Charging on Holidays

[momofboys]

LOL!! This is funny...let's really figure this out if you want to consider minimum wage.
Let's say you are only open 40 hours per week at $7 an hour equaling $280.00 per week. And let's say you have 5 children in your care...so really that would only be $56 per child...per week. That would be really affordable!!! ::

Not everyone cares for that many children or all on a full-time basis. Let's see, this fall I will make a whopping $250/week for a total of 45 hrs of care. That is not per child. I will have two full-time kids & one SA B & A school. I only wish I made $7/hr. . . . than I could bring in over $300. As it is I make about $5.50/hr total give or take a few pennies.:: Not bad money, I guess considering I get to be home w/my toddler & it's not like I am complaining. I LOVE what I do, I have a four year degree so I could probably easily get a good job & maybe will do that when my youngest reaches school-age. But to me it's more important to be home with my kids. Some providers certainly do make good $$$ doing care but that should not be a determining factor in whether they get a paid holiday or not.

[DWTC]

Not everyone cares for that many children or all on a full-time basis. Let's see, this fall I will make a whopping $250/week for a total of 45 hrs of care. That is not per child. I will have two full-time kids & one SA B & A school. I only wish I made $7/hr. . . . than I could bring in over $300. As it is I make about $5.50/hr total give or take a few pennies.:: Not bad money, I guess considering I get to be home w/my toddler & it's not like I am complaining. I LOVE what I do, I have a four year degree so I could probably easily get a good job & maybe will do that when my youngest reaches school-age. But to me it's more important to be home with my kids. Some providers certainly do make good $$$ doing care but that should not be a determining factor in whether they get a paid holiday or not.

I just thought it was a bad example to use why daycare providers should get paid for holidays. I think that if a child is usually in care the day of the holiday, then the daycare provider should get the day off paid!!

It's just like a lot of at home businesses...you have to balance everything out to make it work. People usually don't understand what it takes to run a business...for example, I'm starting to photograph weddings and I hear a lot of people complain about how expensive it is to hire a wedding photographer. They don't understand because they only see the photographer there for about 6 -8 hours, but it usually takes on average 30 hours to complete a wedding. So should the photographer only get paid for the 6-8 hours? That's how photography businesses go out of business, they wouldn't even have enough money to cover expenses.

[Unregistered]

Specific Question

There is no way I can read aaalll of the responses on here, but I've got a specific case that I'd like an opinion on from the providers. My mom did daycare out of her home for 20+ years as I was growing up so I am completely sympathetic to having benefits as a provider.

My son is now in daycare and I absolutely love where I send him. Unfortunately, I got the schedule for Oct 2010- August 2011 the other day when I picked him up and was a tad dismayed. There are a total of 17 days where the daycare will be closed in less than a year. I have absolutely zero problem with the daycare being paid for regular holidays such as Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day and Good Friday even. I even understand 2-3 teaching days for the teachers to have training. But this year they are taking Dec. 23, 24th, and the following Monday off for Christmas, and the same with New Year's Eve. Also, they are taking two full days off for Mardi Gras. We are in Louisiana but NOT in New Orleans so none of the surrounding businesses will be closed for Mardi Gras. They are also scheduling around 6 days of training this year. As I said earlier, I really truly have no problem with them getting paid holidays. But I do know for a fact that the women who are employed there are not being paid for all of the holidays they are closing. So when it comes down to the it, the daycare is making pure profit while I am forced to find other means. My husband and I typically can work something out with a family member because we are *lucky*. What do parents do who live in a city that they have no family? Am I wrong for thinking they are being excessive? I know I really don't mind them being closed and being paid for days that I am also off of work...but it gets to be very challenging when they are taking days off that most normal people do not have off of work.

If you do agree with me, how would I approach the daycare without offending? I am very, very happy with the services they provide, just wish I didn't feel as though the parents there are being taken advantage of.

[Todd McCullough]

I'm glad there have been so many replies to this.

I found this with a search in Google - ""legal to charge" "daycare" holiday ontario"

Neither I nor my wife get paid holidays. Neither I nor my wife get benefits. I have in the past, with a few former employers, but it's not the case now.

I do not believe that it is right to charge for holidays. I understand you are running a business (from all estimates around here a lucrative one I might add) and you deserve to make money too for services offered. It's option to add it to your contract, and it's a parents option to accept the contract, or move on.

But, I think you can use your own judgement and cut some of your clients some slack. Not everyone has got it so easy at the moment. People are out of jobs all over, if you don't ease off and continue to think of the parents who come to you as "whiners" (as some of you have put it) than you might very well be faced with unemployment as well.

In my province, in Canada, I think there needs to be more regulation. I also think that the government needs to kick in financing to offset the costs to parents.

That way you get your paid vacation that you assume I get as well, and I will be able to pay my bills and feed my kids and hope to get some stress free days in the future.

[Jewels]

Todd I agree with you from a provider, I do charge for holidays, But I would also choose to not charge someone, if they told me they did not get paid that day at their work, However for the parents that do get paid holidays, I would expect them to pay me, I have one child here who is on governments assistance, And they do not pay for holidays, so I could charge the family, but I choose not to, because I know that the mom does not recieve paid days off, A couple weeks ago, I had a family that had to take their kid out for the week because they couldnt afford daycare, And though it can't be a regular thing, because I could fill that spot with someone else, I was fine with it that time, I also agree that there is alot of harsh talk towards parents here!

[MommyMuffin]

I agree with Jewels, I have paid holidays, 10 per year. It is nice to have time with family. I know not everyone gets that time off. If there was a situation where a parent felt they could not pay for a holiday then I would talk with them about it and arrange something. I think it helps providers to de-stress and prevent burnout. Some providers cannot go without pay for 1 day and budget with that in mind. For example, thanksgiving is coming up and it is during the week. Some families have the day before off as well. If I did not have paid holiday my income for the month of november would be 200 less. Which to me is my car payment for the month.

[Todd McCullough]

Hi Jewels.
Its nice to see that there are providers out there, who understand that at the end of the day, they are still running a business. Who can value their customers.

A little bit more of what I was thinking earlier...

It irks me that there is an attitude prevalent among many providers, that they are doing a FAVOUR (Canadian spelling eh!) for me and the other parents.

However, it's a service and unfortunately you are going to get a lot of BAD customers that feel that they never get enough for what they pay for. Thems the breaks.

All I ask is that you don't take for granted those of us who appreciate what you're doing. (nights and weekends are plenty enough, though I would happily take more I never complain about my service, although it would be nice to get a weekly status report of what's happening in my little mans daily life.

Hell, I think its sad the girl who works for the day care and looks after my son, has to leave her 1 yr old to go and work looking after other peoples kids! You guys deserve compensation too.

So I get it. You deserve your cake and you should eat it too. Not everyone has cake though! My family's finances have been a roller coaster for the last year and half for example.

Anyways. The costs just add up when you're in a corner.

[DBug]

Todd, it's so nice to see a fellow Canadian on these boards! There are a few of us, but it's always nice to meet another . I'm in Ontario too, near Barrie. I'm a home daycare provider, and I'm not licensed. You mentioned government help with daycare -- have you looked into subsidization? Licensed providers can accept subsidized clients, and from the rates I've seen for my county, they make more doing it than I do accepting un-subsidized clients. I'm pretty sure you do pay for stats with licensed providers, but a percentage of that would, of course, be covered.

On a personal note, I have 3 kids, and there's no way it makes financial sense for me to go to work AND pay for daycare (read: I wouldn't be able to pay the rates I charge). That's why I chose this line of work, and believe me, there's a huge demand for it around here. The bottom line may be something you and your wife may want to seriously consider in figuring out the whole daycare situation. If there's any way to split shifts or job share, it may be worth the consideration. Just my two cents, for what it's worth .

[Todd McCullough]

Hi DBug and thanks.

I'll look into the subsidizing. Based on our current income we could use all the help we can get. Hopefully soon though, things turn around for me again.

My wife is studying to be a nurse right now. But had to put it off for now because we're expecting a second stork bundle. We're not the greatest at family planning!

We're against the ropes right now, but I think we're going to win by TKO soon enough.

Cheers!

[cherryhill]

I don't understand why parents are complaining about paying holidays if it is in the contract. This should be questioned before care starts. If they have a problem they can go else where and find care that does not charge for Holidays. It is that simple.

[beach_grl]

I charge for the major holidays (I don't take federal holidays) I do NOT charge if I go on vacation. I DO charge if you go on vacation, or if your child is ill and not in my care.

Here is how I see it: If I am here, and open for business, I expect to be paid. What if you went to work one day, and your boss says " Hey, we don't need you today. Oh, and we are not paying you, either." It would be a little irritating, wouldn't it?

It is in my contract that if the full weekly rate is not paid, I reserve the right to fill your child's spot and terminate services. I am only allowed a certain # of children, and I need to know how much I am making per week to budget my bills.

[Unregistered]

I agree that childcare providers should get paid for holidays, they take fare of our most precious possessions, but their is a better way to answer this question... you sound so angry I would be afraid of leaving my children with you. Beside you have to think that not everyone gets paid salary or holiday/vacation time, some people are just making minimum wage in which case it may be a financial stress to have to pay holiday time when they are not making extra money. Remember this forum is here to help and answer everyones questions... be nice and polite.

[Unregistered]

Originally Posted by Unregistered
Exactly my thoughts *Interested*
"Sometimes I think parents whine more than children. You are paying for the slot, not for the hour. If you want it spelled out.... you have a yearly flat rate. It is broken down for your convenience. Or would you rather pay by the year?? The only thing to change this is what the policy makes exceptions to. Have you ever heard of salary pay? No matter how many hours you work, it is a flat pay. It is the same principle. Got a problem? Start your own day care and see what we are talking about, then maybe you would understand better. If we catered to everyones whims, we would watch your precious for free 24/7. "

My, you sound like a provider who really doesn't like parents or children... Maybe time to find a new profession? I am a healthcare professional and think it is completely fair to provide my childcare provider for the same paid holidays that most other professionals receive.. These would be Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.. But, we had one who wanted paid time off for every school vacation day, including the 2 weeks off at Christmas paid! This is an extreme hardship on parents who must pay "double" and find someone else to cover those days. Many of these parents aren't lucky enough to be getting ANY paid holidays of their own... Of the ones who are, only parents who happen to be school teachers are getting as many paid holidays as this childcare provider. (We found someone new). If this woman wants so many paid holidays she should go back to college and get a teaching degree.

I have to agree with the second one I am independent contractor / owner. I get paid when I work and not on my time off, My friend called me all pi$$ed off that she have to work and her daycare is taking the day off on black Friday to go shopping, now you tell me HOW IS THAT COOL?? No you don't have to I will IT's NOT and she is not paying.

[Unregistered]

I have to agree with the second one I am independent contractor / owner. I get paid when I work and not on my time off, My friend called me all pi$$ed off that she have to work and her daycare is taking the day off on black Friday to go shopping, now you tell me HOW IS THAT COOL?? No you don't have to I will IT's NOT and she is not paying.

Seriously, I have to ask...

How is it cool that parents sign a contract and then continue to complain when the contents of said contract are enforced. Let me tell you....IT'S NOT.

Parents are free to choose daycare that meets their needs. If it is your friends need is to have a daycare that is open on Black Friday, then she should have found one of those!!!

Good grief.

[Unregistered]

Paid Holidays

Do you get paid for your holidays? .

I don't get paid for holidays, so I now have to have a day off and not get paid and on top of that I have to pay someone else to have a paid day off, I do value what they provide but it seems a little much.