Labor Day

[crafty]

Hi there,

Just a quick question. For new families starting in Septembre (day after labor day) do you charge your paid stat day or you just make the official start day Sept.4th ?? Don't know what's the protocol here.

Thanks for yoru help !

[Inspired by Reggio]

I charge them my part time rate for the 4 days that week - since it's a part time week they are starting in that seems a fair compromise to me ;)

[crafty]

Thanks Reggio. They are already part-timers ...what then ? I was not going to charge them but then tought well what other providers do ?

[samantha3]

I would charge. If the stat was in the middle of the month would you charge?

[Cocoon]

If the stat day is a day after they started then I would charge. If it is a day before I would put their start date as 4th September. Basically, I wouldn't charge.

[Toregone]

If a family is starting in September then thier fees are due by the first of the month and I would charge for any and all stats in the month. They pay for the spot not for days actually used.

My son stated care in Sept when he was 1 and even though he didn't start until mid month I paid for a full month including the stat. That's just how it works.

[Cocoon]

Toregone, was it a Dayhome or daycare? I find it a bit unfair to charge families for the whole month.

[Toregone]

It was an agency dayhome. The agency told me when I signed on that fees would be payable in full for the month. As the provider had held a spot for me a month and not charged and holding fees I was more than happy to pay for the whole month.

What do you find unfair? Charging by the month in general or just in this situation? Monthly fees are the norm here.

[Cocoon]

I c. In that case, I would charge the full month too as she hold the spot for you. But if the month starts with stat holiday lets say 1st September is stat and the 2nd September is working day then I would start the contract on the 2nd and wouldn't charge the stat even tho it is in september. I know families pay for the spot not for the days they attent but it doesn't seem right to me. But as I said on my previous post. If they start on the 1st September and the 2nd September is stat then I would charge.

[Littledragon]

I would charge them. If they signed the forms prior to the holiday, they should pay. I had TWO families start the day after Canada Day and they both paid for Canada Day :)

[Spixie33]

If a parent starts the Tuesday after Labour Day then I would charge 4 days for that week since 'technically' they were not on contract yet.
From that point forward...all other stats are payable i.e Thanksgiving etc.

[jec]

I have it written in my contract that all stats and civic holidays are paid in full.

[Toregone]

Come to think of it I had a child start the day after Canada day and she still paid for the stat. I hadn't even thought of it and the parent never questioned it either. It never occured to me to not charge for the full month.

[jec]

If a parent starts the Tuesday after Labour Day then I would charge 4 days for that week since 'technically' they were not on contract yet.
From that point forward...all other stats are payable i.e Thanksgiving etc.
Never thought of it like that......true, they haven't started technically as their start date is after the holiday. OK I would do the same after Spixie33 pointed it out ~ 4 day that week and moving forward all stats paid in full ;)

[Sandbox Sally]

I wouldn't charge for it. You're agreeing to start care on the 4th, you start on the 4th, not the 3rd.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Thanks Reggio. They are already part-timers ...what then ? I was not going to charge them but then tought well what other providers do ?

When does the spot come 'available' to them .... are you 'loosing' income in delaying the start date until after Labor Day or is this a spot that is being vacated by someone else on August 31st? Cause if it is the first and you have already forgone income in 'delaying' a start date for them than I might charge them however if this is when the spot is coming 'available' to them in that someone else is in the spot and they had to wait until Tuesday to start than I would not charge them.

Using the same analogy of 'paying for the space' which is what I usually use to explain childcare costs to clients the fact is that if you JUST start renting an apartment mid month because someone else was 'in the apartment' they do not charge you for the full month they prorate it for the days you 'missed' before starting in the program ~ however if the space was available on the 1st you start paying on the 1st even if you 'choose' not to move in until later in the month. Same goes with your phone and other 'monthly paid' services if you sign up 'mid billing cycle' they prorate the service for the remaining days of the billing cycle.

IMO a space in our program should be no different if we are using the same analogy that once you have STARTED it does not matter how much you use your phone or go to the gym the FEE is the same each month after that .... but you should not have to pay for anything 'before' that start date because you did not have access to the service!

[Momof4]

I just had a child start the day after the Canada Day Monday holiday and I only charged my full-time rate for 4 days that week. I like to start off fair and making a really good impression with a new client. The good will is worth more to me than one day's pay.

[Starshine]

I have a child starting on Sept 4th and I will not be charging them for labour day.

[Mamma_Mia]

9mos old "screamer" has been with me for almost 2 months now PT and starts officially FT on Sept. 4th.....

Should she still pay for the Stat even though I agreed for the FT to start on the 4th?

[crafty]

Well thanks everyone ! Nice to see all you point of views. This family are 3 days/week attendees. The way I saw it is that they started Sept. 4th then they should not be paying for labor day. But then I tought wait a minute ... The child starts on the 4th because I am closed on the 3rd right ? Anyway, I still decided not to charge them since well ... it just does not seem right. I did not charge this family a holding fee either so why charge for that day after holding the space for FREE for 3 months. ( Yeah I know stupid now ) Next year I will be charging holding fees.

Mama Mia, In your case I think I would be inclined to charge them. The child is already in your program...

[Dreamalittledream]

Hi there,

Just a quick question. For new families starting in Septembre (day after labor day) do you charge your paid stat day or you just make the official start day Sept.4th ?? Don't know what's the protocol here.

Thanks for yoru help !. I wouldn't charge...in my mind it's kind of like as if you were to start a new job that week, they would list your start date as Sept 4 & not be paid for the stat.... just my opinion.

[Inspired by Reggio]

9mos old "screamer" has been with me for almost 2 months now PT and starts officially FT on Sept. 4th.....

Should she still pay for the Stat even though I agreed for the FT to start on the 4th?

Is Monday one of her normal 'part time' days if she was not starting full time? If so than yes I would charge her for the Stat and if not than like the others I would have her first 'full time' day be starting on the Tuesday and prorate the fees for that and suck up the lost income on the Monday.

[Mamma_Mia]

Is Monday one of her normal 'part time' days if she was not starting full time? If so than yes I would charge her for the Stat and if not than like the others I would have her first 'full time' day be starting on the Tuesday and prorate the fees for that and suck up the lost income on the Monday.

OK thanks, her PT days are different every week, it depends when mom is called in to meet with a new student (she's a "Sign Translator"). So I guess I'll just take the hit for the one day, it's the first week anyways...not a BIG deal.