Do you Pay Daycare provider for HER vacation? - Page 2

[dido1]

We pay our provider for one week of vacation and statutory holidays. We do not get a break on our fees if we take DS out for our vacations or sick days. This is clearly outlined in our contract and makes perfect sense to me. When our daycare provider took three weeks holiday last year, she arranged for a someone to come in and take care of the children so none of us were out childcare.

I don't think it's fair to expect a caregiver to have no paid holiday, or to refund you fees for days that you choose to not send your child, whether due to vacation or illness.

[EviesMom]

I don't pay for the sitter's vacation time, but I have a variable-part-time-hours sitter. I arrange with her around the work projects I have and the non-childcare projects she has and I pay just for the hours worked. However, when we're out of town, she usually watches our pets and housesits, which comes out in the end to paying close to the same amount for a week bc it's part-time childcare. I also pay a fairly big bonus once a year, which should cover vacation time as well IMO.

For what the OP is describing, I would ask. The preschool doesn't charge for any days when they're closed. If it's a home-daycare run like a business, I don't think she would charge for vacation. A nanny might charge for vacation time. If it's run like a nanny, she might.

[RollerCoasterMama]

Yup. It's standard here too. Our first provider had 2 weeks plus some sick days which she never used, so the next year she declared 3 weeks personal time including sick!! It was more time than I had off and she usually forgot to schedule it until later in the year and had time to "use up" in November when I was out of time off! Fun.

Our current provider has 2 weeks. She never takes sick time---well, once when her whole family had been throwing up all weekend. :P She gives me her schedule at the beginning of the year. We pay the same each week whether we're there are she's there. Regular holidays are included (though I get a couple that she doesn't).

Both are very standard around these parts.

[Evergreen]

It's pretty standard but it is usually pretty clearly outlined in the contract or handbook. It sounds rather ambiguous in this case.

[alieh]

I pay my provider for 3 weeks of vacation. I kind of look at it this way - I get paid vacation - why shouldn't she? I hate it and think 3 weeks is excessive but I do it because she is a good provider.

[bauchtanz]

THis is part of the reason we are now at a center, and not at at in home.

When our provider was sick, we had no choice but to take vacation days ourselves to cover our childcare (which, was like not the purpose of our vacation)

When we were sick, we did not pay because we were part time and paid an hourly rate, however, if we were full time we would have just paid.

We paid if we took vacation and we paid if she took vacation.

When she took off 12 weeks to have a baby, it was a difficult thing - not sure how everyone handled it, BUT we ended up moving about that time and never had to encouter it

At the center we get 10 misses a year, no matter the reason, Then, they have been very willling to work with us with FMLA when DS was born (DD could be gone and not loose her spot). With local layoffs they have been flexible - not charging us if there is a small layoff for a few weeks and DH stays home with the kids. They, however have much more flexibility.
THis is why, for many reasons, we now go to a center.
However, I think you should pay her for her vac and sick time, but she should not charge you for yours.

[beru]

Yes. Yes. Yes. I had two different in home providers in the past. I absolutely paid for their vacation time! There is no reason they should not have the same types of benefits I receive from my job.

[Mal85]

It's pretty common, I think, to pay for your provider to take a vacation. If it's not outlined in your contract, though, I would definitely ask about it. I do in-home childcare as well. I basically have it set up that they don't pay me for days that I miss because of me (be it my daughter is sick or I'm sick or I'm on vacation), but they pay me for days they miss because of them (they are sick, the kid is sick or they take a vacation). But I am paid for holidays, and the paid holidays are outlined in the contract. If it's not in the contract, you may not be expected to pay.

My sister's provider (in-home as well), takes a week of paid vacation and also gives the parents a week through the year that they can take off and not have to pay.

[artemis80]

Yes, we pay for our in-home provider's vacation. That's why it's her vacation, not her "days off not getting paid."

[daycare]

Daycare providers work on the average of 50 hours per week taking care of children.  Add an additional 10 hours to that for prep work, shopping, planning, etc.  When you work a job at an office do you get a paid vacation?  Why should your employer pay for your vacation when you are not there working.  How do you expect daycare providers to keep on working 50 hour work weeks without taking a vacation?  Being a daycare provider - a good daycare provider is one of the hardest jobs there is.  They deserve tobe  paid for their vacation as much as you do for yours.  I have been a daycare provider for

over 25 years.  I deserve a paid vacation.  If you expect someone to give your child good care then you need to pay them for it - otherwise don't expect the great care that you will get with an experienced daycare provider.
 

[desidoesit]

My daycare is on a monthly basis.  She closes for a week in August, but we don't have to pay.  And after being there for a year, we can take a week off and not have to pay.  But we do pay for holidays when they are closed, so I don't have my kids in there on Mondays, since most of the holidays (labor day, memorial day etc.) are on Mondays.  Hope that helps, and I hope you don't have to pay for her week vacation!

[Mommel]

I pay the full monthly rate for my kiddo's care despite any holidays or school closures. Basically, since the childcare is associated with my college, they're closed whenever the college is closed, which is spring break (1 week), winter break (3 weeks, yes three...), and 2 weeks over summer. And the rate is the same every month. But I LOVE my kid's providers. I mean... LOVE them, so the way I see it is that I'm getting a deal that my kid's caregivers take such amazing care of him, and basically parent him when I'm not able to because I'm in school. I suppose I could choose to see it as a hardship, seeing as I am living on welfare and student loans, but that would only irritate me and it wouldn't change anything, so I prefer the alternative. 

[Sharlla]

i would not be able to pay for their vacation AND another provider the same week.  if that was a something they wanted i would not use them.
 

[Ellien C]

At my small center, don't pay for the days they are closed. The providers do not get paid either. The director might. But we can often hire one of the providers during the time the center is closed and I pay cash for that.

[lauren]

My provider doesn't require it, but I try to anyway, because I feel like she works so hard and deserves it. I try to save up for it so I can do it.
 

[Quinalla]

I wouldn't expect to pay for that unless it was specified ahead of time. I do pay for my daycare to take off traditional holidays (Thanksgiving, Labor Day, etc. all the big ones) and I would expect that.

[abigail_b]

We have a nanny and yes we pay her for sick and vacation days. It is her job...and I don't believe in jobs that don't include some paid time off.

[GoestoShow]

In MA, in-home licensed daycare providers are allowed 13 paid holidays and up to two weeks paid vacation.

This is embedded in state code or what have you.

It would never have occurred to me that I wouldn't pay for daycare's vacation.
 

[nina_yyc]

I do.  We have a very clear contract and policies and we know the date months ahead of time.  This year she was exceptionally organized and sent us her vacation days for the whole year in January.  I think given that kind of notice it's unreasonable to whine about having to find backup care.  If it's not convenient for us to book our own vacation then we can split the days between me and my husband and book them off.  Then at least one person isn't burning all of their vacation time.
 

[JollyGG]

Everyone keeps comparing a home daycare provider to a full time employee when the daycare provider is actually a small business owner. So if the small retail shop on the corner is closed and I can't shop, she's not paid for the day. If the plumber I call is unavailable, she doesn't get paid. Being a small business owner has it's advantages and disadvantages. To me having to plan for an unpaid vacation is simply one of the disadvantages of being a small business owner. 

I've seen two ways of handling this issue that seem the most fair to me.

1. Parents pay for any time the daycare is open regardless of if their kids are there or not. However, the daycare doesn't make money if it is closed for vacation or illness.

2. Both sides get a set number of days off each year to use. Appropriate notice must be given to use those days. In this case parents often use their days off at the same time as the daycare providers days off to avoid paying two daycares for that time. However, many parents will happily pay for the providers vacation if they don't also have to pay a provider while they are on their own vacation.

I've run into providers who require a paid vacation and as long as that is clearly spelled out in the contract that is fine as well. It's not how I would want it to work. It was actually the final straw that had me leaving one daycare provider. However, if you have a good provider and her requirements are clearly spelled out it's probably worth it to pay her vacation.