Quote Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys View Post
That's too bad....having a backup provider is a real benefit for the parents in most cases! Not to mention it makes it easier on the provider as well to go to appointments that can't be made for evenings/weekends. It's also sort of what I think makes home daycare so different than centre daycare.
Yes, I can see how that's useful. I had a health scare late last year which is still being dealt with. It meant that 5 hospital appointments sucked up 5 days leave. Although it wouldn't have been 20 mins cause I'm about 30 mins away from the hospitals, to have been able to run out for up to a couple of hours, and have cover in, would have been enough for most appointments.
I have the same on Jan 29th but at least then, I've managed to cram three specialist appointments into one day so it's one day off vs three. I'll just be running from one hospital to the next from 7.45am until early evening but worth it to save two personal days.

10 paid days off wouldn't go over well here LOL. I think I would rather have your situation than be able to close a few hours early with pay because it happens so very rarely. You definitely have the better end of the stick IMO.
Yeah - I'm lucky. I didn't used to have it. When I first opened, they paid if they didn't come in but if I was off, then no pay required. But then I worked 3 years straight unable to afford a day off. LOL I then asked my whole client base if they would rather allow me some leave (I think it was either 5 or 7 days) or have a fee increase and they all agreed to the leave. When that round of kids started moving on/going to school, I changed it again to 10 personal leave days and upped the price for anyone new coming in.

Some carer's have paid leave here like me. Two weeks/Ten days seems to be average. Some don't have any paid leave and are more like my first arrangement. Some take 4-6 weeks off a year and get paid for 2 of them. It really varies.

More providers are added paid leave to their contract now days. It suits me. If everyone does it, it becomes an industry standard which is great for us. I've never had anyone question the 10 days - I also take stat days and public holidays. I have twice had two people state they were surprised it was only 10 days!