To think that childminders take the piss.

[perfectshadeofgrey]

I think that some childminders take an advantage of parents. The last childminder I saw demands 24 days of paid holiday + paid bank holidays + paid Christmas + 6 days paid sick leave. We would also need to provide the food, nappies, wipes, bus fares etc. WTF?
I don't agree with this. For a start, she's self employed so why should I pay for her holidays and when she's off sick.
AIBU to think that this is not right?

YABU

She could add the cost of covering those things on to her hourly rate - like other self-employed people do. But if you agree to the contract as it stands then you've agreed to the contract. Don't if you don't agree?

Providing food, nappies, wipes, travel costs - totally reasonable. It's also quite usual to pay either full rate or half rate when YOU take annual leave.

Paying 24 days holiday, bank holidays, Christmas - wow, either childcare in your area is so scarce that she can genuinely do this and still get business -or, more likely, she's not going to get any custom.

You are right, she is self employed, and therefore you shouldnt be paying her for her time off.

IMO this is the biggest difference between a nursery and a cm. With a nursery you pay full rate all year round; with a cm, you should not be charged when THEY are taking time off.

If you don't like her terms either use another childminder or use a nursery. You don't have to use any service if you don't like the terms on which it is being provided.

Yanbu at all, this sounds quite excessive, the holidays part. Equally a lot of parents take the piss too

YABU If the terms were unreasonable, they wouldn't earn anything as no-one would pay. If enough people pay that they make a living then it's the appropriate pay and conditions.

Sorry. It's crap, but fairness doesn't really come into it. I certainly would not pay anyone under those conditions but I guess other people must.

Really anastaisia?

You think a CM should add in things like Christmas to her hourly rate? I am assuming she WON'T be available to childmind other people's children on Christmas Day, Boxing Day ....

Oh and I forgot to add that her daily rate is also very high. Much higher than the local nursery.

That particular childminder is taking the piss. Not all childminders are like that. You can choose a different childminder.

There is the option of a nursery if you don't want a childminder.

How much is she charging an hour?

Op don't use her then!

Glad you said some childminders. As a childminder I personally don't charge for any time my service is unavailable, be that holidays or sickness. If a child is ill or has time off when I am working then full fee applies. I provide food in my fees but not nappies or wipes. I take them to playgroups and do not charge. As you say we are self employed, and we can set our terms as we want to, you are free to find a childminder or other childcare with terms that you are happy with.

flowery - you are right that is why I won't be using her. Just thought that it's all very excessive.

YABVU - not all childminders do this, in our experience it would be a real exception. But at the end of the day a person can set up a business and run it on whatever terms they like. If you don't agree find an alternative provider.

I'd say that 90% of our childminding experience has been nothing but positive.

When you say 'take advantage', do you mean that the childminder put a gun to your head and forced you to sign the contract?

Otherwise, just don't employ people who want those contractual terms.

Well if her daily rate is also high and she's charging for all these things I expect many will feel as you do and will go elsewhere and she will then be forced to reconsider her terms or go out of business.

sexy - I did say SOME childminders do. I'm glad you've had a good experience.

YABU. My childminder isn't like this at all.

You can't tar all CM with the same brush, most are fantastic, this one is taking the piss

YABU - that one does. Don't use her.

YABU based on your experience of one childminder. Plus providing your own food, nappies etc is normal.

However regarding paid holidays YANBU. My DH has just registered as a CM and will not charge for his holidays or sickness - only the childs holidays and sickness.

Not in the title

YANBU...a childminder is self employed. Your childminder is is expecting nanny type wages and to be an employee, in which case you would be better off actually employing a nanny.

YANBU though glad you said some as lots are good.

I once approached a child minder who said she charged £4 an hour which was fine. Then she casually added that although she charged for a full week she did not work after mid day on a Friday and also needed 20 days a year paid leave plus bank holidays and Christmas and she would let me have the holiday schedule when I came in to sign the contract.

Needless to say that was as far as I went with her Presumably there are somewhere parents who always get Friday afternoon off?

That was 5 1/2 years ago by the way and I've no idea whether her hourly rate was reasonable or not as she scared me off CMs for good and we sent dd to a nursery instead