Do You Allow Staff Children To Attend For Free?

[Unregistered]

We have a staff member who will no longer be subsidized for her care and is asking for free care for her child in order for continue her employment. I'm thinking several staff members with this arrangement can sink our daycare financially. I'm wondering how other centers handle this.

Thanks for your input!

[Mike]

I know some of the others here offer discounts, but not too many providers will offer free because it does count towards the limit, plus it takes time and resources away from the other kids.

[racemom]

The daycare I work at has 1/2 price tuition for staff. The kids do count in ratio, so they are taking available spots, but I also realize that most staff wouldn't be able to enroll their children at full price.

[jenboo]

I worked at one where employees got free childcare.

[lblanke]

As a parent, I would not stay if a staff member had a child in care. I'm not sure it helps you gain business.

[amberrose3dg]

We have a staff member who will no longer be subsidized for her care and is asking for free care for her child in order for continue her employment. I'm thinking several staff members with this arrangement can sink our daycare financially. I'm wondering how other centers handle this.

Thanks for your input!

Nope and in fact I prefer their child not be present and goes to another daycare or is older( at 6 they no longer count in ratios). I have had issues with assistants being too involved with their kids and it causing problems. A larger center I could see if they weren't caring for their child. For example at nap time my old assistant's 3 and 4 year old girls not wanting to nap and it caused issues with my other kids who were trying to sleep.That is one of the biggest headaches I have with trying to hire assistants. They expect to bring their infant or young toddler to work when they apply for the job and also expect it to be free as well.

[Blackcat31]

Nope and in fact I prefer their child not be present and goes to another daycare or is older( at 6 they no longer count in ratios). I have had issues with assistants being too involved with their kids and it causing problems. A larger center I could see if they weren't caring for their child. For example at nap time my old assistant's 3 and 4 year old girls not wanting to nap and it caused issues with my other kids who were trying to sleep.That is one of the biggest headaches I have with trying to hire assistants. They expect to bring their infant or young toddler to work when they apply for the job and also expect it to be free as well.

My state has made a similar rule for parents working in the child care field. If the parent gets state subsidy for child care their child cannot attend the facility in which they work.

As a business owner I would never give my staff free child care.

[amberrose3dg]

My state has made a similar rule for parents working in the child care field. If the parent gets state subsidy for child care their child cannot attend the facility in which they work.

As a business owner I would never give my staff free child care.

It is the same here. They have to take them to a different daycare. I could imagine all the issues if they allowed it.

[CityGarden]

If I ran a center I would aim to give 50% childcare reduction if the business could afford it, but in a small home program I would not want my staff to have their children present so I would offer no such discount or do anything to encourage them having their child present.

[daycarediva]

As a parent, I would not stay if a staff member had a child in care. I'm not sure it helps you gain business.

So as a parent, you would never chose a home daycare for the same reason?

My assistant has her child attend, for free, on days we have the room. It's created no additional issues. Maybe because I am upfront in the 'no special treatment' rule. I understand it because I had my own children 'enrolled' with me when they were younger.

[boy_mom]

If she was a great employee I might offer her child care "at cost", so not free but enough to cover what would be spent to care for her child.

To me a good employee who is happy would be worth the discount!

[Blackcat31]

So as a parent, you would never chose a home daycare for the same reason?

I wouldn't.

I always tried hard not to enroll kids the same age as my own and as a parent avoided care situations where the provider had her own young children in care.

I know having your own young child is common for many providers and is a lot of times why the provider is in the field in the first place but to be completely honest I would never even consider a program that had children in care belonging to the owner or staff (center and FCC equally).

[Play Care]

I see both sides of this.

And at the risk of being flamed, even with my own kids not in care, I still have my favorites.

[ColorfulSunburst]

I allow to my assistant bring her 3rd grade kid here during time when his school is closed (even during summer recess). For free. He is a great boy. He can help if we need. When he is here his mom is still working as well as without him here.

[daycarediva]

I wouldn't.

I always tried hard not to enroll kids the same age as my own and as a parent avoided care situations where the provider had her own young children in care.

I know having your own young child is common for many providers and is a lot of times why the provider is in the field in the first place but to be completely honest I would never even consider a program that had children in care belonging to the owner or staff (center and FCC equally).

I hear you. I never allowed the kids to see my favorites, and my kids were treated the same, which is why I enrolled them elsewhere for Prek, and did summer camps, etc for SA and enrolled no kids close in age.

I see both sides of this.

And at the risk of being flamed, even with my own kids not in care, I still have my favorites.

DUDE, same.

The kids don't know it, but I have now and always will have favorites. Their parents know sometimes, though.