Daycare Provider Paid Time Off

[AnneCordelia]

To give perspective. I charge $175/week and have 5 kids in care. After food, craft supplies, cleaning supplies, extra hydro/electricity, equipment (strollers, PNPs) and taxes, last year I made just less than $9/hour for my 60 hour work week (only 50 of those hours are spent with the children). That is less than minimum wage for my area, with me working at maximum capacity.

[Unregistered]

I don't want to sound flippant about it, but children are not a "limited commodity".....people are always having kids, and always needing daycare. If they're willing to switch DC's over a $5/week rate increase, good riddance to them, they were looking for a reason anyways.

Even in these "hard economic times", our phone is ringing at least twice per week with someone seeking child care....many times, we have to turn them away, just because it won't work out (numbers, they want the moon and stars, the parents just come off as flakes, etc).

If I may ask do you have any marketing tips. I am currently going through the process of becoming licenced and would like to know what marketing stratgies work, Flyers, Craiglist ads, pennysavers or local grocery store community bulliton boards.

[MarinaVanessa]

If I may ask do you have any marketing tips. I am currently going through the process of becoming licenced and would like to know what marketing stratgies work, Flyers, Craiglist ads, pennysavers or local grocery store community bulliton boards.

Shameless Plug

How to Advertise Your Daycare

[Unregistered]

Wrong...

Many, many companies pay for someone else to do a job that needs to be done when someone is on vacation or off of work sick.

In fact, I can't think of many companies that don't.

Do you have a paid vacation? Do you have paid sick days at work?
Why shouldn't a provider have those same benefits?

Companies don't pay EXTRA for someone else to do your work when you're on vacation.
Others - ALREADY EMPLOYED with the company does your job while you vacation. Come on, you know this. Companies don't go and hire....or pay extra money for someone to do your job while you're out.

The same should apply to child care providers. They should have someone else to do the job. Someone whom they are to pay after we pay them.

[Unregistered]

Most self employed people make much more than a daycare provider. My plumber charges $75 per hour, my handyman over $35 per hour, me a dc provider.....I get less than $1.75 per hour to care for your child, and I supply care, love, food, activities, etc. If you have a good daycare provider, be thankful and treat her nice, we deserve it, just like you think you deserve paid vacations, paid sick days, paid time off for a family death, etc. The person you leave your child with should be very important to you.

Anology to your quote:

I am a clothing boutique owner. I will make $100.00 from selling those pants. Nevermind the other five sets of pants that I also make $100.00 from selling.


You keep six children (at least). That would total about $10.50 an hour. There are many people who make this kind of money and NEVER GET PAID VACATIONS. I agree with what someone said earlier.... If you want these extended paid vacations, sick time, or holidays you should go back to school. Pay for a few school loans. And, get a teaching degree. Problem solved. You're still around children...taking care of children...and you have all your paid vacations!!

[Unregistered]

Good point...but not good enough

I see what you are getting at and your are correct to a point.

I am a business owner and my business charges XX amount of dollars per month. When your child goes off to college you will pay tuition which will not be reduced because the professor cancelled class because of weather, illness or holiday. My daughters gymnastics club charges me $177 per month. Her class is offered 2x per week which we pay regardless of actual sessions she attends each month or if the class is cancelled for some reason or happens to fall on a holiday.

But, here is the most important thing I can tell you as a provider. READ your contract. If you don't like the terms of the contract, DO NOT sign it. If you sign the contract abide by the terms of said contract and stop complaining.

I will never understand why people continue to question the terms of a contract that they themselves signed!!!

A professor is allowed so many sick days too...or even vacation days. But, the college will supply a teacher for those days (most of the time) at no extra expense to me. My child (in college) will continue with class as usual regardless of a professor's PTO. Also, children participating in extra curriculum activities are usually compensated for the services agreed upon and not received. You know this, I'm sure.

People should not sign contracts they don't agree with. Or, mark through terms you do not agree with. Although, desperate sometimes calls for desperate measures.

[WDW]

Companies don't pay EXTRA for someone else to do your work when you're on vacation.
Others - ALREADY EMPLOYED with the company does your job while you vacation. Come on, you know this. Companies don't go and hire....or pay extra money for someone to do your job while you're out.

The same should apply to child care providers. They should have someone else to do the job. Someone whom they are to pay after we pay them.

Most of us won't do this as we are still ultimately responsible for the children when someone we've chosen to take care of them in our place is in charge. If something were to happen while we were away, we would be responsible. That is why back up care is the parent's responsibility.

Also, you need to remember that you are not paying us 10.50 an hour, or anything close. More like 2 to 3 an hour if that... and if you can't afford to pay double for a few days then maybe you should plan ahead and stay home.

[kitykids3]

Anology to your quote:

I am a clothing boutique owner. I will make $100.00 from selling those pants. Nevermind the other five sets of pants that I also make $100.00 from selling.


You keep six children (at least). That would total about $10.50 an hour. There are many people who make this kind of money and NEVER GET PAID VACATIONS. I agree with what someone said earlier.... If you want these extended paid vacations, sick time, or holidays you should go back to school. Pay for a few school loans. And, get a teaching degree. Problem solved. You're still around children...taking care of children...and you have all your paid vacations!!

Some of us do have teaching degrees, with honors, and are paying back student loans.
However, I chose to work with younger kids as those first 3-5 years will make much more impact on their life than if I were to work at a school.
My clients appreciate my educational background and the high quality care their kiddos receive and therefore have no problem paying me 10 days per year.
Many providers even without degrees still provide great care and deserve time off to recharge to be able to take care of 'your most valuable possession.'

[Unregistered]

Vacation days

Many, many companies pay for someone else to do a job that needs to be done when someone is on vacation or off of work sick.

In fact, I can't think of many companies that don't.

Do you have a paid vacation? Do you have paid sick days at work?
Why shouldn't a provider have those same benefits?

The point is that if providers want the same benefits the corporations provide, then go work for a corporation! i paid my daycare provider (who only watches my two kids) for a total of 2 1/2 months of paid time-off! 3 weeks which we were not obligated to pay for since no where in the contract does it state she gets paid for time-off requested by her. She told my wife yes she gets paid 1/2 the rate for time off, however, I just found my contract and read through it, should I go back and request those funds back? The point is daycare providers work for us and should not abuse time off and we should show compassion as well since they are reliant on these checks. You need to talk to your provider to clear up what is and is not in the contract. In my case, I met with my provider and had no problem adding clause alloting the provider 5 paid days (at normal rate) with additional days within the same calendar year not requiring payment. Also stating that its the 'client's responsibility to find and fund alternative care during that time.

[Blackcat31]

The point is that if providers want the same benefits the corporations provide, then go work for a corporation! i paid my daycare provider (who only watches my two kids) for a total of 2 1/2 months of paid time-off! 3 weeks which we were not obligated to pay for since no where in the contract does it state she gets paid for time-off requested by her. She told my wife yes she gets paid 1/2 the rate for time off, however, I just found my contract and read through it, should I go back and request those funds back? The point is daycare providers work for us and should not abuse time off and we should show compassion as well since they are reliant on these checks. You need to talk to your provider to clear up what is and is not in the contract. In my case, I met with my provider and had no problem adding clause alloting the provider 5 paid days (at normal rate) with additional days within the same calendar year not requiring payment. Also stating that its the 'client's responsibility to find and fund alternative care during that time.

Unless you are paying for my social security taxes, medical and retirement expenses, I do NOT work for any of my parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are unhappy with your provider's payment policies regarding closed days, find a new one but it would probably be a smart move on your part to lose the "daycare providers work for us" attitude!

Wow! just wow!!!!

[kitykids3]

Unless you are paying for my social security taxes, medical and retirement expenses, I do NOT work for any of my parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are unhappy with your provider's payment policies regarding closed days, find a new one but it would probably be a smart move on your part to lose the "daycare providers work for us" attitude!

Wow! just wow!!!!

DITTO!
I did not set up a business to work for parents. They choose my service that I offer. And not all providers abuse their privilege of time off. In fact, many try to take little time off knowing that it inconveniences parents, but we need recharging time off.

If you want someone to 'work for you,' then hire a nanny to come to your home, pay her 3 times as much and for her taxes and health insurance.

[WDW]

DITTO!
I did not set up a business to work for parents. They choose my service that I offer. And not all providers abuse their privilege of time off. In fact, many try to take little time off knowing that it inconveniences parents, but we need recharging time off.

If you want someone to 'work for you,' then hire a nanny to come to your home, pay her 3 times as much and for her taxes and health insurance.

[Patches]

Actually....

Companies don't pay EXTRA for someone else to do your work when you're on vacation.
Others - ALREADY EMPLOYED with the company does your job while you vacation. Come on, you know this. Companies don't go and hire....or pay extra money for someone to do your job while you're out.

The same should apply to child care providers. They should have someone else to do the job. Someone whom they are to pay after we pay them.

Every single company I've ever worked for has, yes, used already employed people to cover for someone when they are on vacation and such.
HOWEVER, they have these people(usually more than one person) work extra hours, which means EXTRA money, usually overtime pay.

And you want to know why they pay EXTRA (and they do pay extra) for that employee to have a paid vacation? Because they value the employee and they work he/she does enough to let them have tome to recharge/relax so they CAN keep up the good work.

[Unregistered]

I figured out how much I would make with parents paying for 52 weeks/year. Divided that by 50 weeks/year and that's how much parents pay, rounded up to an even dollar amount per month. I bank the "extra." So my holidays are covered, although it doesn't say so in the contract.


For all of you complaining, if you signed a contract you need to deal with it. If you don't like the terms of care.. go somewhere else.

[Unregistered]

SELF EMPLOYED ppl do not get fortune 500 benefits!

Holdy cow! How funny are you?! Immoral??? Hahahahah!!! You are welcome to choose a provider who doesn't charge for vacation time...certainly your right but THAT is where your rights end. My business, my rules.

And, for the record...When you pay tuition for private school, or college, you DO NOT get a discount when school is closed for whatever reason....are they immoral too or just running a PROFITABLE busines?

First of all, as a self-employed person you are NOT ENTITLED to paid holidays, vacation and sick days, and I think its greedy to think you do. It is immoral. Private schooling is by no means the same type of "service" you are paying for an education, and at most schools if you have a weather emergency or any other unplanned emergency the day is made up at the end of the year. That's like saying if the teacher calls in sick the parents have to pay the teacher her sick day and pay the substitute for the day. The parents don't the company (the school) does. With that being said, you are running a small company, you are the CEO, you are responsible for paying yourself that sick and vacation time...I hope that make sense.

I'm so sick of seeing people complain about paying for groceries and utilities they use for their business. I also have expenses, like a reliable vehicle, vehicle upkeep, gas, business attire..I don't expect my company to pay for those expenses because its part of the job.