Part Timers and My Vacation

[FSD]

Hello!! I have a dcm who is a nurse so her schedule is all over the place. We agreed that they pay for a minimum of 12 days a month and if they go over that amount of days, they pay for it (I keep track). It's been great ~ no issues. Anyways, I'm about to go on vacation (PRAISE THE LORD!!), and dcd was asking about payment this month. I'm going to be closed for a total of 7 days. I told him that since I'm still available to take their child for 12 plus days in July, their regular payment is due. Am I right? They often send their child in on days even when she's not working, especially if it's a month where her work schedule only adds up to 9 days care. Just looking for some advice here. Thanks a bunch!!

[DCMG]

Absolutely right! If they were on a set schedule then I could maybe see them not having to pay but they are on a flex schedule so the full 12 days are due whether they choose to use the days or not.

[superfun]

That's a tough situation. I can see both sides of it. If it was me, I would likely offer a 1 day discount or something. The one day wouldn't make a big difference in my income, and it would likely be enough that the parents would feel better.

[playandlearnhere]

That is the price they pay for 'on call' care. Sometimes it seems unfair to the parent, but they are taking up a spot in your daycare, and only coming occasionally.

I have a family that calls the night before to arrange care since the husbands work is very last minute. But I am really tough on them when they ask for 1/2 day rates. He'll pick up at the 5 hr mark after I have fed lunch, and expect a 1/2 day, but I won't do that for them when I am already dropping everything for them the night before and expecting a full day's pay.

[mickyc]

If it was me I would take 31 (amount of days in a month) divide by 12 days (they attend per month) = 2.58. So they would average 2.5 days per week. If you were closed for 7 of those 31 days I would charge them for 10 days that month instead of the 12.

That is what I would charge them.