will still be parents who have to go to work even if schools are closed, but if it's bad enough for school to close, and they say they can't get out, it's probably legit.

[safechner]

About snow days or ice weather, I still open and I do charge if they decided not to bring the kids here. It is the same thing, the company still open and some employer decided not go to work but they get paid.

[DCMom]

I don't really have a specific written 'snow day' policy; if I close unexpectedly then they don't have to pay.

[MyAngels]

I remain open for all snow days (I figure I'm here, why not?), and so it is a regular day charged at regular rates here. I will even take the school age siblings of current families, generally at no charge for the day.

[Blackcat31]

I live WAAAAAY up north in Minnesota where the snow is deep and temps are often well below 0. I do not live in my childcare home so I must travel into town about 7 miles every day. I travel on small county roads, not freeways and never once in 17 years have I not made it to work because of snow or sub zero temps. I drive a Pontiac Grand Prix and do not have 4 wheel drive. I charge like any other day and do not close for winter storms. Up here, winter is winter. You adjust, leave earlier, drive slower and go where you need to go...no excuses. If a parent chooses not to bring their child, that is completely their choice, and if they want to use 1 of their personal/absent days where I don't charge that is up to them. If they have no days left, they pay. I agree with pp, people will take advantage of it.

[SilverSabre25]

If there is a level 3 snow emergency (no travel allowed) then I am closed. Anything else, I'm open.

[sahm2three]

i think your policy would be abused. that's a perfect way for parents to use their PTO and sick days for the winter months and not pay for childcare because "they can't get out."

how about going with the local school schedule? if school is closed, and a child can't make it, then they don't have to pay? there will still be parents who have to go to work even if schools are closed, but if it's bad enough for school to close, and they say they can't get out, it's probably legit.

I think that is a good point. You are right. I need to write it out so that there is no question. In this area, if the school is closed, it is because you have 6 feet of snow on the ground and can't get anywhere, so to go with the school closure is a good idea! Otherwise, I will remain open and will charge for the day.

[daysofelijah]

Schools never close here, I think the last snow day was in 2002. All but one of my families live within 5 miles of my home and have at least one parent who works within 5 miles of my home, so there is really no reason to close as some one would always be going to work.

If no one showed up for some odd reason I would still charge.

[laundrymom]

I dont close, I have mission essential families, and dr's and nurses as parents so they go to work no matter what,... I have had however forced overtime due to an emergency,.. I had a mom and dad (dr's both of them) working at the hosp when a snowstorm came in,... they were stuck at the hospital because noone could get to the hosp to relieve them,.. so I had their kids until plows got through,.. It was a january,.. and schools were closed almost 3 weeks!!! ahhhhhh,..

Schools never close here, I think the last snow day was in 2002. All but one of my families live within 5 miles of my home and have at least one parent who works within 5 miles of my home, so there is really no reason to close as some one would always be going to work.

If no one showed up for some odd reason I would still charge.

[caitlin]

I remain open unless I am without power or water, which does happen quite a bit where I live. If I close, they don't have to pay, but if I am open they pay.

[legomom922]

About snow days or ice weather, I still open and I do charge if they decided not to bring the kids here. It is the same thing, the company still open and some employer decided not go to work but they get paid.

Agree. Just because it's snowing doesn't mean my bills can be paid late..I rely on that income, so I will say I am open for those who still need to go to work. Weather or n ot they decide to go into work or bring their kids is up to them but I still will charge for the day. I don't know of any buisnesses that close for the weather and tell their employees to stay home! Even when school is closed, staff is still required to report. they only close schools for the buses and walkers anyway.

Now if there was a huge emergency, like a tornado hit or something like that, then I wouldnt, but I live in NY and dont have to worry about that!!

[legomom922]

so to go with the school closure is a good idea! .

I would rethink that one if I were you! School closes for buses and walkers, and most times teachers still have to work!

[QualiTcare]

I live WAAAAAY up north in Minnesota where the snow is deep and temps are often well below 0. I do not live in my childcare home so I must travel into town about 7 miles every day. I travel on small county roads, not freeways and never once in 17 years have I not made it to work because of snow or sub zero temps. I drive a Pontiac Grand Prix and do not have 4 wheel drive. I charge like any other day and do not close for winter storms. Up here, winter is winter. You adjust, leave earlier, drive slower and go where you need to go...no excuses. If a parent chooses not to bring their child, that is completely their choice, and if they want to use 1 of their personal/absent days where I don't charge that is up to them. If they have no days left, they pay. I agree with pp, people will take advantage of it.

well, i think it does matter where you live. in MN it's expected to snow, freeze, etc. therefore, the city/county has the equipment and employees to make the roads driveable. plus, people there are experienced driving in those conditions and probably have equipment to clean up their own driveways pretty quickly.

when it snows here, like really snows, it could be a day or 2 before a truck comes to clear the road. there are a lot of country roads that don't get cleared for several days. it's not something the county has a lot of money set aside before because it rarely happens. the last house i lived in had a driveway and you had JUST enough room on a good day to back out and get onto the road without falling down a 10 foot embankment. it snowed a lot (wouldn't be a lot to you, but a lot for here) and there's no way on earth i would've tried to leave - NOBODY on my street did bc of that mini cliff. the snow started when i was on my way home and it was scary - i couldn't see ANYTHING and there were cars all over the road, in ditches, etc. people here have no experience driving in that weather.

the general rule here is: if the bus drivers can't safely transport the kids to school, then the schools close. it's a pretty rare occassion. there's really no reason for a provider who stays at home to close bc they'll be there anyway, but i wouldn't think it would be unreasonable to not charge in the rare event of a snow storm where people are trapped at home.

[QualiTcare]

I would rethink that one if I were you! School closes for buses and walkers, and most times teachers still have to work!

how would that affect anything, i mean, the teachers having to work?

she would still charge if a child came, but wouldn't charge if the child didn't come bc the parent was trapped at home.