Does anyone offer FREE sick days to clients?

[DaycareLady]

Hi everyone, I am right in the middle of updating my contract with a fee increase (I posted about this yesterday). I also do not charge for STAT's but will be with the new contract as well. I want to offer the parents a little something extra though because in my town the daily fee is going to be $5 cheaper than I am going to ask and most people around here do not ask for STAT pay. I was thinking of offering 1-2FREE sick days a month for families (I will word it though so days can not be carried over, used for extending long weekends, etc). I feel this choice might be a win/win as I know a lot of parents send their kids sick because they have to pay anyways and by the time the sick child gets picked back up they have already spread their illness and then everyone is sick, including myself!
Do you think this is a safe move? Or should I just still not charge for STAT? Or should I let them pick between the two?
I really want to add some kind of sweetness to this deal to help attract future clients as well, not for them to see my fees and run! (although I am hoping they will see my fees and be interested as to why I charge more and want to check me out!)
HELP oh wise ones!!

[JennJubie]

I offer as many sick days as days their child attends. 5 days a week = 5 sick days a year I don't charge for.

I also ask for pay for STAT days, but only if it falls on a day of their child's attendance. So if I have a part timer that doesn't come Wednesdays, and Canada day falls on a Wednesday, they wouldn't have to pay that STAT.

[BlueRose]

I personal would charge for sick days.

But if you don't want to them I would only allow 5 or 6 free sick days per year. people will use them for long weekends (how can you prove there kid is not sick on the Tuesday, when you haven't see the kid all weekend) They will also use the days to take there kids to appointments, visit family etc. If I got to keep my kid home from daycare and didn't have to pay for a few days each month, I would. You will end up loosing money every month and still end up with sick kids. that 12 to 24 days per year without pay per child, it will add up.

You could also do it that they pay for their sick days but not yours. That way they don't take advantage of your kind nature.

[daycarewhisperer]

No. Parents will lie and claim illness when they just have free care that day. You will also have arguments when you limit the number of days. If you allow a set number it will be cool until they exceed that.

For me, attendance doesn't impact the cost of operating the business. It costs the same whether the kids are here or gone. The cost of operating is the same as the parents costs of having their kids... housing costs the same whether they are home or gone. Cost for heating or cooling house is the same. Household repair same. Cable bill same. Internet same. Phone same... etc etc. I have all those expenses whether the kids are here or not.

When I'm on vacation the cost of operating is about 3 to 5$ a day less per day to have the kids gone. A few cents less Iin water, a dollar a day less in utilities, etc. Very nominal. So for me, I couldn't offer attendance based fees because I don't want to pay their portion of the hard costs of operating the home, internet,phone, advertising, equipment, toys, repairs, etc when they aren't here.

[apples and bananas]

I don't charge for sick days or stats. I charge the very high end of my area so this is the main reason clients sign with me.

I also have something in my contract that states that a client may take off one full week without pay only, everything after that must be paid in full for the week. This stops clients from taking multiple weeks of vacation, or if a child needs surgery or is ill for a week that's it for the year.

This system works for me. I don't charge for sick because I don't want a client coming sick because they feel they have to get their money's worth. If you sick, I encourage you to stay home.

Yes, I'm sure some clients do fake sick in order to get an unpaid day, but I haven't experianced that yet.

I would not give the client the option of sick or stats, it's your business you should dictate. Don't give the client too much control.

[DaycareLady]

I really appreciate all of this! Thank you! Lots to think about!

[cfred]

I do exactly as Jenn Jubie does. I also stipulate that sick days will be used in order of use and not 'saved up' for a vacation. I also don't allow sick days to be used in fractions. They are non accumulative (use them or lose them) and not transferable from one sibling to another. In addition, they are not to be used on Stats, which are also full pay.

[Momof4]

How can you budget if you don't know if somebody is going to take a day off and not pay? I charge for all closed daycare days, stats and a few others that are listed in my contract that aren't quite stats like Christmas Eve day. I charge for sick days or missed days for any reason. That would include weather or car problems, you name it, why spell it out?

In other words, my dc clients pay full fees 49 weeks of the year except for my 3 weeks of closed vacation. It's simple, straightforward and everyone knows how to budget. There are never any hard feelings because it's in black and white with no grey areas.

[Trace of Angels]

I charge fees monthly. Payment is made on the first of the month for the upcoming month. Parents pay for their child's spot no matter how much or how little they use it. I am closed for three weeks of vacation and all Stat holidays. The rate is still the same. I deserve a salaried position for my work the same as most of my clients get. I am a 38 year old woman who has a mortgage and a cost of living just like them. I can't afford for my income to be going up and down. How I figure it out is I take their childcare needs for the year and divide it by 12. So for instance someone that needs 5 days a week pays $950 a month every month on the first of the month..............

[monkeymama]

I allow 7 unpaid days to my clients. They can use these how they see fit ie. vacation, sick days etc. anything else payment is required.

[Cadillac]

I dont get why you would charge for stats just to give them a freebie somewhere else. its just about the same thing.

I'm with Mom of 4. I just charge all the time.

[Mambia]

There are plenty of home day cares in my location so it is quite competitive. As a result, when I began last year, I offered parents 10 days vacation as well as 5 sick/personal days. I charge for all stat holidays as well as 15 days vacation for me per calendar year. Because fees are due in advance, once a child takes a personal/sick day, I just adjust the following pay to exclude one days pay. I have honestly had parents tell me that the no charge days I allow is a huge bonus and really, it's not that big of a loss, certainly worth gaining business over it!!

[Artsand crafts]

In here parents have 3 weeks off without pay, but they need to inform me two months in advance. I did that because I am in the top of the fees in my area, along with the fact that almost all the time I have at least one teacher and that is attractive for them. I charge for stat days and when kids get sick and cannot attend.

[bright sparks]

I don't know how much you charge a day but lets say for example you charge $40 dollars a day and have 5 children in your care. If you give them a free pass to take complete advantage of this, which they absolutly will do, then you are potentially losing 200-400 a month if every family uses 1-2 sick days per month. That is absolute madness. Are they going to pay you 1-2 days per month for being sick?? They would laugh in your face if you asked for this....I strongly advise you not to do this. Otherwise you are opening yourself up to be taken for a fool and it is a significant dent in your income and could leave you short without any notice. Then I fear you would be full of regret and resentment for making this decision.

[Artsand crafts]

Good point from Bright Sparks. Maybe you have to make sure to cover the unpaid days and get money extra in your pocket with the increase. In my case the extra fee I get covers well the 3 unpaid weeks and still have more revenue. My teachers are happy and I am happy with the extra income, too.

[Mommy]

I agree it's all paid for me as well but about 350$ less, I wish i could get 950$ here

[Sandbox Sally]

I don't understand why anyone offers free days. If we worked for a corporation, would we go in to work for free a few days a month.

IMO, offering free daycare is taking away from other people who don't. It's the same thing as those day homes that undercharge. If EVERYONE stops doing free and reduced, then nobody loses.

[SecondAve]

I offer two free weeks off per year. The parents can use the days for whatever they want, but once they are gone that is it. I figured everywhere I worked I received a minimum of two weeks off, so why not extend the same to the parents.