Getting "Tricked" By The Parents for Our Vacation Time

[Unregistered]

Hi everyone,

I would really like some help on how to handle this situation...
Our daily rate is lower because the parents needs to pay our one week vacation in July plus our 1 week vacation in December. The contract states that clearly.

But now I have few families who are leaving for kindergartne and who did not mention leaving before August(as they were suppose to) until I mention our vacation days. Then each of them said "We will need to talk because we won't here for the summer", they seems very uncomfortable and I could tell they knew it was wrong (they are giving notice right before our break start to save money).

I really feel like they haven't mention it until I asked because they need our care and they seem scare I will let them go before our break because of that (and replace them in May or June so that our vacation are paid).

So now I've realized we will be about $900 short in July, which kind of ruin our vacation plan plus we were planning a graduation party (with food, puppet show and bouncy house) now I feel so sad that we won't have the finance to cover the cost of this. It would be so great for the kids.

I know I've made a mistake in my rate/contract and will fix that for next year. But for now any of you have an idea of how I should handle this?

Should I speak up? Or think for myself (and employe) and have them leave before our break so the replacing families pay for the break? My contract states I can change the rate win a 4 weeks notice, it is too tricky of me to change the rate before they leave so that it makes up for our loss?

Urgh, these families have been here for 3 years and we were so accommodating even helping on the weekend during emergencies/ knot charging Kate fees/waiting to get pay later when one of the parent couldn't work dtc...
I never expected that.

[hope]

Maybe raise your rates to cover this. Let each family that has said that they will be leaving before the end of the summer know that there will be a rate increase to cover the vacation that they agreed to pay.

[Brittany]

That is so frustrating! I agree with the above poster who said to raise your rates for the parents leaving, to cover the vacation time they agreed to pay. If they don't want to pay, then you can replace them with families who will be there for your vacation time.
For the graduation party, you could send out a notice to all parents, and have them cover part of the cost. You could do this by asking for money, or having each parent bring something.

[Blackcat31]

As much as it ****s, I don't think you have any real solution other than to change your policies for the future so this does not happen again.

I don't think it would be right to raise those parents rates this late in the game.

I would either use a method of accruing paid time off so that even if families leave before your actual vacation time, they'll still have "paid" for it.

Here are some threads about accrued/paid vacation time

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54817

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=paid+vacations

I don't operate that way but I do have a clause in my contract that says notice of withdrawal cannot include provider's vacation days/weeks.

[NightOwl]

If you have in your contact that you can change rates with 4 weeks notice, then do it. They're being shady in this, not you. Point out the clause in your contact that says the rates are lower in order to accommodate your vacation weeks and, since they've enjoyed those lower rates all these months, they can pay to make up the difference. How rude... And DEFINITELY change your contact for future families. Most of them get a paid vacation each year from their employer and they don't have to take a pay cut to get it. Why should you?

[childcaremom]

Hi everyone,

I would really like some help on how to handle this situation...
Our daily rate is lower because the parents needs to pay our one week vacation in July plus our 1 week vacation in December. The contract states that clearly.

But now I have few families who are leaving for kindergartne and who did not mention leaving before August(as they were suppose to) until I mention our vacation days. Then each of them said "We will need to talk because we won't here for the summer", they seems very uncomfortable and I could tell they knew it was wrong (they are giving notice right before our break start to save money).

I really feel like they haven't mention it until I asked because they need our care and they seem scare I will let them go before our break because of that (and replace them in May or June so that our vacation are paid).

So now I've realized we will be about $900 short in July, which kind of ruin our vacation plan plus we were planning a graduation party (with food, puppet show and bouncy house) now I feel so sad that we won't have the finance to cover the cost of this. It would be so great for the kids.

I know I've made a mistake in my rate/contract and will fix that for next year. But for now any of you have an idea of how I should handle this?

Should I speak up? Or think for myself (and employe) and have them leave before our break so the replacing families pay for the break? My contract states I can change the rate win a 4 weeks notice, it is too tricky of me to change the rate before they leave so that it makes up for our loss?

Urgh, these families have been here for 3 years and we were so accommodating even helping on the weekend during emergencies/ knot charging Kate fees/waiting to get pay later when one of the parent couldn't work dtc...
I never expected that.

I agree with BC. Change your contract so it doesn't happen in the future. BUT... I would also be tempted to term and replace right now. Make sure your contract is updated before signing any new clients.

[Unregistered]

Thank you all for your replies.

I don't want to be sneaky and your messages reassured me.

Plus I also give my assistant paid vacation and this is just causing me so much stress

I asked a parent because I was feeling frustrated and they said "Depending on when you take your vacation we will either stay or leave for the summer. When I replied we are closing in the beginning of the summer then he uncomfortably said we were planning to give our notice 4 weeks before your vacation start".

Argh I learned a big lesson this week! I really didn't expect this from these families.

Is it crazy to ask an annual fee that cover the vacation days? So basically around $450/600 depending on how many days they attend.

[MissAnn]

Thank you all for your replies.

I don't want to be sneaky and your messages reassured me.

Plus I also give my assistant paid vacation and this is just causing me so much stress

I asked a parent because I was feeling frustrated and they said "Depending on when you take your vacation we will either stay or leave for the summer. When I replied we are closing in the beginning of the summer then he uncomfortably said we were planning to give our notice 4 weeks before your vacation start".

Argh I learned a big lesson this week! I really didn't expect this from these families.

Is it crazy to ask an annual fee that cover the vacation days? So basically around $450/600 depending on how many days they attend.

My summer vacation is unpaid. Maybe raise prices to compensate for an unpaid vacation?

[Laurel]

My summer vacation is unpaid. Maybe raise prices to compensate for an unpaid vacation?

[childcaremom]

My summer vacation is unpaid. Maybe raise prices to compensate for an unpaid vacation?

My vacation is unpaid, as well. I charge higher weekly rates and set money aside through the year.

[LysesKids]

My vacation is unpaid, as well. I charge higher weekly rates and set money aside through the year.

My vacations are also unpaid... I charge monthly so my income doesn't change regardless if I am open or closed. The unpaid days are already figured into the rates so they are averaged out over the year. Not every parent understands the averaging thing so i literally have to sit down and show them

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I wouldn't do anything beyond changing when you take your "summer vacation" next year (or even this year!). If you aren't going anywhere that required reservations, then I would move your July vacation to May. You'd still be giving parents over 1 month's notice.

I am taking mine before the school year lets out (paid) so that 99% of my clients will still be enrolled. Last year I had one in July and ran into a similar issue as what you're experiencing so this year I bumped it up to early May.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I agree with BC. Change your contract so it doesn't happen in the future. BUT... I would also be tempted to term and replace right now. Make sure your contract is updated before signing any new clients.

I'd do this for the family that outright said they'll be leaving immediately before your vacation. It's nothing personal. It's just business (just like it is for them to save some $).

[Leigh]

Maybe raise your rates to cover this. Let each family that has said that they will be leaving before the end of the summer know that there will be a rate increase to cover the vacation that they agreed to pay.

Exactly this.

[Unregistered]

I agree with BC. Change your contract so it doesn't happen in the future. BUT... I would also be tempted to term and replace right now. Make sure your contract is updated before signing any new clients.

Yes!!
What do you have to lose? Not money and it would put them in their place. Even if the children start after your vacation I would still try.