Unless you have a lawyer in the family the cost of trying to recoup the money is usally not worth it. Are we entitled to it yes? But paying several hundred dollars to recoup $200 means at most you break even but not even that by the time you factor in lost wages to take them to small claims court.

I started doing a 2 week end of care deposit at the beginning of care even though my contract has a month notice. At most I am out only 2 weeks worth of severence which is better than nothing.

Our anger comes not from the immediate loss of income but more from the lost income while we advertise to find a replacement which you can see why the parents don't care because it doesn't effect them.

Blame is also on the new care arrangements. How many of us looking to fill a spot willingly wait without pay for a month while a family gives a previous caregiver notice? What daycare centre that finally has an opening willingly holds that spot for a month till the family is legally ready to move without giving it to the next person in line. Parents don't want to pay twice and I quite get the hardship related to that and I also get why they feel they should have to when the system is set up against them. As stated, that doesn't mean we aren't entitled to the money just that the parents don't see it our way and yes legal options are out there but unless it is a lot of money and your contract is iron clad it is very tough to do.