Vacation time

[martymonty]

Hi
For any of you dcp that have been doing this for a long time (28 years for me), how much vacation time do you take off. If we had "regular jobs" out on the workforce, after that many years we would be getting a lot of vacation time for sure. I don't take any sick time and I only take 2 one week vacations during the year, the rest of the time I take a Friday or Monday and I don't work stats. I have backup for some of my time as well if my dcp want to utilize this option. Just curious as to how much time others take off in total. :):)

[torontokids]

I take 5-6 weeks which I know is a lot but I find I need it. 2 weeks in spring (this is a new addition this yr), 2 wks in summer and 2 wks at Christmas.

[torontokids]

I also take stats (paid) but my vacation is unpaid. I also have unpaid sick days but I have only ever used 2 days.

[cfred]

I've been in daycare for 20 yrs, but only 13 in home daycare. I take a minimum of 3 weeks and up to 5 weeks. I don't offer back up but send out notice very early of the intended time planned for a holiday. I try to be sensitive to the needs of each family and leave time to discuss timing, though it's not been much of an issue thus far. For any holiday of 2 weeks or less, they get 4 months notice. For over 2 weeks, they get a year. It's never been a problem and parents are all aware of where I stand on vacation time from the first interview.

My holidays are all unpaid, as are sick days. I'm closed for stats and paid in full.

[martymonty]

So if you take 5 - 6 weeks, are your stats over and above this, my two weeks that I take off as full weeks, one in July and one in August are unpaid, but my stats are paid for. I just find I always have that "one" parent who makes a "comment" or two on time I take off, yet they are the ones at a moments notice that will decide to go on a sell off and pull their dck from here. I think with the long hours we work and in my case I don't take any other time off other than what I book, unless an emergency of course, this is not to. Inch to take. I give the schedule in March for the entire year as well.

[martymonty]

That should have said not to much to take, darn autocorrect lol

[torontokids]

It is in addition to my stats

[torontokids]

I've gotten then sense from other posts that the average is closer to 3-4 wks vac

[bright sparks]

I usually work to an average of 4 weeks a year. I typically take a week at march break (not this year), 1-2 weeks in the summer and 2 weeks over Xmas and New Year. I don't work Fridays so when there is a long weekend I typically, but not always, take the Thursday or Tuesday off too which gives me a nice 5 days off and really makes the world of difference. Last year I took more off as I had to take 2 weeks for bed rest after surgery but I am not going to apologise for that as it was for health reasons not vacation time. My vacation and sickness is always unpaid but I am paid for all stats which are in addition to my 4-6 weeks off. This next 12 months will be tight for me as I tighten the belt in preparation for dropping to a 1 income family so I'm not sure if there will be much time off beyond the 5 day weekends during stats. It's not just the cot of a trip but the loss of income is a big deal. Xmas and New Year I am always off...this year for example I will work my last day on Thursday Dec 18th and go back to work on Monday Jan 5th. I will only in fact be taking 6 work days off but will have a total of 17 days off in a row so this is why I typically take this time off annually.

[Lou]

First off, all of my vacation and stats are unpaid.
I take 4 weeks off + my Christmas break between Christmas Eve and Jan 2. Usually I take off two one week stretches, and the others are used for random days off that I need to appointments or my daughter's dance competitions, etc.

[Daisy123]

4 weeks a year plus stats. Usually I take 2 weeks at Christmas and 2 weeks in the summer unpaid. This year I only took 1 at Christmas knowing that I'd take a week in April (2 more sleeps until Florida!!! Yahoo! :D ) I don't have back up but I always give 2 months notice.

[Spixie33]

I take about 3 weeks all unpaid. Usually 1 week in the summer, 1 around Christmas and then a random 5 days scattered throughout.

I wish I could take more but it adds up when you aren't getting paid.

When I worked outside of the home - you started off with 10 days vacation paid and 1 day added for each year of service. I know some people who were almost having a month off before I quit.

I take stats off including Family Day and Easter Monday paid

I give parents at least one month notice for a vacation day but the summer holidays and Christmas closures, I give about 2-3 months notice

[madmom]

i take 2 weeks paid in summer and the week between Christmas and New years without pay. All my stats are paid, and I have 5 paid sick/personal days a year. Why should I not pay my bills cause it's a holiday?! I also charge if the child is sick, people pay for the spot, I am not a drop in service. It's all very up front at interview and if families disagree then I am not the DCP for them.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I take 2 weeks off in the summer unpaid and am off at Christmas but it's always been paid so far because I technically am open but have no children come. I'm not sure if that will be the case this year so I will probably take a few days off unpaid this time. I take paid stats off but it's $10 less than regular fee.

You have worked in this field a long time and deserve to take more time off! If you want too and can afford too of course :)

[Teagansmom]

I typically take 3-4 weeks off a year. 1 week in Feb, 1-2 weeks in Aug and a week off at Christmas. This year however I have not taken no time off in Feb as I just started getting dc kids in march since relocating. This summer I'm thinking about just taking off every Friday for 5 weeks as I'm having a hard time financially. I'm not sure if I can wait until Christmas to have a week off. All my holidays are unpaid but I am paid for all stats.

[bright sparks]

i take 2 weeks paid in summer and the week between Christmas and New years without pay. All my stats are paid, and I have 5 paid sick/personal days a year. Why should I not pay my bills cause it's a holiday?! I also charge if the child is sick, people pay for the spot, I am not a drop in service. It's all very up front at interview and if families disagree then I am not the DCP for them.

The paid time off for vacation is something that is for sure based on the norm in a providers area. Daycare providers perspective of why shouldn't I have paid vacation time just like the parents is not comparing apples with apples. Typically self employed people do not get paid time off regardless of the industry unless they pay themselves a wage as though they are an employee of the business but that isn't typical. The norm for self employed is no paid time off. Looking at things from a parents perspective, why the hell should they pay for a daycare spot that they can't use? At the same time as paying for unavailable daycare, they have to take time off, and if their provider takes more vacation time off than the parent has available, they too will have to take unpaid time off or have someone else in their family take time off to care for the child. DCProvider may say they are looking out for number 1 and its not their responsibility to provide back up care and a parent should have this planned out, well its not the parents responsibility to be concerned with how we pay our bills. We should also plan for this accordingly. It's just the nature of the job and speaking for myself, how the hell do I justify charging someone for a service I am not able to provide them with???? It's simple for me because it isn't the norm for my area anyway. When I have parents ask me in interviews if they get a free weeks vacation or something similar, I respond "sometimes" depending on the situation with a "do I get a paid weeks vacation then?" I am not running a charity but then the parents aren't lining my pockets when I am off the clock either. The beauty of being in this job is we write our own contracts with policies which serve us best so do what works for you!

[mickyc]

I really have no set time off during a year. I usually take 8-12 days off but they are never consecutive days. I usually take the Friday off before every long weekend in the summer. This summer I am taking every 2nd Friday. Someday I will budget enough to eventually be able to take a week off at once, maybe..... someday!! LOL

I get paid full rate for stats as well.

[Samantha33]

I take 4 unpaid weeks of holidays plus all stats and civics are paid. Parent holidays are at full price. I "rarely" take a sick day. The parents know from the get go my stand on this matter. I do take a lot of the same holidays they would take anyway. Like between Christmas and New Years, March Break, a week in July, and another in the fall.

[Lee-Bee]

I have 4 weeks paid vacation including the time between Christmas and New Years.
Stats are paid, I am closed.

I do not charge for my sick days because I preferred it that way. I did have a family comment on that, they found it odd that it is unpaid. I just told them that it's less stressful for me to cancel last minute when I'm sick if I don't get paid.

They pay me if their child is home sick or home with grandma or home for any reason at all.

No idea what the norm is around me. I just wrote my contract to state what I felt I deserve...if the parents take issue then they don't belong here.

[Polkaroo]

I'm the exact same as Lee-bee.