Do you get paid for vacation?

[monkeymama]

I live in South-Western Ontario and currently do not get paid for my vacation. My contract states up to 2 weeks unpaid. It varies greatly in my area, some providers get paid and some do not.....I am seriously thinking of adding paid vacation to my contract when I update in the spring...DH is completely behind me, and thinks Im really doing myself and our family a disservice by not getting paid for my vaction days...

Just wondering how all you ladies fair in this department? Paid or unpaid?

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Hi there, I don't live in your region but I wanted to make a suggestion (if I could) :) Currently my vacation is "unpaid" It's been my experience that most parents (even good ones) balk at the idea of paying daycare dues when you're not watching their child. To get around this, I charge 25 dollars more a week than I used to. This means that each month I have been paid for two extra days - over the course of a year that's 24 days. I view this extra money as my vacation pay/sick day pay. It makes it a little less painful psychologically for me, when I close - before I used to fret about losing a day's (or a week's) pay. Would this work for you ?

[Crayola kiddies]

Im in Ottawa and I get paid for all 52 weeks per year ..... That includes all stats, three weeks holidays, 5 personal days and I only don't get paid if I close due to illness.

[Momof4]

I live in London and I know some people charge for the vacation weeks and some don't. I take 3 weeks every year about 3 months apart so I always have a rest or a trip coming up to look forward to and I don't get paid for those 3 weeks. I just have to budget accordingly. But I get full fees for the other 49 weeks of the year no matter what happens.

[mimi]

I don't charge for my vacation days either. I usually take 3 weeks which I am upping to 4 next year just because. I charge for stats. I am going to do a small increase as well to cover my vacation days. My area is very competitive so paid vacation would be a big deal breaker here.

[daycarewhisperer]

I get 18 paid days per year which accumlates at 1.5 days per month. That paid time off is paid as I take the time off or if a client should leave before I take my time they pay it at the end of their contract.

I do not allow any days unpaid. Parents pay same rate 52 weeks per year regardless of attendance.

[Serendipity]

I am paid the same rate 52 weeks a year. Parents get a specific number of days off depending on their enrollment status. (EX: 5 days per week attendance = 5 days per year no charge) Families attending 3 or less days per week don't receive any days)

If I choose to close for personal reasons I don't charge.

[playfelt]

I used to give full time parents 2 weeks no pay in the summer (July/Aug) and 5 days Sept - June which most used at Christmas. Now I have changed that to 10 days at half price in the summer and 10 days at half price in the winter. That way I still get some money and they get a break on fees when not here and it encourages tehm to keep the kids home when they have a day off as they save if they keep.

[monkeymama]

thanks everyone for sharing! ive been thinking of charging for only some of my vacation, or only charging 50% when i am off. Im trying to be fair to my families as well as myself...Ive got a few months until I renew contracts so Im just going to keep thinking about it

[sunnydays]

I get 2 weeks paid vacation and 1 week unpaid, plus all stats paid and 7 personal days paid per year. I see nothing unfair about asking parents to pay these days. They all get paid vacation days at their jobs...why should I be different? Also, they are paying for the space whether the child comes or not. I don't see any benefit to their child if the caregiver cannot afford to take regular breaks to refresh and re-energize. A burnt-out caregiver serves nobody in the end.

[gramma]

paid vacation could be a deal breaker for many parents especially if they have to pay an alternate provider. i would suggest either having a rate increase and keeping that aside to use as your pay when you take vacation. depending on how long your clients have been with you, they may feel that they were not given the full story when they signed on given that this could be perceived as a major change to your contract. for me, i take 3-4 weeks per year and just accept the fact that it is unpaid time. if i could budget better i would figure out an amount to put away and save it for vacation time. Hey maybe that should be my new years resolution.

[DisneyPrincess]

I renewed contracts last september and went from unpaid to paid three weeks vacations and stats as it was too hard on the budget for not getting a ''pay day'' during my time off for Holidays. So its basically service are payable all 52 weeks of the year except if I close for personal reasons or illness. ;)

[Inspired by Reggio]

I offer clients two payment options depending on how they prefer to budget .... one is the average going weekly rate for my city $174 a week and I put aside the money for my vacation, personal day closures so they do not pay when I am closed for those and the other is an 8% lower weekly rate of $160 a week and clients pay that same rate 52 weeks a year including the 10 days of vacation I am closed and the 10 personal days I take over the course of the year ~ if they leave with accrued vacation pay still owing to me it comes out of their security deposit and gets paid at the end of care ... so either way Option A or B they are paying me the same it is just all in how someone chooses to 'look' at things budget wise.

[apples and bananas]

I don't charge for any days that I am closed and I allow my clients to take one additional week of their own unpaid.

I also charge the highest rate in my region

I do this because it gives me an advantage over other providers in the area that charge for every stat day and vacation day.

I justify it by charging a higher rate. I can budget for that time closed

[Momof4]

Once again we have proven how we can all be efficient and appeal to the kind of clients we want to attract using our own business sense of what is fair and works for us. This is why parents like to interview a few different providers before making their choice. It isn't all about the daycare space, a lot of it has to do with our contracts and our personalities and our ability to have great working relationships with our clients. I know I've amended my policies and methods over the years to perfect my business.

[monkeymama]

Momof4- I couldnt agree more!

After some back and forth and lots of discussions with my hubby, I have decided to keep vacation as is, without payment. All my current clients will stay at the current rate and I am going to increase for any new clients coming in. I interviewed last night with my new rate and the family didnt even bat an eye at it, so I feel like this is a good choice for me.

[playfelt]

I don't change contracts for current families but change things with new families. Often what I change is what has become the new norm such as paid vacation or deposit, etc. So come things like Christmas I had families on three different contracts and that works for me because one of the drawning cards I use with families is that their fees will not go up as long as they stay in care etc. so they can budget accordingly.

[apples and bananas]

Momof4- I couldnt agree more!

After some back and forth and lots of discussions with my hubby, I have decided to keep vacation as is, without payment. All my current clients will stay at the current rate and I am going to increase for any new clients coming in. I interviewed last night with my new rate and the family didnt even bat an eye at it, so I feel like this is a good choice for me.

This is exactly what I do. I don't raise my existing clients, I offer new clients the new and improved rate.