Does anyone have NON FEE DAYS???

[Inspired by Reggio]

I am another you pay for the SPACE you are occupying regardless of the use - our income is limited to the # of children we are legally allowed to have and being self employed is challenging enough to keep a 'steady' income - I choose to have fee payment policies in place that help keep my income as steady as possible as well as much notice as possible if it is going to 'dip' due to someone terminating care until I can secure a replacement client!

Seriously if people buy a 'gym membership' to the gym the gym is open 7 days a week and your membership contract indicates you are able to attend 7 days a week - if you only attend THREE days you do not go into the gym and say I want a credit for the 4 days I did not use this week, if you rent your apartment based on a months rent and go on vacation for two weeks and are not 'using' your apartment you do not go to the landlord and say 'I am only paying HALF my rent this month cause I was on vacation' ... why is it so hard for society to see childcare the SAME way you committed to the SPACE in the program regardless of its use your FEES were determined based on this same model .... if your provider has given your FIVE days off throughout the year 'unpaid' she factored that INTO your fees as well do not get greedy or you will find yourself with NO UNPAID DAYS like the rest of us who have decided it is just 'easier' than trying to be nickle and dimes by people who do not GET IT

[gcj]

No, I have no no-fee days. They have reserved a spot, doesn't matter if they're here or not. Just like daycare centres and preschools. My vacation days, however they are never charged for. I take a lot, which the parents know up front. They accept to live with my vacations and I accept that I dont' get paid for any of it.

[SummerLuvin]

I always emphasise right from the initial e-mail, the fee is for the SPOT, not for the days the child is present. The fee is payable whether the child is here or not, regardless of the reason. If I choose to close the daycare either for sickness, personal day or vacation, THEN the fee can be deducted. I'm so happy that my parents understand this. My dcb missed 2 days this week with a cold and they paid the full amount. Being the pessimist that I am, I was fully expecting them to short pay 2 days, but they didn't!! Yay!

[mom-in-alberta]

I am another you pay for the SPACE you are occupying regardless of the use - our income is limited to the # of children we are legally allowed to have and being self employed is challenging enough to keep a 'steady' income - I choose to have fee payment policies in place that help keep my income as steady as possible as well as much notice as possible if it is going to 'dip' due to someone terminating care until I can secure a replacement client!

Seriously if people buy a 'gym membership' to the gym the gym is open 7 days a week and your membership contract indicates you are able to attend 7 days a week - if you only attend THREE days you do not go into the gym and say I want a credit for the 4 days I did not use this week, if you rent your apartment based on a months rent and go on vacation for two weeks and are not 'using' your apartment you do not go to the landlord and say 'I am only paying HALF my rent this month cause I was on vacation' ... why is it so hard for society to see childcare the SAME way you committed to the SPACE in the program regardless of its use your FEES were determined based on this same model .... if your provider has given your FIVE days off throughout the year 'unpaid' she factored that INTO your fees as well do not get greedy or you will find yourself with NO UNPAID DAYS like the rest of us who have decided it is just 'easier' than trying to be nickle and dimes by people who do not GET IT

BAM> that's it....

[Sarah A]

THANKS to you ALL!!! It seems like a majority of you have the "Pay if I'm open, and No pay if I'm closed" philosophy. This would make it a lot easier on me as well.

I was thinking of keeping the no fee days just for full time kids sick days but now I'm going to cut it out completely. It's just not fair when I am expecting a certain pay every two weeks and sometimes it's less. NO WAY am I going to let that happen again.

I also used to have one week paid vacation but now I've changed it to two weeks vacation unpaid so I think the parents will appreciate that they won't have to pay when I am closed.

Thanks PLAYFELT for your explanation of your non fee days and I think I read a post from you about a year ago about your non fee days and I think that's why I was thinking to add it to my revised contract. But when I hear of so many of you ladies not deducting fees, then why can't I.

Also, who offers a discounted fee for when parents go on vacation with their kids?

[zen39]

No discounted fees for parents vacation time either. Again they are paying for the spot...up to them if they use.

[Momof4]

No discounted fees for parents vacation time either. Again they are paying for the spot...up to them if they use.

Exactly! I have a family heading to the tropics this Wednesday so will be away for 2 days this week and all next week too. You bet they are paying for these 2 weeks before they leave. They can afford to go to a hot sunny place so they can afford to pay for their daycare space too. It's simple.

As far as confrontation for sick children, don't worry about enforcing your contract because if you DO NOT then you are giving parents the message that you DON'T take your contract seriously so WHY SHOULD THEY? Oh ladies, please enforce your contract rules to the letter.