Provider's PAID Vacation?

[Max]

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.

LMBO!!!! That's gotta be the most inaccurate comparison and worst argument ever. So bad it's hilarious :: ::

[Rockgirl]

LMBO!!!! That's gotta be the most inaccurate comparison and worst argument ever. So bad it's hilarious :: ::

My thoughts exactly!

[Blackcat31]

Every time I see this thread get revived, I am pretty sure I look like this:

[daycarediva]

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.

THANK YOU!

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.

As I stated above, my husband is a small business owner and his mark up is HUGE to include paid holidays for his employees. IF I were to raise my rates, by even .50/DAY it would be MORE to parents in the long run. SO no, I chose to just close and only charge the parents currently using those days instead of raising rates for everyone. Again, if you don't agree to a contract, go elsewhere. In my small town there are 10 providers and we all do things differently. Rate setting/price setting is illegal. We ARE NOT BIG PHARMA.

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.

Our local center closes for two weeks every year. I NEVER enroll a client seeking to start after New Years because I pretty much know they gave notice to avoid paying the pto and KNOW they will do the same to me.

BC- yes, that is the exact face I make, too. It's always around the holidays. So not only do we take time out of our day/take money out of our pockets to help make thoughtful gifts for the parents from the children, we get b&&&tched at for taking ANY days off. PAID OR NOT. It's a big screw you to the person who cares for your child like her own, for 50 hours a week, 50 weeks a year!

[Leigh]

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.

TO ALL PARENTS WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT PAYING ME ON DAYS OFF: I base my rates on how much I need per year, per slot to stay open. I allow you to make payment how it works for you. If you want to pay my yearly tuition weekly, fine, but you do not get to complain when I take a day off, because that yearly amount will not change. You're not giving me vacation pay when I take a day off because you're making payments toward the yearly tuition weekly. I know that you don't ask your mortgage company, utilities company, and cable company for a break when you're away from home and not using THEIR services, so why do you think it's OK to ask me? They ALSO do not refund you when a transformer goes down and leaves you without power or when there's a cable outage. You don't ask your bank for a break on car payments when you're not using the car or when the car is in the shop-you purchased a car from them, and you're making payments. You purchase a spot in my childcare, and you're making payments. There is no difference.

[Leigh]

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.


I'm calling BS on this one. To claim that the company's customers don't pay for vacations is an outright lie. If the employees' vacation days don't come out of the company profits, where DO they come from? Does the vacation fairy put money under their pillow? Nope, this business owner sets rates that will cover his or her expenses, INCLUDING employee vacations. OF COURSE they're charging their customers for that!

[Play Care]

I'm calling BS on this one. To claim that the company's customers don't pay for vacations is an outright lie. If the employees' vacation days don't come out of the company profits, where DO they come from? Does the vacation fairy put money under their pillow? Nope, this business owner sets rates that will cover his or her expenses, INCLUDING employee vacations. OF COURSE they're charging their customers for that!

I agree with this.

My plumber or electrician may not put "vacation time" on the invoice, but then, they charge $100 just to show up, $50-$75 *per hour* for their work, and then cost of the parts. You bet your a$$ I'm paying for their vacations! And health insurance, and retirement, their kids college, etc. etc.etc.

Can you imagine the outrage if Day Care Providers started charging like other businesses?
$75 opening fee, $50 per hour per child fee, $25 per day diapering fee, $60 per day toilet training fee, etc. etc. etc.
Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, ::::::

This is the only profession that gets a bad rap for wanting to be paid a living wage.

But this is the last time I'll post here. I'm not interested in debating a private business owner's policies with anonymous internet trolls.

[Second Home]

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.

Actually many places / gyms do , our karate studio takes off 2 weeks per year and closes . I still pay the same monthly fee even though they are closed and we can not attend . But That is what I agreed to when signing the contract.

[daycarediva]

I agree with this.

My plumber or electrician may not put "vacation time" on the invoice, but then, they charge $100 just to show up, $50-$75 *per hour* for their work, and then cost of the parts. You bet your a$$ I'm paying for their vacations! And health insurance, and retirement, their kids college, etc. etc.etc.

Can you imagine the outrage if Day Care Providers started charging like other businesses?
$75 opening fee, $50 per hour per child fee, $25 per day diapering fee, $60 per day toilet training fee, etc. etc. etc.
Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, ::::::

This is the only profession that gets a bad rap for wanting to be paid a living wage.

But this is the last time I'll post here. I'm not interested in debating a private business owner's policies with anonymous internet trolls.

Yes, my dh is giving his guys two weeks PTO for christmas, and a $500 bonus. One of their wives had the audacity to complain about having to pay their provider for that time. I set her straight, fast.

Like I said before, if I raised rates across the board, it would actually cost my parents MORE than paying for my very limited paid days off.

Actually many places / gyms do , our karate studio takes off 2 weeks per year and closes . I still pay the same monthly fee even though they are closed and we can not attend . But That is what I agreed to when signing the contract.

Yep. Same with karate and hockey here. Two weeks, and we pay monthly regardless. Same situation in reverse for cable, internet, mortgage when you go on vacation.

Again- DON'T SIGN A CONTRACT YOU DON'T AGREE WITH.

[Leigh]

Actually many places / gyms do , our karate studio takes off 2 weeks per year and closes . I still pay the same monthly fee even though they are closed and we can not attend . But That is what I agreed to when signing the contract.

You're right! I quit my gym because their limited hours didn't work for my schedule.

[Blackcat31]

You're right! I quit my gym because their limited hours didn't work for my schedule.

What!?!

Why would you quit?

You need to call them up and make them switch their hours so you can go. They obviously do not understand how this business thing works... you can't make it when they are open so they HAVE to change their hours to accommodate you. If they don't or they refuse to do so, you should charge them with discrimination. I've heard you can do that any time you don't get what you want.

You should also complain to them about the monthly fee they charge you, especially around Christmas time... I usually spend my entire paycheck on stuff I want and rarely have enough left over to pay my rent let alone my gym membership so I think you should demand they lower their monthly fee. It's ridiculous that they think they can charge you what they do when you don't even go that often.

I mean last week when I threw a massive tantrum and made them stay open several hours after their normal closing time so I could go work out, they were happy to oblige me. I kind of felt bad that I didn't even bother going anyways because I heard Star Wars Rogue 1 was premiering at the movie theater and since I only had a few minutes to get tickets, popcorn and a soda, I didn't even bother calling the gym to let them know I wasn't coming but I am sure they didn't mind.

My friend Cindy told me last week she was at the gym and, yeah I know she had strep and probably exposed everyone there but she just kept her head down and tried not to make eye contact with the owner so he didn't have a clue she was sick. Plus Cindy pays a fortune for her membership so she said she pays for it so she has to get her money's worth for sure right?

Well, anyways I think you should call them up and insist they change hours for you, I mean come on... why do they have to charge you so much anyways? If they refuse to change hours for you, you tell them you are going to tell everyone you know how horrible they are. I'd also tell them you are going to cancel the checks you wrote to cover your membership these last few months and you are going to sue them for all your money back.

Geez, the nerve of these people trying to basically steal from you and then dictating when you can use their services?!?! Sheesh! Who do they think they think they are anyways.......

[Josiegirl]

BlackCat, a good laugh I soooo needed right now!!!
Especially considering at the moment I'm waiting for the AAA guy to come boost my car so I can get to the store and buy milk for the dcks. He!! I have enough for my morning coffee, maybe I don't even need to go.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

What!?!

Why would you quit?

You need to call them up and make them switch their hours so you can go. They obviously do not understand how this business thing works... you can't make it when they are open so they HAVE to change their hours to accommodate you. If they don't or they refuse to do so, you should charge them with discrimination. I've heard you can do that any time you don't get what you want.

You should also complain to them about the monthly fee they charge you, especially around Christmas time... I usually spend my entire paycheck on stuff I want and rarely have enough left over to pay my rent let alone my gym membership so I think you should demand they lower their monthly fee. It's ridiculous that they think they can charge you what they do when you don't even go that often.

I mean last week when I threw a massive tantrum and made them stay open several hours after their normal closing time so I could go work out, they were happy to oblige me. I kind of felt bad that I didn't even bother going anyways because I heard Star Wars Rogue 1 was premiering at the movie theater and since I only had a few minutes to get tickets, popcorn and a soda, I didn't even bother calling the gym to let them know I wasn't coming but I am sure they didn't mind.

My friend Cindy told me last week she was at the gym and, yeah I know she had strep and probably exposed everyone there but she just kept her head down and tried not to make eye contact with the owner so he didn't have a clue she was sick. Plus Cindy pays a fortune for her membership so she said she pays for it so she has to get her money's worth for sure right?

Well, anyways I think you should call them up and insist they change hours for you, I mean come on... why do they have to charge you so much anyways? If they refuse to change hours for you, you tell them you are going to tell everyone you know how horrible they are. I'd also tell them you are going to cancel the checks you wrote to cover your membership these last few months and you are going to sue them for all your money back.

Geez, the nerve of these people trying to basically steal from you and then dictating when you can use their services?!?! Sheesh! Who do they think they think they are anyways.......

::::::::

I love our AC guy, but he did a about 1 hour of work and I paid him almost $400, so I apologize if I have no sympathy for parents paying $150+/- a week for 50 hours of care of their child and having to pay some vacation days here and there.

[Leigh]

What!?!

Why would you quit?

You need to call them up and make them switch their hours so you can go. They obviously do not understand how this business thing works... you can't make it when they are open so they HAVE to change their hours to accommodate you. If they don't or they refuse to do so, you should charge them with discrimination. I've heard you can do that any time you don't get what you want.

You should also complain to them about the monthly fee they charge you, especially around Christmas time... I usually spend my entire paycheck on stuff I want and rarely have enough left over to pay my rent let alone my gym membership so I think you should demand they lower their monthly fee. It's ridiculous that they think they can charge you what they do when you don't even go that often.

I mean last week when I threw a massive tantrum and made them stay open several hours after their normal closing time so I could go work out, they were happy to oblige me. I kind of felt bad that I didn't even bother going anyways because I heard Star Wars Rogue 1 was premiering at the movie theater and since I only had a few minutes to get tickets, popcorn and a soda, I didn't even bother calling the gym to let them know I wasn't coming but I am sure they didn't mind.

My friend Cindy told me last week she was at the gym and, yeah I know she had strep and probably exposed everyone there but she just kept her head down and tried not to make eye contact with the owner so he didn't have a clue she was sick. Plus Cindy pays a fortune for her membership so she said she pays for it so she has to get her money's worth for sure right?

Well, anyways I think you should call them up and insist they change hours for you, I mean come on... why do they have to charge you so much anyways? If they refuse to change hours for you, you tell them you are going to tell everyone you know how horrible they are. I'd also tell them you are going to cancel the checks you wrote to cover your membership these last few months and you are going to sue them for all your money back.

Geez, the nerve of these people trying to basically steal from you and then dictating when you can use their services?!?! Sheesh! Who do they think they think they are anyways.......

::::::lovethislovethislovethis

You're so dead on...I'm gonna ask them to take me back, at least until I can find another gym that lets me dictate their policies and rates (of course, I'm not going to tell THEM that-I'm gonna tell THEM that I'm staying forever!).

[Mike]

I guess when I start my daycare, I better not make plans for paid holidays. I'll just add 5% to my rates instead.