Rates and vacation time

[shopgirl]

that is my issue when i think about this. Ideally i would want 2 weeks vacation paid a yr plus stat holidays. they would also pay for there own vacations. even with notice i cant plan loss of money. i still need to buy food, pay my mortgage, hydro etc. none of that goes away when people take vacations. (i would have any sick days or personal days as unpaid days)

i am surprised by the amount of people that allow so much unpaid time which i think will hurt me when i dont and i try to look for clients.

[Inspired by Reggio]

...I am surprised by the amount of people that allow so much unpaid time which i think will hurt me when i dont and i try to look for clients.

I empathize .... this is why I offer the different payment plan options so parents can compare apples and oranges when choosing providers ... fees in my area range from $20 - 40 a day depending on things like this and so forth so if you sign on to a $20 a day provider only to find out you are paying 52 weeks a year regardless and she takes 5 weeks off, you are sending your own food, paying additional for any 'field trips or outings' and so forth ... when you add in all those extra expenses the parent is putting out verses the provider it is costing them likely the same as if they had gone with a $35 a day provider.

Bottom line is that at the end of the day we need to make a VIABLE wage .... if you are only charging $20 a day AND providing the food, any program expenses and on top of that you are letting parents take 2 weeks unpaid vacation or not paying if they do not use care and not paying for Stats or your vacation and so forth .... you will be making way less than minimum wage for the very DEMANDING work that we do through out the day - sorry but why bother than you could work a few hours a week at Walmart and make MORE money than?