Parents Not Paying for Vacation Time?

[Unregistered]

I have a contract with my parents that states "Please provide me with a 2 weeks notice for any vacation you will be taking so I can plan accordingly. Payment will still be due in full in order to hold your child's spot." With that being said, I had a parent inform me that they will be taking 2 week's vacation around Xmas (over a month's notice) and since it's unpaid vacation, they will not be able to pay for daycare those 2 weeks. However.. my contract clearly states that payment is due regardless. She has 2 children in my daycare, and i only have 4 children total... therefore she would be cutting my paycheck in half by not paying.

What's your opinion? Should I stand my ground and tell her payment is required regardless? Or should I give her a deal since she's giving so much notice? Maybe discount the rates? Or completely give her 2 weeks without pay? She's been with me for a year and I love her kids... I'd hate to cause issues... help!

[Blackcat31]

I have a contract with my parents that states "Please provide me with a 2 weeks notice for any vacation you will be taking so I can plan accordingly. Payment will still be due in full in order to hold your child's spot." With that being said, I had a parent inform me that they will be taking 2 week's vacation around Xmas (over a month's notice) and since it's unpaid vacation, they will not be able to pay for daycare those 2 weeks. However.. my contract clearly states that payment is due regardless. She has 2 children in my daycare, and i only have 4 children total... therefore she would be cutting my paycheck in half by not paying.

What's your opinion? Should I stand my ground and tell her payment is required regardless? Or should I give her a deal since she's giving so much notice? Maybe discount the rates? Or completely give her 2 weeks without pay? She's been with me for a year and I love her kids... I'd hate to cause issues... help!

Why are you willing to take a loss in income so she can save money?

Why do you have a policy about paying for vacation days if you are going to allow the parents to decide if they want to pay or not?

You love the kids enough to consider taking a pay loss but the family doesn't love you enough to pay you according to the policies and contract they signed AND agreed upon at enrollment?

I think you are asking the wrong questions and need to answer the ones above before deciding what to do.

[Gemma]

Demand payment! ...what's the purpose of having a policy if you're willing to give her a deal? ...and what else she or some other parent will ask you to reconsider?

[AmyKidsCo]

Stick with your policies. Once you bend one they'll want you to bend more of them.

Besides, with this much notice they can start saving up to pay you.

[Blackcat31]

Stick with your policies. Once you bend one they'll want you to bend more of them.

Besides, with this much notice they can start saving up to pay you.

.....or the provider can work on replacing them

[Snowmom]

They can afford a 2 week vacation, but can't afford two weeks of daycare to keep their spot?



You know what the right answer is!

[Unregistered]

They can afford a 2 week vacation, but can't afford two weeks of daycare to keep their spot?



You know what the right answer is!

She works for a power plant that shuts down for 2 weeks out of the year, so I guess she doesn't get paid for those 2 weeks. I misworded my post by saying vacation, . Thank you everyone for the advice. Does anyone else follow this policy, or do you guys allow for unpaid absences with enough notice?

[Jupadia]

It's not your fault that she is not being paid during this time. If you let her not pay then you are basically saying my policys don't mater, it may lead to other things that she dose not want to follow and she will think she dose not half to. YES it ****s for her to be without pay for this time but it would sick for you to. if the plant where she works shuts like this every year she sshould have planed her budget better or when signing up for childcare spoken to you about this and at that time see if there was some arrangement that the two of you could come up with. I hope you are able to have this parent relize that you are a business. IF you can't make her see reson you may have to look for a new client.

[Blackcat31]

She works for a power plant that shuts down for 2 weeks out of the year, so I guess she doesn't get paid for those 2 weeks. I misworded my post by saying vacation, . Thank you everyone for the advice. Does anyone else follow this policy, or do you guys allow for unpaid absences with enough notice?

My families pay their same weekly rate 52 weeks a year regardless of the number of days I am closed or they have off or their child misses.

[LysesKids]

I have a contract with my parents that states "Please provide me with a 2 weeks notice for any vacation you will be taking so I can plan accordingly. Payment will still be due in full in order to hold your child's spot." With that being said, I had a parent inform me that they will be taking 2 week's vacation around Xmas (over a month's notice) and since it's unpaid vacation, they will not be able to pay for daycare those 2 weeks. However.. my contract clearly states that payment is due regardless. She has 2 children in my daycare, and i only have 4 children total... therefore she would be cutting my paycheck in half by not paying.

What's your opinion? Should I stand my ground and tell her payment is required regardless? Or should I give her a deal since she's giving so much notice? Maybe discount the rates? Or completely give her 2 weeks without pay? She's been with me for a year and I love her kids... I'd hate to cause issues... help!

My families pay in full or they lose the spot; same for layoffs & strikes. I only keep kids for 12-15 months because all I do is babies up to 18 months... I don't give discounts in any fashion when a parent is not here but I am open and available.

Explain they are paying by the spot not for time used... they don't like it start looking to replace them (I can only take 4 at a time also , but am down 2 spots due to age outs & no incoming)

[e.j.]

Does anyone else follow this policy, or do you guys allow for unpaid absences with enough notice?

I allow for unpaid absences with or without notice but it comes with the understanding that their day care spot may no longer be available when they try to come back.

In all seriousness... Stand your ground. I don't charge for my own 2 weeks of vacation but when parents take their vacation time at another time, they pay their regular rate. Your dcm knew - or should have known - what your policies were when she signed on with you. If you offer her a discount or other deal now, she will expect you to cut additional deals in the future. If your other dc parents find out you gave her a deal but didn't offer the same to them, how will you explain it to them? It's not worth the potential problems giving her a deal now could cause you later.

[Unregistered]

My policy states and I go over at the initial interview, full tuition payment is due regardless of absences due to family vacations, sick days, natural disasters, holidays/breaks, personal days. I have had no problems with my families because the ones that did have a problem with it or questioned it during the interview I did not enroll in my program

[happymom]

My daycare gives one week vacation per calendar year for each child. Aside from that we pay a flat fee for 52 weeks a year, the daycare is closed certain holidays, we pay for those or any sick days or other days we are not able to attend.

My kids probably miss 20-30 days a year for different reasons, which are paid of course. I am very appreciative for the freebie week that we can choose to take or not to take.

If you are feeling guilty for making this family pay for 2 weeks when her kids are not there, maybe change your contract to meet in the middle somewhere.

[Gemma]

Does anyone else follow this policy, or do you guys allow for unpaid absences with enough notice?

I don't charge anything if I know ahead of time...dr app. I have to know the week before and 2 weeks notice for vacations

[Leigh]

She works for a power plant that shuts down for 2 weeks out of the year, so I guess she doesn't get paid for those 2 weeks. I misworded my post by saying vacation, . Thank you everyone for the advice. Does anyone else follow this policy, or do you guys allow for unpaid absences with enough notice?

She's had all year to budget for this shut down. It's HER issue, not yours. I agree with the others...tell her that you base your rate on being paid weekly, and that payment is due regardless of attendance. How can a power plant shut down for 2 weeks?