What Is Your Opinion On Charging Families On Maternity Leave?

[CityGarden]

By maternity leave I mean the parent is expecting a child, not me.

I would handle it the same way you handle vacations in your daycare.

Personally I do not offer discounts for vacations so I would not offer a discount. I charge an annual amount broken into monthly payments with no discounts for sick days, vacations or school holidays / closures.

[Josiegirl]

I only accept infants from currently enrolled families.

I don't discount any spaces for any reason.

If the space is open, I require payment in full.

I am running a business with the intent to earn an income for my family so I don't allow emotions to play a role in my business practices/policies.

ESPECIALLY when it comes to the money part.

I will be more like BC. I will be more like BC. I will be more like BC.
I will have an opening as of Labor Day, and a dcm due the end of Sept. I am going to have to charge her a nonrefundable holding fee this summer, if she really wants the space. Then a regular weekly rate as soon as I have the opening slot. I've never done it that way but after getting screwed over by my dear sweet dcm, not once but twice now, I have to look out for Numero Uno.

[Annalee]

I would handle it the same way you handle vacations in your daycare.

Personally I do not offer discounts for vacations so I would not offer a discount. I charge an annual amount broken into monthly payments with no discounts for sick days, vacations or school holidays / closures.

I charge 52 weeks a year which covers personal & professional days, vacation, holiday, and emergency days....my contract states "these are the days ms.xxxx child care will be closed for 2016 but not limited to".

[Crazy8]

I would not be able to keep clients if I charged full price for maternity leaves.
I give families 2 options - they can either pay a holding fee upfront equal to 1/4th of their tuition for the time they are out or they can send their child part time equal to or greater than that amount. Most want to send their child 1-2 days a week while they are home with baby anyway.
I do not mind the temporary reduction in pay to go along with the temporary reduced workload.

[Blackcat31]

I will be more like BC. I will be more like BC. I will be more like BC.
I will have an opening as of Labor Day, and a dcm due the end of Sept. I am going to have to charge her a nonrefundable holding fee this summer, if she really wants the space. Then a regular weekly rate as soon as I have the opening slot. I've never done it that way but after getting screwed over by my dear sweet dcm, not once but twice now, I have to look out for Numero Uno.

It's okay, it doesnt make you cold or mean.

It's business.

If I can help a family (without costing myself) I am the first one in line but when it comes to the financial part of this job, I simply cannot afford to let "nice" cost me.

[Renae82]

I'm just not sure on how to charge families for maternity leave. I'm having a hard time getting caught between the providers point of view and the parents point of view. What are your thoughts?

I completely understand the parent's needs here, but that doesn't mean the we should take the financial hit. With my last two families that went on maternity leave, they kept their children in care.
If I can fill the spot temporarily (such as with a school-ager for the summer) then no problem. Otherwise if they don't want to send their child I have to fill the spot.

[Dilley Beans]

My contract states that if your child will be gone for 5 or more weeks in a row you must pay $10/day to maintain the spot. I state that this is for work related sabaticals and paternity leaves or other medical recovery. I do allow teachers to have the summer off as long as this is paid. The child can't come though.