What do you do for back-up?

[Judy Trickett]

Back up is not the provider's responsibility, IMO.

[playfelt]

I agree Judy I have it in my contract that parents are responsible for securing their own back up care arrangements. Now having said that over the years I have helped such as sharing the name of a friend that I knew had openings because she had kids on vacation and she would return the favour to me to fill in some of my openings but nothing is guaranteed.

[Daycare123]

I generally feel that back -up is the responsibility of the parents. However, if I want to stay home with my child - I don't think it hurts to be able to keep the daycare open (my daycare is separate and self-contained as I said). That said I would only likely call in MY back up if my child needed more than a day or so...

Judy- how do you handle days off for personal stuff? You had mentioned it in another post...

I would like to add some personal days to my contract.
Thanks!

[Judy Trickett]

Judy- how do you handle days off for personal stuff? You had mentioned it in another post...

I would like to add some personal days to my contract.
Thanks!

I just tell them of upcoming dates in my monthly newsletter. I always try to give them at least 5 or 6 weeks notice and more if I am firm on a date that I already know I am taking. But once I make it known I am taking the day off it is NOT negotiable and the parents have no say.

[mom-in-alberta]

Yup, I do the same. I don't tell them why either, unless I happen to mention it in passing. I simply put in the newsletter and post it for that month. I give AT LEAST 2 weeks notice, but usually more like 4.
My contract specifies that I can take up to 4 "personal" days throughout the year in addition to stats and my holidays.

[Daycare123]

Thanks Judy and Mom-in-A;berta-that all sounds reasonable! Are they paid or unpaid?

[Momof4]

I wrote 3 paid personal days per year into my contract a few years back. I didn't use any until this year when I was sick. I gave the parents 24 hours notice and they all figured out what to do.

[mom-in-alberta]

Paid. And I have not had any parents take issue with it, because I "build" it into my fees (ie; they are SLIGHTLY lower to make up for the fact that I have paid holidays). If I was going to do unpaid, I would definitely increase my rates. But I like to have the steady, albeit lower, income.