Paid Vacation

[SSWonders]

I don't get paid for my vacations. Occasionally some of the parents I work with have to pay someone else to care for their children when I am not available, so I don't feel right charging.

[taylorw1210]

IME, it seems that no matter how you do it, if the parents have to pay for even one day that services are not available, they do.not.get.it.

Once I upped my rate and said the words "You do NOT pay for days child care is closed" there was no more discussion, no more questions, no more further explaining, no confused parents and no one that tried to push back.

It's the weirdest thing but I figure it's got to be the way humans simply perceive things. I think it's in our nature to not want to have to do something (in this case pay) for something we do not get. kwim?

Funny thing is, that like I said above I actually make a bit more money over the year but parents don't seem to notice or care. I guess they are willing to pay $5 more per day than pay for a day they don't have services. :confused:

I don't know how well this would work where I am. I charge the normal weekly rate for my area, and most others around me also have the standard of paid holidays and vaca time. I am not sure about the personal/sick days, though. You can find SAHM's who watch a kid here or there and only charge based on attendance, but they are just that - SAHM's who watch a kid here or there.

I suppose I could offer two different plans to the families, and they could choose which they liked. A higher weekly rate in exchange for no pay on my closings, or a lower weekly rate in exchange for paying during holidays/vacation.

[taylorw1210]

I don't get paid for my vacations. Occasionally some of the parents I work with have to pay someone else to care for their children when I am not available, so I don't feel right charging.

This is why I offer my families a week of their own vacation, and they have the option of using it during my personal vacation. I have a few families who would end up double paying when I went on vaca because they don't have family for a back up.

[originalkat]

Several years ago I decided to switch to monthly tuition. It is easier to budget, and I do not feel as though I am constantly asking parents for money and cashing checks because they only pay once or twice per month (their choice per their contract). This way, even though I do not charge for my 2 weeks of vacation each year, I still get the same amount each month. I LOVE IT AND WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO WEEKLY PAYMENTS!
This is one section of my contract that explains the breakdown:

Parents are responsible for paying the full tuition each month. Tuition is based on enrollment not attendance. This means that the total amount is payable each month regardless of the child’s attendance or time when the facility is closed. Payment is required for all scheduled holidays and up to five (5) provider personal/sick days as outlined in the parent handbook. The provider will take 10 unpaid vacation days per year.
Tuition is calculated as follows:
$126.00 x 52 Weeks per year =
$6552.00
- $ 126.00 Winter Break
- $ 126.00 Spring or Summer Break
$6300.00
Divided by 12 Months
$525.00 Monthly Tuition

As far as holidays, they are all paid and this is how it is worded in my handbook:

I strive to provide families with an exceptional quality, all-day, year round education program. I try to recognize the needs of working parents and their families. Holidays and breaks are necessary for the well-being of all. Please see the calendar for specific dates. If a holiday falls on a weekend, we will close on either the Friday before or the Monday after. We will be closed on the following paid holidays:
New Year Day
Martin Luther King Jr.
President’s Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran’s Day
Thanksgiving and the day after
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

[LovetheSun]

4 weeks yearly!

20 days!

I take 20 days paid vacation (in a total of four weeks)

But I only take the National holidays (Christmas/New Years is included in the 20days paid vacation).

So we have about 6 closed holidays on top of our 4 weeks.

So far no complain. Few parents to scare again but the one enrolled understands and even tell us we deserve it!

We do live in a nice area but after searching I've notice most daycare do NOT takes Paid vacation (but most Jewish Daycare do) I encourage daycare providers to do so it would be great if it just become a norm

[Hazel]

I used to give families 1 week payment free for vacation. It worked out for the first 4 years bc I have it in my contract that I take 1 week unpaid vacation per year and everyone I had always took the same week I did. I just had a really great group.... But then those kids all aged out and It got rough. I went through a divorce, became a single income and couldn't take vacations anymore let alone afford others to get a week payment free... So I changed my contract for all new families coming in. I still allow 1 unpaid week for myself but not for the families. No refunds or tuition deductions for absences of any kind. All weeks paid in full. I DO still have my paid holidays in there. They were only the standard ones to start but I changed things around after I notticed an attendance pattern on certain days, like Black Friday. I'd always have ONE family that needed care, everyone else would be off for the day. And it was always bc the parents wanted to go shopping! No more! I am closed the following days (plus 1 week vacation if I choose to use it:
Labor Day
Halloween (close at 4)
Thanksgiving Thursday
Thanksgiving Friday (Black Friday)
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Years eve (close at 4)
New Years day
Memorial Day
July 4th

Also have it in there that if the holiday falls on a weekend I take the Friday before or Monday after as my paid holiday.
It works, usually... I still have people who never really read the contract and look at me like I'm crazy when I say I close early on certain days!

[Lucy]

I get paid the same amount no matter what. No credits for sickness/holiday/vacation -- whether theirs, mine, or the kids. Same amount all year.

I take 8 vacation days and 8 holidays.