Time Off for Death in Your Family

[momofboys]

I got some very sad news this weekend. My dad passed away on Friday afternoon. Very unexpected. Anyway, my daycare families were both quite understanding. Neither was scheduled to come on Mon this week b/c of the holiday & one only comes Tues-Fri. Viewing for my dad is Tues & the funeral is Wed (3 hrs away from me in NW Ohio). Anyway, seeing as I won't be home until late Wed or early Thurs I told both parents Friday was the day I would be available. They both seemed fine with that. Would you expect payment for your time off? I am not as I'm guessing they will need to find back-up care or take time off themselves. Does anyone have this in their policies/contract and if so how is it worded?

[alyssyn]

Sorry I don't have an answer for your question, I'm still in the process of starting my daycare. I just wanted to say I'm very sorry about your dad.

[mac60]

I am so sorry to hear that your dad has passed away.

I don't have anything about it in my handbook. I will say that when both my dad and my stepdad died, I took 2 days off for each, and most families paid me for it, some didn't. I think it will depend on the families and how caring they truly are.

I remember one time a mom asked if she owed me for a day I took off, I simply said that is her choice. I put the choice back into her hands.....

[DBug]

I am so sorry for your loss! I found myself in a similar position just a few weeks ago. My mom passed away, and I ended up taking 4 days off (with a weekend in between) to help with all of the planning and so on. She was battling cancer, so I had warned my parents that this may happen. They were all very sympathetic and brought cards and flowers on the first day back. My policy is that I charge when kids are absent because of the parent's choice (only half-rate for sick days, though), but when I choose to take days off, they don't pay. None of them offered to pay me for the days off, but then again, they all know my policy. I had set them up with a back-up if they chose to use her, so they would have been paying her or someone else while I was off.

I ended up losing about $500 with those 4 days off, and with the extra expenses, I'm still trying to get back on track with my budget. But I don't regret taking those days off by any means, and I kind of chalk it up to being part of the business.

So, it depends on what your policy is, whether you charge or not. But if parents had to pay for someone else to watch their kids, I'd hesitate to charge them again.

My thoughts are with you & your family!

[Persephone]

I don't think that you should charge for that time off. If they want to pay you, that's fine. But if they ask they shouldn't have too.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[momofboys]

I don't think that you should charge for that time off. If they want to pay you, that's fine. But if they ask they shouldn't have too.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I don't think I will charge them but I will not be surprised if they offer to pay anyway. Thank you for all your kind thoughts.

[momofboys]

I am so sorry for your loss! I found myself in a similar position just a few weeks ago. My mom passed away, and I ended up taking 4 days off (with a weekend in between) to help with all of the planning and so on. She was battling cancer, so I had warned my parents that this may happen. They were all very sympathetic and brought cards and flowers on the first day back. My policy is that I charge when kids are absent because of the parent's choice (only half-rate for sick days, though), but when I choose to take days off, they don't pay. None of them offered to pay me for the days off, but then again, they all know my policy. I had set them up with a back-up if they chose to use her, so they would have been paying her or someone else while I was off.

I ended up losing about $500 with those 4 days off, and with the extra expenses, I'm still trying to get back on track with my budget. But I don't regret taking those days off by any means, and I kind of chalk it up to being part of the business.

So, it depends on what your policy is, whether you charge or not. But if parents had to pay for someone else to watch their kids, I'd hesitate to charge them again.

My thoughts are with you & your family!

I'm sorry to hear about your mom.

[originalkat]

I am so sorry to hear about you dad.

Personal Leave

Green Gate Preschool is allotted up to five (5) paid personal days per calendar year for illness, training, or family emergencies. Parents are responsible for making alternate arrangements for childcare on provider’s personal days.

I just put this in my Parent Handbook for 2010. This way you have certain number of days allotted in case of situations like this. However, any days beyond the 5 personal days would be unpaid.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I just wanted to add my condolences here. So sorry for your loss.

[Liliya]

That happened to me in November 2009, My mom passed away.
It happend on Friday before Thanskgiving week.
I took a Thanksgiving week off.
I did not ask for payment and I do not have anything about that in my contract,
Even though Thanksgiving day is my paid Holiday,no one paid for that day either,but one family paid for a whole week.
So,I think in that situation it is up to families.
You just never know what God has in store for us and you can not put everything in your contract.

[momma2girls]

So sorry about your loss!!
I don't have anything in my contract regarding a family's death. I do have if I have to take a day off or any reason, it will either come out of my vac. days or it will be unpaid. I have never had to take off, other than vac. days.

[booroo]

Sorry about your loss. I would think about a contract update, just to clearify this in the future.

[momma2girls]

Do other daycare providers have personal days or sick days as well as vac. days? Or is this your vac. days?

[tenderhearts]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I would not charge my families for these days and I know that none of mine would offer.

[originalkat]

I have 2 weeks of unpaid Vacation per year.
I have 5 Paid Personal/sick days per year.
I give the parents 1 week vacation time and they do not have to pay(Must be taken in 5 consecutive days).
I have 10 Paid Holidays
New Years Day
President's Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving and Day After
Christmas Day