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Original poster

Should I be paying my childminder

66 replies

IneedAsockamnesty · 11/02/2013 21:59

When she cancels for things like her kids being sick or having docters/ hospital appointments.

I usually get the cancellation via txt quite late the night before meaning I don't go to work the entire next day.

I only use her 2 days a week as those days I cannot take kids with me and pay over £110 per day ( 8 hours)

These cancelations are over and above her normal holiday pay as she has 5 weeks a year on top of other absences.

So far out of the last 40 days I have paid for she has late cancelled 10 always citing her kids illness or appointments.

I cannot find our contract but apparently its a standered one (what ever that means) from a printed pad of them.

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Tasmania · 12/02/2013 01:37

Wait... you pay her £110 per day?!? Go for a nursery place, if that's the case! I mean... what is she - the Ritz of all Childminders?

You shouldn't be paying a CM if they are unable to work. The whole point about a CM is that they are actually self-employed, and if they get sick, they don't "just get paid".

Ok - read the contract... but really, just look for another CM, because this one is taking the p*ss if she expects to be paid for this.

Original poster
IneedAsockamnesty · 12/02/2013 00:54

That's how I figured it should be, if my children don't attend due to a issue my end but she is still available to work then I would expect to pay

But if the issue is her end and it makes her unavailable then I expected that I wouldn't have to.

On top of the cancelled times there have been 2 occasions during the last 40 booked days where at drop off she's announced she is unavailable for the older child to be dropped off after school so that dc has been dropped off at my work instead and.entertained for a few hours before going on up to hers in a cab and 1 time when ive had to leave work to collect the baby who she claimed was ill but my gp couldnt find anything wrong but she still expects the same money to be paid.

Her system of payments gives her no incentive to actually do the work.tbh I wouldn't be bothered if it was not a regular occurrence but its looking much like it is, its a shame because other than that I rather like her but I think I'm going to have to give notice because of this.

OP posts:
Delayingtactic · 11/02/2013 23:12

I don't pay my CM if she's off sick or her children are. I did feel sorry for her when she had a run of her kids getting D&V which meant that she had to cancel everybody for four days - it must have cost her a fortune. If my DC is sick then I pay naturally. I would be looking elsewhere tbh.

BackforGood · 11/02/2013 23:04

I think it's fairly standard practice that you don't pay if she's not available, but ultimately, it depends on what you signed in the contract. Either way - paying or not - that's no use to you as a working parent. I used various CMs over 14-15 yrs (different arrangements with different children in different houses and attending different schools, etc.) and I think in all that time, I can only remember 1 CM having any time off at all - it was a week for a planned op for which I got about 6 weeks notice. I've never had a CM cancel the night before. I'd definitely be looking for alternative childcare.

pluCaChange · 11/02/2013 22:56

Even if it is in your contract, it sounds as though you need to move your DC. Then she will have plenty of time, too!

HSMMaCM · 11/02/2013 22:48

Don't go in all guns blazing until you have read the contract, as you might have agreed to pay for all.this.absence. if you have, then you should ask for a contract review.

lechatnoir · 11/02/2013 22:48

Eta a printed pad of contracts sounds like the NCMA one & she would have to fill in the relevant section although it doesn't actually have a bit for CM time off for sickness/emergency so I add this under time off for mindee sick. You need to get a copy of your signed & completed contract and I wouldn't feel bad about telling her why you want it.

Flisspaps · 11/02/2013 22:46

If I am sick, or my children are sick, or I can't work for any other reason, then the parents of my minded children don't pay.

If the children I mind are sick, their parents still pay as I am still available for work.

IMO, she is taking the piss.

lechatnoir · 11/02/2013 22:44

10 days out of 40, a QUARTER, is an absurd amount of time off Shock. I charge for holidays but this must be booked at least 4 weeks in advance & definitely wouldn't charge if I / my family were off sick. And last minute cancellations for appointments (which by definition is surely a pre-booked event) is taking to piss - not ideal but why can't your children still go in? I would always try & arrange appointments on my 1 day off a week but if I worked FT then mindee would just come along like my own kids would. I would check your contract & if there is no provision for this either looking elsewhere or asking for a contract amendment in light of the frequency.

HSMMaCM · 11/02/2013 22:43

Ask her for a.copy of your contract. Until you have that, you don't know if you have agreed to pay for these days or not.

My clients would not pay.

SamSmalaidh · 11/02/2013 22:18

I didn't pay if my childminder was unavailable, although she did have a certain number of weeks holiday at half pay. If your CM is that unreliable I would be looking for an alternative or nursery.

doughnut44 · 11/02/2013 22:17

generally a standard contract will be a template and you would discuss it with your CM before filling it in. If I don't work through my own fault then I do not expect to be paid.
If her kids are ill I don't think you can request a week before - lol- but she should give you plenty of notice for appointments at the hospital.
Ask her for a copy of your contract - she should have one.

LunaticFringe · 11/02/2013 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sidge · 11/02/2013 22:01

To clarify, someone else's sickness/appts meaning hers or her family members, not my children's or my sickness/appts.

constantnamechanger · 11/02/2013 22:01

no I wouldn't pay

Sidge · 11/02/2013 22:00

I'd be finding a new childminder! She's taking the piss.

I don't pay my CM if she's unavailable to work, whether through her own or someone else's sickness/appointments/holiday.

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