Holidays at Daycares?

[Camno's Mama]

Day care employees don't get much in the way of benefits or paid vacation. Most day cares will pay their employees for the six major holidays though. So, that's probably why you are asked to pay regardless.

Day cares don't come out much ahead, believe me. I worked in a center for years, and now do home day care. (Although I don't charge for any day that they are not here, but that is because they are friends). They still pay their rent/mortgage whether you are there or not. They still have to pay for their insurance, their utilities, and on and on.

I guess you just have to remember that when you are paying. If your teachers or your center are worthwhile, then it should be worth it to you to reward them in this way.

And I do understand your frustration...we pay for preschool in December despite the fact that they are not there for two weeks. When I start to get angry, I remind myself that they are worth it and that they don't get much for all that they give my kids.

P.S....I just read through more of the thread and I will agree that we were never closed on anything except for the six major holidays though.

 

[labdogs42]

My daycare always charged for holidays. I figured it was fair on many levels. They need to pay their employees for the holiday, they keep the costs the same for me all year round for my budgeting purposes, and they keep the money coming in consistent for them. I also figure that by making you "pay" for the holidays, they are able to make their weekly rate slightly lower (and thus more attractive to potential customers) when the rate remains the same for the whole year. If they had to give you "free" holiday days, they'd probably raise their weekly rate to cover it. That's what I'd do if I ran a daycare center!

DS is helping me post. Here are his smiley choices:

 

[aanderson5]

But their profit does go up. They are not spending money on the food for 75 kids that they would have had to spend on those days, there are not spending money on the gas for the buses on those days, their electricity cost is reduced on those days, the hourly employees are not getting paid on the holidays so their payroll is reduced, etc. etc. etc.

Like I stated earlier, I understand that my daycare is just doing what everyone else is doing, but that doesn't change the fact that it is wrong.

Your local dentist office is probably closed on holidays, but he doesn't charge his patients for being closed. I bet the dental employees are paid. His insurance is the same. The due dates on the loans for the equipment are still due. The rent for the office is still due.

How would you feel if your dentist sent you a bill, even though you didn't go in, just because it was Thanksgiving?

I have worked in a daycare and considered opening one so I have down some research in costs of running a center and let me tell you they costs saved because you are closed for a day is minimal. The biggest expenses, rent and salary, do not go away because you are closed. They are still paying for their phones, internet, insurance, heat and hydro (may save a couple of bucks with no lights on and the heat lowered a couple of degrees). There are large capital expenses that are spread out over the year for toys, craft supplies, paper products, office supplies to name a few. The amount the daycare is saving on food, utilities, and hourly workers (I have never worked at a center with those) would work out to a few dollars a day per child. there are often extra expenses associated around holidays. If you child's daycare has a christmas party I can assure you that the money spent on that most likely exceeds that savings of being closed for a couple of days.

Do you pay your day care a daily or hourly rate? Or do you pay by the week/month? If you join a gym and pay monthly do you expect to pay less for months with less than 30 days?

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

Another home child-care provider here - I have been doing this business out of my home for over 14 years now. I have a contract that the parent is given to read before they make a decision for me to keep their child. It gives all the dates that I will be closed AND will be payed in full for. (I actually take Wed, Thurs and Fri for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, Christmas day and the day after Christmas.) It also tells them they get one "free" week of vacation and I get 14 days paid at half rate. My weekly rate is below what centers charge in our area. This is my business and with the parents, I run it as one. If they don't agree with my terms then we can't do business together. I've never had a parent see it as not fair.
Ellen

 

[Ashlander]

Our daycare is off on all of the holidays and I think they should be. I have no problem with it at all. They are actually closed for a week around Christmas - we do not pay for it (I just figure I pay for it throughout the year). I am glad they are closed and glad that they are able to spend time with their families. I think any time I am able to take off and spend time with my kids is great. I work hard enough - so with my daycare closed, I enjoy using my vacation to spend time with my kids.

 

[mjkacmom]

No daycare, but all of my kids attended private preschool, and they were closed whenever the public schools were closed, and we payed the same amount each month. They were closed 5 days each November (teacher's convention, election day, Thanksgiving and the next day). I had no problem - I knew their schedule before I enrolled my children, so it wasn't a surprise.

 

[kcromley]

and there is nothing stopping you or OP from seeking alternative arrangements for childcare if you don't like the arrangements offered. In most parts of the country, quality daycare places are hard to find. If you don't like the timing, pricing, or service offered by your daycare, go elsewhere.

 

[melancholywings]

In our daycare we have a 2 week vacation that we can request and take our kids out with out having to pay. If yours has the same you can always request those vacation days be on the Holiday.

 

[tinker&belle]

I've worked in childcare centers for several years.

Regarding the holiday issue, typically 80% of tuition collection pays for the teacher's salary and benefits. So the 'gain' you are speaking of would be the 20% remaining...HOWEVER:

Schools generally run on a yearly budget. They divide that amount by the number of weeks tuition is paid, and then divide it by the number of students (it is a little more complicated since different ages pay different rates in some programs).

If they didin't charge for holidays the normal weekly rate would be higher to meet the yearly budget.

Most people have no idea how much it takes to run a quality early childhood program and that many centers are running on grants and end up in the red many times.

 

[becca011906]

I haven't read the whole thread but I'm a director of an After School Program and we charge the same amount each week regardless of the number of days the child is there, this week they will only be there on Mon. and Tuesday and still have to pay full price but our contract states that and to make up for it will will keep their kids the last day of school for 7 hours vs the normal 3 (our school system get out early on all days prior to a vacation time). so we do try to make if fair for the most part. But we are only open when school is in session so durring christmas break we will be closed for the full 2 weeks (no charge durring thoes 2 weeks) and for a week at spring break (no charge again), ect.

 

[Strangeite]

and there is nothing stopping you or OP from seeking alternative arrangements for childcare if you don't like the arrangements offered. In most parts of the country, quality daycare places are hard to find. If you don't like the timing, pricing, or service offered by your daycare, go elsewhere.

I love my daycare. They offer wonderful care. I think that the industry is wrong, not my specific daycare.

I don't agree with it but can see the argument for the major holidays. But Black Friday? December 26? I was just emailed a reminder today that the Circuit Court is NOT closed on Wednesday December 24 or Friday December 26.

For those of you that are inhome daycare providers. I think you taking off is justified, especially when you are upfront with parents.

But for those that think my 2 location, 35 employee daycare that is operated as a business, "deserves" to be paid on all of these days because of their "sacrifice", then we will have to agree to disagree. My contract does not state which days they will be closed (I checked about an hour ago) and their employees are not getting paid on those days off (I checked that too).

Am I going to switch daycares? No. Do I think it is right? No.

 

[tinker&belle]

That is why I have a problem with it. I am paying for a contracted period of time; but, because of the decision on the part of the daycare, I can not utilize that period of time that I have paid for.

But apparently I am in the minority. I guess that the ads in the newspaper, the "limited liability company" behind the name and the EIN from the IRS, confused me into thinking that they are a "business". In reality it appears that they are modern day saints and I should take pleasure in the fact that I am paying the owners of the daycare to go shopping on Black Friday while I have to take the day off of work to stay home with my daughter.

Sorry my mistake.

I hadn't read this far when I first responded. I won't say what I am thinking because I am REALLY insulted and angry right now.

It is a paid holiday. Most professionals have them. Teaching is a profession. Whether they shop or travel on Black Friday is their business and their personal life.

 

[Harters2WDW]

If it makes you feel any better, my daughter's daycare is closed for 10 days at Christmas and then three days at Thanksgiving (in addition to about give other service days/holidays).

 

[brockash]

Our daycare is off on all of the holidays and I think they should be. I have no problem with it at all. They are actually closed for a week around Christmas - we do not pay for it (I just figure I pay for it throughout the year). I am glad they are closed and glad that they are able to spend time with their families. I think any time I am able to take off and spend time with my kids is great. I work hard enough - so with my daycare closed, I enjoy using my vacation to spend time with my kids.

I think the big difference here is that you're not paying for the week they're closed.

 

[Strangeite]

It is a paid holiday. Most professionals have them.

That is simply not true. I am a professional. My wife is a professional. My best friend is a professional. My sister is a professional.

None of us get the day after Thanksgiving off paid.

 

[brockash]

I hadn't read this far when I first responded. I won't say what I am thinking because I am REALLY insulted and angry right now.

It is a paid holiday. Most professionals have them. Teaching is a profession. Whether they shop or travel on Black Friday is their business and their personal life.

Black Friday is a holiday????? I don't think most ppl. get a paid day off for Black Friday....-hmmm... it's not a federal holiday?

 

[Strangeite]

If it makes you feel any better, my daughter's daycare is closed for 10 days at Christmas and then three days at Thanksgiving (in addition to about give other service days/holidays).

That is rough. I am sorry.

 

[connie1042]

I do home daycare. The contract they sign states what days I get paid for. Holidays are the only thing I get paid for. I also get paid if the child does not show up for some reason. ( sick or at Grandmas.) I do not charge for when I am on vacation or if I am sick. The state of Mn. also pays for Holidays for parents who get childcare help. I feel that if the parent has to pay for childcare somewhere else, then I do not charge them.

 

[ERMama]

I too understand the OP and agree. Of course great childcare is priceless but paying for non holiday days the center decides to close "just because" seems a bit unfair.

 

[jeepgirl30]

My daycare is only closed for major holidays. They are paid holidays and I never questioned it. I'm fine paying for it, I get paid.

I can see the OP's issue with non holidays. I would be forced to either use a vacation day to stay home with my children or pay twice to have someone else watch them. That doesn't make sense.

I was an in home nanny many years ago. The family gave me a week vacation when they took vacation. I was paid for that week but was not able to take any other time off. I was fine with that.

Our daycare does not give us "vacation" time. If my kids don't go I still pay. I'm okay with that too, I don't have to pay someone else to watch the kids and pay daycare.

Some parents take their kids out of daycare for the summer, they have to pay a fee to hold the spot. Again, I think that is fair. During the summer my kids take a week to go to Bubba and Poppa's house (my parents), I still pay that week. However, my daycare gives me a break and charges me a 4 day week for a month as long as there are a couple weeks over 3 months they do short weeks. Its a nice little break since the rates skyrocket in the summer.