Charging on Holidays

[Cat Herder]

I've worked at child care centers and I think charging for holidays is really just a way for the center's owner to collect extra money. At my center, the parents paid a flat weekly rate even for the weeks that had a holiday or inclement weather. Yet, all of the employees were hourly so we were not paid for the holiday or day off. The child care owner just collected that extra money from that day off and did not have to pay anyone but herself (she was also the director).

I don't understand when people say "well you're salaried in your job and get paid for the holiday so you should pay". That would be a valid point if the employees at the center were salaried which they aren't. You're only paying the greedy owner. BTW I have no children, just a former child care worker.

The issue, most likely, has nothing to do with payroll. More likely it is due to mortgage, business taxes, insurances, supplies, maintenance, etc. Payroll, in my experience, was not the biggest expense for owners. It was already figured into the total annual expenses, before deciding on tuition rate. The way to save money was to hire less experienced providers for less pay.

[Leigh]

The issue, most likely, has nothing to do with payroll. More likely it is due to mortgage, business taxes, insurances, supplies, maintenance, etc. Payroll, in my experience, was not the biggest expense for owners. It was already figured into the total annual expenses, before deciding on tuition rate. The way to save money was to hire less experienced providers for less pay.

Exactly this. You figure rates by ANNUAL expenses and break it up into weekly (or whatever) payments. If I were to NOT charge for days off, I'd have to build those expenses into my rates to cover them. I STILL need the same amount annually to meet my expenses and pay myself a salary.

[hwichlaz]

I don't charge if I'm closed, but that's because the majority of my clients have to then pay someone else to care for their kids. Most are deputies, firefighters, etc. BUT, I'm open for holidays that aren't generally celebrated....so in those instances I charge everyone normally scheduled for that day. Basically....if I'm open I get paid, if I close I do not.

This is the norm where I live, or I'd do it differently. Unfortunately for me, it's what the market supports.

[Cat Herder]

I don't charge if I'm closed, but that's because the majority of my clients have to then pay someone else to care for their kids. Most are deputies, firefighters, etc. BUT, I'm open for holidays that aren't generally celebrated....so in those instances I charge everyone normally scheduled for that day. Basically....if I'm open I get paid, if I close I do not.

This is the norm where I live, or I'd do it differently. Unfortunately for me, it's what the market supports.

Same here. That is why my rates are based on a 50 week tuition year, instead of a 52 week calendar year. The result is the same; I am paid for my two week vacation.

You live, you learn, you manage your risk.

[Unregistered]

I get it, but I feel like daycares take advantage of this, having days off such as good friday, black Friday? And why in the world does a daycare need "inservice " day?

[bklsmum]

I get it, but I feel like daycares take advantage of this, having days off such as good friday, black Friday? And why in the world does a daycare need "inservice " day?

Many people observe Good Friday as a holy day and most people have black Friday off. As far as "inservice" days, daycares have required training they have to do and some are only offered during working hours.

[Blackcat31]

I get it, but I feel like daycares take advantage of this, having days off such as good friday, black Friday? And why in the world does a daycare need "inservice " day?

Daycare's taking advantage?.... hardly. There is so much more to this business that you (general you as a client) see/understands.

I am open and care for kids 50 hours a week

I spend approximately 20 hours a week doing other daycare related things (prepping, trainings, shopping, cleaning etc)

There is a lot more to operating a business than just those times in which we are caring for the kids.

I'd rather take a Wednesday or a random Monday off but instead I try to ease the issue closing causes for clients and close during days where most families are off themselves or can easily find alternate care. Those days are usually holidays or days near holidays.

[Mike]

There is a lot more to operating a business than just those times in which we are caring for the kids.

A lot of people don't understand how business works. The hours we are doing something for them is our only working hours.

In my reno business, I sometimes work by the hour. I learned long ago that even if I know what materials I will need for the day, don't get that, then go to work. Go to the job site first, then go back out to get materials. I've even had cases where I ran out to get materials in the middle of the day, and at the end of the day, they would say I only worked 7 hours because I was gone for an hour.

[Snowmom]

I get it, but I feel like daycares take advantage of this, having days off such as good friday, black Friday? And why in the world does a daycare need "inservice " day?

I include Good Friday in my 12 paid holidays off per year.
Good Friday is my Easter holiday.

I take 2 days at Thanksgiving to spend with my family. One of which is the day after Thanksgiving, which happens to be Black Friday...do I even care that the retail industry has dubbed it a name? Not even in the least.

One of the main reasons clients chose in-home daycares is the family feel (and the cheaper costs), yet don't expect us to actually HAVE family needs ourselves. I truly don't understand it.

[Jupadia]

I get it, but I feel like daycares take advantage of this, having days off such as good friday, black Friday? And why in the world does a daycare need "inservice " day?

It's not taking advantage when you have days off that are planned and listed in the contract. In fact I have both Easter Monday and good Friday off. Both days are listed in my contract and I get paid for them. I'm not overly religious but use the time to rest and recharge.

[LysesKids]

I get it, but I feel like daycares take advantage of this, having days off such as good friday, black Friday? And why in the world does a daycare need "inservice " day?

In service days usually means the provider is taking a state training that day... in some states weekdays are the only time classes are offered and most are mandatory if we want to stay licensed. My families all know the first week in January, when my scheduled days off are for the entire year, with the exception of maybe one or two classes by years end and some of us don't take Good Friday , Easter or even minor Federal Holidays off... we each run differently

[LouLou]

What about when I take my child to daycare on their scheduled day and they are "close" for staff conference and training without prior announcement.

[Blackcat31]

What about when I take my child to daycare on their scheduled day and they are "close" for staff conference and training without prior announcement.

Sounds like your daycare has issues with communication.
I'd discuss this with the director or the owner.
Parents have a right to know in advance which days the daycare will be open or closed.

[LysesKids]

Sounds like your daycare has issues with communication.
I'd discuss this with the director or the owner.
Parents have a right to know in advance which days the daycare will be open or closed.

The only exception is severe illness last minute like was my case the week... How did I know I would get Pneumonia and have to close no warning. The parents all knew I wasn't feeling well, but I tried to stay open anyway. They were the ones that finally got me to go to the Dr's

[storybookending]

I understand this is an old thread, I've actually read it a few times before. I started out just last summer. I didn't charge for holidays or limit their amount of days off which I have found to be a mistake.

Due to current ages I have 6 fillable spaces. I have 4 filled with children that have been here since the beginning not paying for holidays or days their children just don't come for whatever reason.

I have a sibling set ages 3 and 1. They do not attend on Mondays. I will grandfather them in and never ask them to pay for Mondays but after they age out I will only be taking full time children, or parents willing to pay the full weekly rate if they do have a day off. I may state when it is time to renew contracts that this family is only allowed 5 days off from their Tues-Friday schedule going forward. Mom was open to it when I started but I wasn't thinking long term and told her she didn't have to pay when they weren't here. I don't see myself ever charging this family for my holidays and I'll just consider them grandfathered in. As far as I know there are no plans for another child for this family. Mom said maybe if they had a different dad LOL.

My 3rd child is also 3. She is full time but does not pay for holidays or days mom has off. Mom honestly doesn't take off that much and when she does it is usually a day the schools are closed when I have the option of picking up the school aged older siblings of my youngest dcb. Next September she will start 4K and bus here in time for lunch and nap and honestly spend only 2-3 awake hours here before mom picks up. Her older brother did this last year and she paid for full days for him. I don't feel as bad losing money on the few days she's off because of this. I will probably never charge her holidays/days off. She's more than paid up considering the 4K schedule in this area. I assume this family is done having kids, mom has 4, dad has 13 including moms two youngest.. but honestly this fact right here and the fact that I never asked has me wondering some days.

My last of the original 4 is my niece, her mother is also my best friend. Doesn't pay when she's off, doesn't pay holidays, doesn't pay the whole month of August when she's off. I lose so much money having her here. I would never dream of asking them to pay any of this time, although some days I do hold a little bit of resentment. This child is a handful but honestly she's the reason I started daycare and I love her more than anything else in this world. Serious talks will be had when they decide to have a second child. I can't afford to take a loss like this on two children.

The above 4 children also pay $2 less a day than all future enrollees that did not start the summer I opened my doors.

Then there is the ones that didn't start that summer..

About 6 months in to starting daycare I started an infant. He is currently 9.5 months old. I stupidly cannot remember what is in that contract as I just edited the master document and didn't save a copy of what they had signed. Live and learn. I believe I had holidays paid. Mom paid for Memorial Day and Labor Day. The week of the 4th of July I also took off Monday the 3rd. She asked me that Friday what she owed and I just charged her for 3 days so didn't take the 4th paid. I don't charge for any extra days I take off other than the holidays listed in the contract and got myself all confused having everyone on different contracts. All contracts renew at the New Year so I will make sure I have it right this time.
In addition to holidays this child gets 10 days off for whatever reason that the parents do not have to pay. The child has missed 3 days of those 10 so far. They reset in January and do not roll over. Baby was not planned has two older siblings in elementary school and mom got her tubes tied so there will not be another for this family.

My 6th child just started Sept 1st. Had to pay Labor Day having just started the Friday before. Also gets 10 whatever unpaid days. All other holidays listed in my contract are paid. Mom mentioned that dad wants another. He has a high schooler and they have a 7 year old and the 2 year old together.

Still learning as I go about this! Sorry for the long post and props to anyone who made it through. I feel the current contract that I have my 6th child on now is great thanks to things I have read on this site. It'll just be a few years of losing income on my first few families. I do owe them a lot for helping me open my doors, I literally didn't even have furniture when I started and the kids ate at an outdoor table in my dining room until that all came in. I might've walked in my house if I were them and walked right out.