Provider's PAID Vacation?

[kitykids3]

To answer your first question, I have 10 paid days a year and paid holidays which are all listed in the contract. If I need a second week of vacation or more 'sick' days etc, then I don't make parents pay for them. I've never gone over 1 week paid vaca and 5 sick days, but if I did, that would not be right for me to charge them.

Second, I can't believe she went to the work of the client. No way. Very unprofessional (and looks desperate). Payday for my clients is on Fridays by 5:30pm. If I am closed for vaca, sick whatever, then I have a locked drop box outside they can drop off in. If I will be closed friday and know ahead of time, I ask parents to bring check on Thursdays. I still don't put them in the bank til at least Saturday, and if they forget until Friday I won't charge late fees. Only after Friday. Having the locked drop box and cameras outside makes it easier for them and me.

The cash thing seems a little off to me too. I personally like checks, it makes recordkeeping easier, but I could kind of see taking cash only if burned before. I have been, but I don't make everyone suffer because of that. Does she at least give you signed receipts so you can have your proof you paid??

If someone burns me with a check, then I have in my policies that I have the right to make them pay in cash from that point forward, but just that family, not everyone. Has she ever given you a reason or have you asked her? I hope you are at least getting receipts. As far as credit cards, it's normal for most family providers not to accept them. Some do, more don't. Some take electronic payments other ways too.

You don't sound whiny and if you aren't the only one unhappy, perhaps all you parents should approach her and see if something changes. Of course, don't make it feel like you're ganging up on her, but she needs to somehow know that you aren't the only one unhappy with these issues. Good luck.

[Thriftylady]

I can't imagine going to the workplace or even the home of a client looking for payment. I pretty much am on a cash system, because it costs so darn much for me if a check bounces. My bank (like most others) takes the money back out of my account and charges me a hefty fee and if that makes my account overdrafted and other things bounce, I have to pay fees on each of those also. So I could have several late fees in a day due to it. I do accept checks from one parent right now (well grandparent really), because she has proven herself reliable to me and I trust her.

[childcaremom]

Thanks for replies!!!! I like how you all run your payment plans. One if the issues I know some of the other parents run into is payment method. Our provider ONLY accepts cash, no check, transfer, or even one of those little card readers for smart phones. Hence while I pay a month in advance, because like the family I stated above, they have to remember to stop at the bank either on Friday night or Saturday so they have the cash for the provider on Monday. I can understand the provider maybe not taking a check if they have gotten burned in the past, but it sure doesn't make it easier.

BTW I am really not trying to bash my provider, and I know this sounds like I am whining, I promise I am not, because we do like do like her with our children.

If you are happy with everything else, I would ask her to have a sit down with you to clarify the issues you have concerns with. Good luck!

[Unregistered]

Paying for Daycare when your provider is on vaca

To All Day Care Providers. This is why it is ridiculous to charge for your vacation days. You are not an employee. You are self-employed. And in return for all of the decisions you get to make as a self-employed person, you give up certain advantages of being an employee. I do not pay my various contractors (through my work) for work not performed. I am fine paying for days when my kids are sick, as they are taking up spots in daycare. I do not feel it is right to ask for your customers to pay for your time off, as well as, either take their time off around your schedule or pay a second source to do the job you otherwise would have. When I use my PTO at work, my employer does not have to pay a second person to do the work when I am off.

[Blackcat31]

To All Day Care Providers. This is why it is ridiculous to charge for your vacation days. You are not an employee. You are self-employed. And in return for all of the decisions you get to make as a self-employed person, you give up certain advantages of being an employee. I do not pay my various contractors (through my work) for work not performed. I am fine paying for days when my kids are sick, as they are taking up spots in daycare. I do not feel it is right to ask for your customers to pay for your time off, as well as, either take their time off around your schedule or pay a second source to do the job you otherwise would have. When I use my PTO at work, my employer does not have to pay a second person to do the work when I am off.

Bummer.... sounds like you should consider becoming a child care provider so you can get paid for your days off.

[daycarediva]

To All Day Care Providers. This is why it is ridiculous to charge for your vacation days. You are not an employee. You are self-employed. And in return for all of the decisions you get to make as a self-employed person, you give up certain advantages of being an employee. I do not pay my various contractors (through my work) for work not performed. I am fine paying for days when my kids are sick, as they are taking up spots in daycare. I do not feel it is right to ask for your customers to pay for your time off, as well as, either take their time off around your schedule or pay a second source to do the job you otherwise would have. When I use my PTO at work, my employer does not have to pay a second person to do the work when I am off.

Well then how about you chose a provider who does not take paid days off?If I didn't take PTO, I would raise my rates significantly to offset it, so either way, you're paying additional. Contractors tack on extra to accommodate paid days off for themselves and their employees as well. (Husband owns a contracting business).

No, we aren't your employee but you contract for a service. If you don't like the contract, don't sign it and look elsewhere. It goes back to not signing a contract that you don't agree with. They are out there.

Depends on the job if they have to pay to replace you. Teachers, nurses, retail, child care off the top of my head....all need to pay an employee for PTO and pay another employee to work the hours.


Merry Christmas providers, here come the parents asking for 'breaks' months-years after signing a contract agreeing to it.

[bklsmum]

To All Day Care Providers. This is why it is ridiculous to charge for your vacation days. You are not an employee. You are self-employed. And in return for all of the decisions you get to make as a self-employed person, you give up certain advantages of being an employee. I do not pay my various contractors (through my work) for work not performed. I am fine paying for days when my kids are sick, as they are taking up spots in daycare. I do not feel it is right to ask for your customers to pay for your time off, as well as, either take their time off around your schedule or pay a second source to do the job you otherwise would have. When I use my PTO at work, my employer does not have to pay a second person to do the work when I am off.

As you said...We are NOT employees. We ARE self-employed. That means WE get to set our policies and do what we want with OUR business. If our customers don't like it they can go elsewhere but we get to decide what we want for OUR business and that may or may not include paid time off.

[bklsmum]

Well then how about you chose a provider who does not take paid days off?If I didn't take PTO, I would raise my rates significantly to offset it, so either way, you're paying additional. Contractors tack on extra to accommodate paid days off for themselves and their employees as well. (Husband owns a contracting business).

No, we aren't your employee but you contract for a service. If you don't like the contract, don't sign it and look elsewhere. It goes back to not signing a contract that you don't agree with. They are out there.

Depends on the job if they have to pay to replace you. Teachers, nurses, retail, child care off the top of my head....all need to pay an employee for PTO and pay another employee to work the hours.


Merry Christmas providers, here come the parents asking for 'breaks' months-years after signing a contract agreeing to it.

Gotta love how these things ALWAYS come up around holidays.

[Unregistered]

I am just laughing OUT LOUD!

Gym memberships, massage montly fee programs, cable companies, AND MORE: they all charge you for a flat premium that most likely, they know you won't use all of the benefit. They KNOW people sign up thinking "Oh yeah, I'll need to use this" (especially gym membership) and then they don't go. these companies make money off services they don't provide, and KNOW they are unlikely to provide the amount of service they charge for. The bottom line? If the consumer signs the contract, it's a fair practice and the consumer has to pay. Or else? They lose their ability to use the service and get sent to collections or court. Consumers don't like that? They shouldn't sign the dotted line!!!

The big difference here is that if someone signs up for a membership the opportunity is still there for them to use should they want to take advantage of it. They don't just close there doors for a week and expect you to pay. Your quoted contributor is spot on! And your argument doesn't hold water. I don't understand where you and other daycare providers think it is kosh to take advantage of people.

[Unregistered]

As you said...We are NOT employees. We ARE self-employed. That means WE get to set our policies and do what we want with OUR business. If our customers don't like it they can go elsewhere but we get to decide what we want for OUR business and that may or may not include paid time off.

And it sounds like you are all banding together to take advantage of people with a need. Pretty much no better than big pharma. "We know you need life support/cancer curing drugs. Here they are. They are just going to cost you $1000 a pill and you will need to take 1 a day. If you don't like ours go somewhere else." But then you and the other pharma companies have already agreed not to charge less than $1000 a pill.

[Blackcat31]

The big difference here is that if someone signs up for a membership the opportunity is still there for them to use should they want to take advantage of it. They don't just close there doors for a week and expect you to pay. Your quoted contributor is spot on! And your argument doesn't hold water. I don't understand where you and other daycare providers think it is kosh to take advantage of people.

And it sounds like you are all banding together to take advantage of people with a need. Pretty much no better than big pharma. "We know you need life support/cancer curing drugs. Here they are. They are just going to cost you $1000 a pill and you will need to take 1 a day. If you don't like ours go somewhere else." But then you and the other pharma companies have already agreed not to charge less than $1000 a pill.

You know what I don't understand?

Parents that don't think that every single dime they pay their provider is worth what they get in return.

Why do parents feel the need to complain about paying for the few days per year that their child care is closed for the holidays or for personal days.

Isn't YOUR child worth those few extra dollars?

Guess not, because I bet you've never spent this amount of time and/or effort whining to your mortgage, internet or cell phone company or your bank about the payments you pay them. Odds are you probably pay them more each month for something far less valuable than your own flesh and blood.

Shame on you!

Unless your provider plops your child in front of the TV all day long and feeds them nothing but PB&J's you really should be ashamed of yourself for complaining about someone that opens her home, her arms and her heart for YOUR CHILD on a daily basis.

I am truly saddened for every provider that has a client like this and my heart breaks for every child that has a parent that feels they pay the person that lovingly cares for them too much.

[Unregistered]

Myself, I think that charging a customer for a service that is not being provided is blasphemy. I myself own two businesses, one with 40 employees, so I hope that my opinion is taken into consideration.

My employees get vacation time, yes, it is an EMPLOYEE BENIFIT. But do I charge my customers to pay for my employees to go on vacation? Of course not!! This is an overhead cost to running a business. As a business owner, I am stuck with overhead costs.

As a dayhome, these people are running their own business. This cost should be their overhead as well. If they want to pay themselves during their vacation time, it should come out of their profit margins just like every other business out there. A business is a business, you provide a good or service. Charging customers for a service that isn't being provided is NOT RIGHT. It is poor business and, in my opinion, theft. Anyone in their right mind who signs a contract agreeing to this term is an idiot.

Wow, thank you so much for your business minded, yet ethical comment! I'm not sure why daycare providers aren't getting it. As a small business owner this is how I see it as well. But I am not out to take advantage of people in need.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Wow, thank you so much for your business minded, yet ethical comment! I'm not sure why daycare providers aren't getting it. As a small business owner this is how I see it as well. But I am not out to take advantage of people in need.

Apparently your childcare does not fit into that equation. Go ahead...take advantage of the one person who cares for your child! See how far that gets you!

[TheMisplacedMidwestMom]

I don't understand the problem. If you don't agree with the policy why send your child to that provider? Why get upset? Go to a center where they are always open, you pay more but thats so they can hire someone to cover the class when teacher takes PTO. If you don't like what's on TV get up and change the channel, don't cry about it.

[Josiegirl]

I don't understand the problem. If you don't agree with the policy why send your child to that provider? Why get upset? Go to a center where they are always open, you pay more but thats so they can hire someone to cover the class when teacher takes PTO. If you don't like what's on TV get up and change the channel, don't cry about it.

WELL SAID!!