Paid Holidays

[Toregone]

Who has it in thier contract that they get paid holidays? How many weeks do you take?

I currently have set to take 2 weeks holidays per year unpaid. As I am a newbie I figured I would start with paid stats and add in paid holidays when I redo the contract. I also currently have a "sister" dayhome and we cover each others sick days, holidays etc. I include the cost of this in my fees so parents pay nothing to another provider out of pocket when I am sick or away. This is more cost effective for me as we have agreed on $50 per day flat rate between us.

I really considering paid holidays for next year regardless of the back up system. After reading many posts and blogs from other providers I've thought a lot about annual fee increases, paid holidays etc. I do not think in my area I could raise fees without having a lot of trouble from parents so perhaps I could get my "raise" from paid holidays.

Just getting some feedback, this is months away anyway.The earliest I would do this is Jan 2013 so I have plently of time to think about it!

[ECE53]

I have 3 weeks paid 1 week unpaid, 5 days sick paid 2paid personnal days and paid stats. I started at 2 weeks paid and then went up to thre after two years.....

[country girl]

I have 3 sick days, paid stats and 2 weeks paid vacay + 1 week unpaid in my contract. I am just starting out so I kept it low for now. 2 weeks holidays just isn't enough so I added the extra week but unpaid. And I give the parents the option of what week of the vacation they want to use as unpaid. So for instance I take 2 weeks off in March to go to Florida, they can choose to use their week of unpaid vacay then or wait until summer when I take a week off.

[Crayola kiddies]

I have 3 weeks paid, paid stats and Im adding in 5 paid personal days this aug when I renew contracts instead of increasing fees. My sick days are unpaid.

[ECE53]

It is my understanding that as long as I set my hours and duties the parents do not have to pay CPP and EI. I pay my CPP contributions and choose not to contribute to EI ( understanding I can't claim). Parents pay per space regardless of attendance which gives me holiday closure time. I gues I interpreted Canada revenues guidelines very differently ..........

[sunnydays]

I take 2 weeks paid vacation plus 5 personal days and stats paid. I don't call them vacation days in my contract, but instead say something like "2 weeks paid closure". I am going to up my personal days to 7 next time I renew my contracts. I also take a week of unpaid vacation time.

[Sandbox Sally]

Sigh...I used to take two weeks off with pay, but since our move, I can no longer do this. You really have to go with the norm of your area, and in my area, paid holidays are not the norm. I still get paid for stats, though. Guess that's better than nothing. ;)

[playfelt]

I'm a member of CCPRN and not sure I agree with the wording either. It isn't that you are being paid for your vacation. It is that the parents are continuing to pay to hold their space even while you are closed. If they didn't you could legitimately replace them while you were off - vacationing or gardening or cleaning out the garage or whatever else you wish to do while your business is temporarily closed. We use the word vacation because it is what people understand. Vacation means taking a break. I think in the grand scheme of things revenue canada knows the difference and well they can't have it both ways. We are not entitled to claim EI and we already pay CPP.

[michellesmunchkins]

Sigh...I used to take two weeks off with pay, but since our move, I can no longer do this. You really have to go with the norm of your area, and in my area, paid holidays are not the norm. I still get paid for stats, though. Guess that's better than nothing. ;)

I hear ya! I get nothing here either...most don't even pay for the stats (even though contract says they have to...just not a battle I want to fight with them anymore). They even fight me on paying for their spot while they are off on vacation (one family takes 10 weeks off over the course of the year and can't understand why I require payment for all those weeks, ugh). The 'norm' in our area needs to change!

[Mamma_Mia]

I'm trying out something new and so far haven't had any negative feedback.

I get paid STAT which are listed on the manual to avoid confusion and gave the parents 14 days half-paid vacation ...anymore than 14 is full rate. If I take time off they don't pay.

So what I'm trying out is that I'd get 14 days half-paid and the parents get the same :D my two newest add on's agreed to this! yay! lol

[livelaughlove]

I am new at this and I also have 2 weeks paid vacation at summer time but I wanted to know what you do as payment option. Since they are paid vacation do you require the parents to give you post dated cheques or 2 weeks in cash before starting your paid holidays

Thanks:)

[ECE53]

I have my parents give me a few months of post dated cheques at a time. That way if we are on holidays I simply cash them on the date.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I have my parents give me a few months of post dated cheques at a time. That way if we are on holidays I simply cash them on the date.

Ditto! Post dates work awesome :)

[Toregone]

What I currently have is paid stats and parents pay when they take vacation. I've been looking around at providers websites in my area and it seems to be a mix when it comes to paid vacation time. A lot have it in thier contract and a lot don't.

The Edmonton (not sure if the rest of Alberta is like this) region seems to work a bit differently in that we don't set a daily rate, we set a monthly. Fees for the month are due in full by the 1st in most cases. Providers do refunds when needed. I personally like this as I can control things a lot more and I don't have to deal with any parents trying to short me for stats, thier childs sick time etc. It's already paid in full. So having parents pay for vacation time would be quite easy.

On a side note does anyone here use email money transfer? That's how I accept payment and I love it, I would hate to get cheques from parents. Too much uncertinty.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Providers contracts are going to vary with things like this because those of us who have been doing this for eons are always looking for ways to get fiancial recognition for our experience and track record with clients while still appearing competitive with our daily rates ... So we negotiate soft sell things like paid time off , sick days and so forth and than once a few of us do that than those become common for all newbies to start out with too and we are back to earning the same as someone who just opened .... it is challenging for this industry cause we are one of the few where education , training , continued professional development and seniority in the field are not compensated for by those seeking our service - a brand new lawyer, Dr, teacher etc would not have the same wage and perks as someone who had been practicing for 20 years who's worked his/her way up to those things ... Kwim?

It is that balance of negotiating what you feel you are worth and what the market will bare - that is going to be different for us all ... I do not begrudge those new to the field who want to start out with the same contracts as those with years under their belt and I know ladies with years under belt who have way less in contracts than some of us newer people as their program and style has not changed in 25 years and well parents want a different program and so they have harder time attracting clients with their current fees and so forth raising them would put them even further out of what market will bare for their program ... we are all different ???

[DisneyPrincess]

So is it Ok to say ''vacations are payable'' in my contract or not... I am on the phone with Revenu Canada at the moment and no one can answer me if yes or no I can or can not have my vacations paid and if I can mention vacations are payable in my contract or not... they say they do not decide for me if I have the parents pay my vacations or not, I decide what I want to do in my contract ?!

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yes in my understanding of this it is up to YOU what you negotiate into your contract with a client ~ there are way more 'self employed indicators' for what we do than 'employed' indicators ... which is why CRA is telling you that it is 'up to you' because you are self employed by there definition ;)

[DCP_But_Momma_1st]

In my area it isn't the norm to get paid vacation either, so alas I go without. :( I do get paid for stats and added Xmas eve and in lieu days to my contract this year.