Why be paid for stats?

[Cookie]

So I have recently read a post from a self employed parent (Chiropractor, I think) upset that she has to pay her DCP for stats when her DCP is closed and not providing her service. Making the comparison to herself that if she doesn't do an adjustment on a patient she isn't paid. I think DCP are different though because we are capped on the # of children we can have and our clientele is therefore capped at 5 (in Ontario anyway), meaning our clientele is extremely small. Is that a good reason? Are there other reasons you have that I could use to explain to her?

Specifically, I'm trying to compare ourselves to other self-employed groups.

This is really bothering me and I'm not sure if it's because I feel guilty for being paid when I'm not open. Although it's in my contract and very common in my area.

TIA!!!

[SecondAve]

I actually agree with the Chiropractor. That is why I have never charged it, even though I know it is common place for my area.

If a provider is comfortable charging it and can find clients willing to pay it, then to each their own. It's just I personally don't feel right about it, especially if they have to pay a provider and then pay someone else to care for their child should they still need to work that day.

[madmom]

I don't think it's fair that just because its a holiday, I may not make my bill payments that month. With the limits placed on dc providers there is NO WAY we can ever come close to making a viable living. If a parent is complaining that it isn't a fair business practice then from now on just give a weekly rate. That way it doesn't matter what holidays, sick days or whatever. If your child comes to daycare it is $XX per week. It never fails to upset me when people haggle over daycare, we are raising their children for goodness sakes, ante up!!!

[torontokids]

I charge for stats, it is also common in my area. I feel it is fair because parents always have to pay for stats, even if they have their child in a centre, stats are paid regardless.

However, I do not charge for my holiday time as I feel that is unfair. I think this is part of being self employed and if a parent needs to find alternative care then they would get hit twice. I also think parents would have a harder time accepting my 6 wks vacation if it was also paid.

I do not charge for my sick days which I think would be a hard sell to my clients.

[Gloucestermom]

I was an RMT before this, and was paid on commission only. My older son was in daycare, and I had to pay for stats and did it without complaining. That's just the way it is, IMHO. Most parents get paid for stats themselves, and dcps shouldn't have to make exceptions for the ones who don't.
If there was a stat where my daycare was closed, my DH would either spend the day with DS, or if he had to work if it was something like Easter Monday or Civic Holiday, then I would stay home. If I stayed home, I would make no money and pay for care. I knew the risks when I got into that job and still chose it! Most people thought we were closed on stats anyways!
Now, I charge for stats and Christmas Eve. I take 5 vacation days at half price.

[Rachael]

Reasons why day care providers might charge...

1. We have no other benefits
2. Due to the number caps, after expenses, we barely make min. wage if at full capacity
3. When a less than capacity, we earn less than min wage for long hours with no means of increasing out income.
4. For the sake of $30 ish why can't we have a day off. A chiropractor would charge more than that for a 15 min consultation, we charge that for a full 10 hours - which includes lunch. snacks and activities.
5. I am sure if she wanted to pay her DCP a rate equivalent to what her own rate works out per hour, that DCP would be willing to let her off the stat hol fee.
6. Because it's in the terms and conditions she agreed to when selecting her provider. Just as a chiropractor might charge for a late cancellation of an appointment, that would be the terms and conditions her client base agreed to.

[playfelt]

In this case I would probably work out a half fee for the stat based on the fact the person is not getting paid for the stat. At the same time they are claiming the day on their taxes as a day of business but closed for the stat and are able to claim the costs for the day for the building as it still has to have minimum heat/cool, electricity, etc.

When parents are paid for the stat without working we should be afforded the same privilege hence charging parents for stats.

[Rachael]

The more I think about this, the more I'd like to add..

This Chiropractor is comparing her DCP's business and charging policies to her own. But, that's hardly fair as I imagine there is no comparable elements throughout.

A Chiropractor may take on as many clients as he/she chooses. There is no max cap.
A Chiropractor does not have clients who come all day but instead just for a short appointment.
A Chiropractor does not have the same clients every day.
A Chiropractor has the flexibility to extend their hours to accommodate more clients if they need to increase their income but if we extend our hours, we don't get any more income.
A Chiropractor will often by charging for all the extra they provide, we can not - our supplies are included in our fees and come directly out of pocket. Is he/she willing to pay for each time their child flushes our toilet and increases our water bill, or for each crayon her child uses, or the craft paper, or the cleaning of carpets if her child vomits on them? Is she prepared to pay more when we toilet train her child and have to spent time dealing with their accidents - he/she would charge for an increased appointment time if that time was dedicated to one client?

[Samantha33]

I charge for stats, it is also common in my area. I feel it is fair because parents always have to pay for stats, even if they have their child in a centre, stats are paid regardless.

However, I do not charge for my holiday time as I feel that is unfair. I think this is part of being self employed and if a parent needs to find alternative care then they would get hit twice. I also think parents would have a harder time accepting my 6 wks vacation if it was also paid.

I do not charge for my sick days which I think would be a hard sell to my clients.

This exactly!

[Busy ECE mommy]

I charge for stats if the child regularly attends on that day(example mondays)because the you are holding that childs space open for all mondays, so you don't get to opt out of paying when you feel like it.
My own kids attend the YMCA afterschool program, and the program and school are closed on all stats and I still pay for it, including Xmas break, when the school is closed and my kids are home with me. You pay for your spot to be held -period. I'm in Ontario(Halton) and this is a common practice.