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Original poster

Any childminders had problems with parents when it comes to holiday ???

33 replies

happyfaceschildcare · 04/03/2009 09:33

Hi all,
Don't know where to start really a little bewildered by it all !
Basically I mind 3 children full time 2 are siblings and the other is their next door neighbour, last night I gave them some holiday dates I want off for the year one is for 7 days and one is for 5 days and another odd day in March, we have contracts which they have signed saying I have 5 weeks holiday, I don't know how you work but I charge for their absences but charge nothing for my absences thinking that they will need to find alternative care or take unpaid leave so thought this was quite fair but unknown to me last night they all got together and discussed how my holiday requests were unacceptable because they don't want to use their holiday to cover mine and they don't mind using 2 weeks of their holiday to cover mine but they want the other 2 weeks of their annual leave to book as and when they see fit which I do understand but at the same time I am entitled to my holiday surely one of the parents has got quite stroppy and literally left this morning not speaking to me I have tried to explain that when they book their holidays I am still working and as much as they want to book their holiday to suit themselves that's what I want to do to, I have managed to find another childminder near by that is happy to cover odd days but when it comes to more than that they are refusing to take unpaid leave to look after their children and are saying I cannot take more than two weeks !!! I know this is wrong but I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar situation and how they've dealt with it without upsetting and alienating the parents as I want to keep a good working relationship but I know I'm entitled to my holiday....please help !

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islandofsodor · 04/03/2009 09:59

Neither are under 5 now but although ds would have been entitled to unpaid leave who can really afford to go without pay for that amount of time a year, plus an employer is allowed to defer such leave for up to 6 minths so if your childminder says I need holiday in March, your employer can say with regards to parental leave can't do March, have June instead.

PLus isnt parental leave a total of 6 weeks to be taken in the first 5 years.

It really sounds like your parents have not thought theiir childcare through properly.

Kewcumber · 04/03/2009 09:57

same as flea circus, my Childminder takes the last two weeks in August miost years and I'd really rather not go on hols then, but I do because I pretty much (with a little flexibility using my mum) take my holiday to fit in with hers.

a) its in the contract I signed and
b) its really not the end of the world taking holiday same time as her.

fleacircus · 04/03/2009 09:51

IslandOfSodor, if your children are under five your DP is entitled to unpaid parental leave just like any other employee. I'm a teacher too so I do understand that it's difficult to ask when you have such good holidays anyway, but if needs must it's a statutory right.

fleacircus · 04/03/2009 09:50

Our CM has just given us holiday dates for June, she's going for two weeks. Obviously we'd rather not use our holiday to cover hers but it's in the contract, she needs a break too, she's given us loads of warning and most importantly of all, DD loves her. Also, she charges full price for her holidays and we think it's perfectly reasonable for her to do so. Paid holidays are pretty much standard in any job where you're not self-employed. Stand firm!

nomoreamover · 04/03/2009 09:50

island has a good point about schools - I have a policy that unless I am ill I don't take time off in term time because a) my own DS needs an education and b) I have several teachers on my books.

When are the weeks you have booked? Are they in school holls? And island is right - they maybe need nursery or nanny care....

islandofsodor · 04/03/2009 09:45

If they are that inflexible then I would suggest that a child minder is not appropriate to their needs and they need to look at nurseries instead.

I can understand them, my dh who works in schools cannot take unpaid leave as and when, his holidays are set and though I can cover a couple of weeks a year I would not be able to take 5 weeks off (Christmas and Easter are set for me as the office is closed and I have 3 free choice weeks even if it was holiday and I could not afford paid leave. Hence we chose nursery care which was guaranteed open 50 weeks per year

However if that was in your contract, and it was, and you are not charging when you are away it is not unreasonable. There has to be some give and take though. MOst industries allow their employees to take around 2-3 weeks holiday when they like with other dates being set by the company (a generalisation I know), perhaps you could reduce your holiday to 3 weeks and choose the other two weeks at a time more convenient to the parents.

You don;t have to do this , but it may be worth considering if you don't want to lose them.

nomoreamover · 04/03/2009 09:39

Thank god its not just me!! And how dare they gang up on you like that?!

I rang the NCMA for advice when it happened to me and they said I can do whatever I like as long as its in the contract that they have signed - I was told by solicitor that if parents are silly enough to sign contracts they don't understand or haven't read then thats their look out not yours.

Some parents (and it sounds like you have some of these - as do I!) view us more as their personal "au pair or nanny" and seem to think they can dictate our working conditions and pay. God don't even get me started!!!

NCMA reccomends 4 weeks holiday (but they've signed yorus for 5 so thats also cool) and its up to us to decide if we charge. They are lucky you don't charge for any of your weeks- I charge for 2 weeks holiday! Any additonal leave is unpaid. It is what it is - you are entitled to holiday and you cannot please every client on your books as to when you take it can you?

llareggub · 04/03/2009 09:39

What does your contract say about holidays? Does it specify how many you'll take in a year?