I used to have my kids in a home daycare and I would have to pay stat holidays. It never crossed my mind to see it as giving 'free money'. Sure you have a thought how nice it would be to save the $35 for the day and not have to pay but I knew that my boss was paying me and my paycheck was the same so therefore it made no difference. It wasn't as if I was paying $35 extra and getting a day's salary less from my job.
The way parents should think of it (or at least I came to think of it) is that you get paid, the provider gets paid and the bonus is you get a day to spend quality time with your child and be relaxed and enjoy each other. A stat holiday really makes no financial impact to a family at all. The salary they make and payment they give to a provider are the same regardless so it shoudln't even be an issue. The only difference is that instead of going to work that day and instead of the child going to care that day - they got to be together.
I really don't see how it should be a struggle for them.
I think parents should see what other providers offer and ask around what the general guidelines are for stats, sick days, vacations etc and they would find that it is all very normal and standard. I know that Durhamdaycare.com used to post polls where providers would answer average salary, whether they get paid vacays and stats etc and when I was looking for a provider I knew what to expect.
I have no idea in what sense they would think that a stat holiday is ripping them off or that you should have to work on a stat. Why wouldn't they want that time at home with their child to bond?
The stay at home all day comment - well....sadly not many people realize how hard it is to be a provider and give 100% every day to these young people, to keep them safe, busy, happy, clean, etc.
When I first used a home daycare I also thought to myself that this provider was lucky to be there for her kids and be able to make an income doing daycare whereas I had to go off to work and deal with a bi-polar CEO every day. lol Of course it wasn't until I became a provider that I realized how hard this woman must have worked !