Vacation Days--Should I charge?

[dchadmin]

I'm curious to know what those of you charge (or if you are charging) for vacation days.  I'd like to know if you are requesting paid vacation from watching children, and also if you charge parents for vacation days that they use.  Thanks,

[happyhearts]

I allow myself up to 3 weeks full pay a year. I always provide plenty of notice. In Minnesota anyways I have never had a family complain they seem to understand the need for paid vacation

[alridlon]

Hi, I'm just wondering, if you charge for your vacations, what about single moms that are self employed and do not get benefits themselves, and not only that, have to pay another daycare provider to watch their children while you are on vacation?  What is fair?   :?  Wouldn't it just be easier to adjust your rates to reflect an increase to cover your vacations?  Thanks.

[dchadmin]

Yes, you could just adjust your rates overall to cover you, that's one way to go about it.  Another idea is to take one vacation week during a holiday week (such as between Christmas & New Year's, or the week of Thanksgiving) when many people have paid company holidays. You could either not charge at all or charge 50% of your normal rate for that week. Then you could take your other vacation week sometime during the year and charge 50% of your rate, or don't charge at all.  You're right, it's kinda unfair to the parents if they have to pay a backup provider AND pay for you, too, even though you're gone on vacation.

[jaccro82]

I  charge two weeks tuition for my well deserved vacation. I also take 10 paid holidays and allow myself 3 paid sick days per calendar year. My families don't bat an eye. They know that good childcare is hard to find.

I tried to feel guilty at first, but then I realized that the majority of my families received paid vacations and sick days.

I am also not an ogre and circumstances alter cases. I have a mom who cleans homes for a living and for those two weeks I take vacation, I waive her fee and get free house cleaning in return. There is always an answer to a problem and we are in the business to help families when and where we can.