Taking Mat Leave

[mickyc]

Do you have a contract?

[DMof2]

I do have a contract but since its a new year I am currently putting together a new one. It will be ready by the end of the week and the parents are aware of coming changes. I was thinking of adding something about Mat leave but I wanted to find out what other providers did in a similar situation.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I do have a contract but since its a new year I am currently putting together a new one. It will be ready by the end of the week and the parents are aware of coming changes. I was thinking of adding something about Mat leave but I wanted to find out what other providers did in a similar situation.

Most providers do something which reflect their contract. i.e. if they have 2 weeks paid leave, then they use that toward time off and try not take any more for rest year. If they not normally paid for leave, they have unpaid leave.

Any time new contact issued with changes, be mindful that YOU are changing the agreement in place not the client. Client not have to accept new terms and can walk away when the contract they agreed to ending. i.e. If you have new contract with new terms which cost client more than before, and if it start say 1st Feb., they can walk away on 31st Jan with no notice because you ended the agreement and there is no agreement for new terms until they sign and agree.

I think lot of carer lose client when on mat leave because parent concerned that more time might be needed than discussed, that new born child might take most carer's time, that they need pay for care elsewhere while carer off and that short term place hard to find.

Even if they have lot time entitlement off work for self, they not expecting to pay for mat leave unless you discussed with them. At 30 week, they likely already know you having baby, and if not warned you be charging them esp if that not your contract, might be enough for some leave.

It careful balance between your need and not ticking off client who maybe not expecting to pay for your leave. You know client best. I think if I was client who never had pay for leave before, who was expecting to have use my own leave to cover unavailability of carer, I might be insult to get new annual contract where I'd be paying for mat leave if not previously mentioned.

Do client have approx date and time you will be off already?
Do client have any idea you think charging them in new contract?
Is there any advantage to client in signing new contact vs refusing and demanding old contract enforced?

[DMof2]

I also always do a yearly contract since this business can be a learning experience so my parents always know to expect an updated contract in January. Its not always major changes just things added like my policies with sick children, holiday pay, expected time off in the year, etc. Plus it makes my parents actually read my contract and policy because some parents seem to forget over time whats in it :S

[Lee-Bee]

Personally I would be annoyed if my 30+ week pregnant care giver changed the contract to add mat leave pay. If you want paid weeks off add it as weeks of paid vacation and let them know you will use that when the baby arrives and not later in the year. Still might annoy them but it isn't quite as obvious that you want paid mat leave as an after thought!

I agree with the above, be careful. You run the risk of losing families to gain 2 weeks of paid time off. In the long run you might be at a bigger loss. Also should a family decide to walk because of the paid time off you might find it harder to fill a spot if you have a newborn.

That said...you may still lose families when baby arrives. They might have lined up care to start when you take your 2 weeks and they just haven't told you yet as it is too far away. So I would be prepared and have plans in place should that happen so you are not scrambling completely unaware when baby is born.

Not trying to be negative but if my child's caregiver was pregnant odds are we would line up care and give notice and switch when it best worked for the new caregiver. As much as I would love to be supportive and caring to the old caregiver who is about to give birth I would be looking out for my family and my child and making a switch where huge changes aren't taking place. As a pregnant home caregiver we need to be ready and almost expect that at least some families will do this with as little notice as possible (as per your contract).