Sick of Parent Nickle and Dime-ing Me!

[KidGrind]

So what is a good argument for why we still charge for holidays? I know that it's our paid vacation but why does the parent have to pay for our vacation?

I'm not against it by any means, I am playing devil's advocate here.

There is no good argument. There shouldn’t be an argument. It’s your policy. You are not interested in providing child care for clients who do not believe in paying during holidays & vacations.

[Play Care]

There is no good argument. There shouldn’t be an argument. It’s your policy. You are not interested in providing child care for clients who do not believe in paying during holidays & vacations.

I am always somewhat perplexed when a parent says "but that's not how it should be done" or "that's not how other day cares do it" etc.

1. It's in the contract, you read it and agreed to it. That was the time to question it. If you don't agree, you don't sign on. Simple.

2. Do people go in to Macy's and complain "but that's not how Walmart does it!" Of course not.
As with any similar type business there is a lot of similarities and differences - the policy of each company is usually based on what makes the most sense (and what will make the most CENTS ) for that company.

[Laurel]

It's mostly parent wanting to make me feel bad about making them pay for days that they do not come. They are "giving me a break.". Wrote me out an itemized list of what days will be paid for and what days not. I had to remind parent that holidays are still payed for but I know parent is going to give me grief about it. I'm safe because it is in my contract, it's just annoying to have to have these conversations.

Then don't have the conversation.

IF and only if you want to give them an explanation you could use this one for them not paying for days because it is "giving you a break". Sorry, had to make a face before I continued. :: These people are as dumb as rocks....

Okay then. You could say "The reason I do that is for the same reason that you probably wouldn't work for a company if your boss said that you could take the day off (without pay to give you a break) or leave early and work less hours (and paid for less hours)." Sometimes they 'get it' when it is compared to their situation. They don't want their boss to cut their hours to give them a break. They don't want a 'short check'. If you wanted that, you'd take a part time job.

We get paid for holidays because they do and it is a customary practice in the U.S. Sheesh.

YOUR parents are getting ME mad!!!

Laurel

[MarinaVanessa]

I am always somewhat perplexed when a parent says "but that's not how it should be done" or "that's not how other day cares do it" etc.

This is the worst ...

"Well, that's why I opened up my own daycare and started my own business. SO that I could run my own business the way that I saw fit and so I didn't have to follow someone else's rules. And honestly, there are so many different ways that each and every single provider runs her daycare that you won't ever walk into one that does it the same as another."

If it were my client and based on the norm in my area I'd probably add in .."If you'd like to find someone that doesn't charge for absences I understand. I'd try to help but the providers I know all charge for them. Let me give you the number to our local resource and referral"

Honestly ... people sometimes act like charging for holidays isn't the norm when it's actually what a lot of providers do nowadays. Things have changed and providers have started seeing themselves as business women so they take themselves serious. It's funny that other people think that we don't deserve paid holidays. It's an average of like 10 days a year

[Unregistered]

Mind a parent comment?

How about this:

"I do this because it simplifies accounting and lets me charge lower prices."

(Huh?)

"Yeah, same reason the pay-as-you-go cell plan charges more per minute than a contract. And overhead always costs you more. It's pretty common, really, and works great for most parents. Some people still prefer to pay by the day, and that's okay. If you're going to be missing more than the usual number of sick/vacation days, that may work out better for you. I just don't offer that here."

I pay my DCP the same amount every week, and it works really well. I can plan for how much it's going to be, and don't have to keep up with how much I owe for which day. Just set a price and stand behind it, like a doctor or attorney or any other professional service would do. No need to get into who deserves what (and not their place to judge what you deserve anyway). If you were considering hiring an attorney and told them you were going to pay them by the job instead of by the hour, you'd get a polite, professional "sorry, we don't do that here", right? It's the same thing.

If you're not getting at least some complaints about it being too expensive, you're probably not charging enough.

[itlw8]

why?? because I do..... If they do not like it I suppose I could make some changes to your contract Instead of my full time rate of $100 a week you may pay the drop in rate and not pay for holidays, vacations or sick days. Drop in rate is $5 an hour with a minimum 4 hours or $30 a day... but be aware you may be replaced with out notice when a full time client wants to enroll.