Is This Unreasonable?

[lblanke]

It is not unreasonable at all. People should expect the whole week off between Christmas & New Years. I'm glad that my child has a break from all the circulating colds & viruses even though I have to get back up care for 2 of the 3 weeks preschool is closed.

[Madeline]

That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I think our provider is taking off a week for the holidays. I say "I think" because I work at a university so I'm always out these days any way (if I'm off daughter's off) so I tend to forget the specifics of what's happening at daycare. She does tell us as the start of each year which says she'll be closed and I always think she should take more, I'd need it with kiddos all day!

[SammieRN]

Along those lines...

Personally, I think it is very reasonable to be paid time off.

And actually, along those lines...

My daughter's preschool doesn't really address part-time in their book, they don't even advertise having part-time slots, I just kind of walked in at the right moment looking for childcare.

With that being said...

My child only goes to preschool 2 days per week... Monday and Wednesday. I pay weekly. I am a nurse and I have to cram my work in to those two days each week. Now with the preschool closed those days, it will really hurt my budget, especially since I have to pay for the days+lost wages. Thankfully, I have a flexible schedule so I can work whatever days of the week. The teachers CERTAINLY deserve a paid break, don't get me wrong.

However, would it be unreasonable of me (since I only come 2 days per week to begin with) to just ask if I could bring her for a couple, or at least one, make up day(s)? I wouldn't be pushy and I would totally let them choose the day to ensure staffing.

I hate to be a pain, I just take roughly a $600 hit for those days. Just wondering if even asking is unreasonable?

[Unregistered]

Sammie...no harm in asking. But I dont allow make up days because the families whose children come 5 days cant make up days...Also, I deserve to be paid for holidays/vacations by every family.

[Blackcat31]

Sammie...no harm in asking. But I dont allow make up days because the families whose children come 5 days cant make up days...Also, I deserve to be paid for holidays/vacations by every family.

I agree, there is no harm in asking and if the center can accommodate you, that's great! But for me, when I take part time kids, I have the alternate spaces around them filled with other part time families/kids so if I am closed on Wednesday for example and that is Family A's regular day, I can't allow them to just come on a Thursday to make it up because I more than likely have Family B that already uses Wednesday.

The only way to guarantee space is available any time you want or need it is to pay for it. Even the days you don't use. Otherwise, I more than likely have the days a part time family doesn't pay for filled with another part time family so that I can get paid for the space in it's entirety.

But again, like PP said there is no harm in asking. The center may be able to accommodate you. Just be understanding of the reasons they may not as well.

[Unregistered]

OP here. I talked to everyone and they were all okay with the days off. But now i have another issue. I have 1 part time family who comes 4 days a week M-Th with a discounted rate. I will never do part time rates again because of parents wanting to make up days. It gets too confusing and in my contract it states you pay even if you are not here. But they still ask for a make up day. So the part time family tells me since they wont be here Jan 2nd (i reminded i was closed anyway for the holiday) she says "so DCK will be here T-F then. " Doesnt ask if she can come friday and Im assuming she thinks she gets to pay her regular rate with the extra day. Now i have to remind her that Monday is her scheduled day, and its a holiday, she she still has to pay for the day. She can come friday and add the daily rate. Ugh! I now tell families that i dont offer part time rates. One flat rate and you can come any days you want.

[Blackcat31]

OP here. I talked to everyone and they were all okay with the days off. But now i have another issue. I have 1 part time family who comes 4 days a week M-Th with a discounted rate. I will never do part time rates again because of parents wanting to make up days. It gets too confusing and in my contract it states you pay even if you are not here. But they still ask for a make up day. So the part time family tells me since they wont be here Jan 2nd (i reminded i was closed anyway for the holiday) she says "so DCK will be here T-F then. " Doesnt ask if she can come friday and Im assuming she thinks she gets to pay her regular rate with the extra day. Now i have to remind her that Monday is her scheduled day, and its a holiday, she she still has to pay for the day. She can come friday and add the daily rate. Ugh! I now tell families that i dont offer part time rates. One flat rate and you can come any days you want.

I offer part time families the option of paying for SPECIFIC days (no changes unless they ADD a day, which includes adding more money to their weekly invoice) or paying for the convenience of having ANY 5 days a week available to them. The rate for that convenience is like $5 less than paying for a full time spot.

Their choice.

If they choose paying only for specific days, they can't swap days to avoid paying for a holiday or closed day.

[daycarediva]

I agree, there is no harm in asking and if the center can accommodate you, that's great! But for me, when I take part time kids, I have the alternate spaces around them filled with other part time families/kids so if I am closed on Wednesday for example and that is Family A's regular day, I can't allow them to just come on a Thursday to make it up because I more than likely have Family B that already uses Wednesday.

The only way to guarantee space is available any time you want or need it is to pay for it. Even the days you don't use. Otherwise, I more than likely have the days a part time family doesn't pay for filled with another part time family so that I can get paid for the space in it's entirety.

But again, like PP said there is no harm in asking. The center may be able to accommodate you. Just be understanding of the reasons they may not as well.

Same here. The ONLY way a PT family can add days is if another child is out, and then they pay extra for those days, because I reimburse/prorate tuition for the family who did not use the space. I WILL NOT be unethical and be double paid for the day.

It came up this week. A pt child wanted to 'switch' days. I have a FT family on vacation, and when I gave PT dcm the invoice for the additional days she balked at it. Well, what do you think I am going to do here lady? Allow your child to come on days that another family paid for care and NOT charge YOU and reimburse THEM? OR, stiff myself? Seriously.

[ms. steph]

OH heck NO

when I first started doing child care 20 years ago, I did not take hardly any days off. but as the years have gone by I have learned some very valuable lessons the hard way and this is one of them. Parents always complain about your time off but I learned most of my parents were off those days and got paid but still wanted to drop their kids off.

[daycare]

everything that the others have said...take time off and don't feel guilty about it.

makes me so mad when people sign up and agree to things then later complain about it.

I remind them of this if they complain.