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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay childminder for Xmas day

278 replies

emmagreen481 · 17/12/2018 13:51

My DS’s childminder wants me to pay her for Xmas day & Boxing Day when she’s not even open?? Is this normal

OP posts:
Twickerhun · 18/12/2018 18:42

My childminder is an absolute angel. I would happily pay her double for Christmas - she deserves far more than she charges for what she does for my child - the education, fun, stimulation, care, professional knowledge ..... I technically pay half rates for Christmas etc but I know if I didn’t pay her that then her hourly rate would rise - she has to be able to afford to run her business and make a living.

nokidshere · 18/12/2018 18:45

It's of no consequence whatsoever if the childminder charges for holidays. The only thing that matters is what you agreed with her in the first place. And yes, you really should have a contract.

My terms and conditions are clearly laid out and discussed at the first meeting. If a parent then goes ahead with my provision then it is accepted that they agree to those terms and conditions. No-one is forced to use my service.

I also charge an annual figure, which is then divided by 12 equal payments so that I get the same pay every month regardless of holidays etc and the parents are able to budget accordingly.

nokidshere · 18/12/2018 18:48

Off topic- but so many childminders are stating that they don't earn much etc?! How?

I'm a childminder and earn over 1 thousand a week. I don't know any childminder in rl who isn't earning well. Is this a regional thing?

A childminder without an imagination, that's novel. Surely it's not hard to work out that a) you might have more children for more hours or b) that you might charge a higher rate.

HSMMaCM · 18/12/2018 18:55

Lampshade - that's nice for you. I work 50 hours a week and don't earn anywhere near £1k a week.

5fivestar · 18/12/2018 19:01

I wouldn’t work for a family that didn’t want me to have the same rights as them. If you get paid for bank holidays then so do I and do do my assistants

MrsBombastic · 18/12/2018 19:04

Ok so here's the thing... relative or not, she is charging you and in the absence of a contract you do not legally have to pay her for Christmas Day.

I would play it a bit simple, act surprised and ask her why she is expecting you to pay her for a day that she will not be minding your child.

See what her reasoning is. If she starts waffling about bank holidays etc. Just gently remind her that A) she's never minded DC on bank holidays and in the absence of a contract you are neither legally nor duty bound to pay her anything and suggest a contract that makes you both happy going forward.

I strongly suspect she is chancing her arm and that's rather cheeky.

I also suspect it will become a bone of contention between you but there's no easy way around this, you're going to have to deal with her and you need to do it face to face.

Can we assume you pay her less than a registered child minder?

I had this problem: my friend "offered" to mind my child while I was at work 2 days a week which I thought was unbelievably generous and then slapped me with an hourly rate and all kinds of outrageous demands so I told her thanks but no thanks and went to a proper child minder.

It's difficult but you've both dug yourselves a hole here so you both need a face to face and acknowledge it and then make a plan for the new year.

Good luck. Xx

topcat2014 · 18/12/2018 19:09

Surely, the whole essence of being self employed is that whatever you earn when you are working has to cover you for periods when you are not working - like holidays.

I never really understand how all these contracts end up specifying things like holiday pay.

If the whole industry is like this, then I suppose people have no choice, but it still seems weird.

ronT · 18/12/2018 19:10

I would think it depends more her employment status. If you are her full time employer, then you should pay for bank holidays. If she is employed by a child minding business, it is up to her employers to pay for bank holidays. If she is self employed, she is not entitled to paid holidays. Even if paying for bank holidays on which the service is not provided is written into the contract, it is an 'unreasonable contract'. This term is recognised in law to protect clients from unscrupulous service providers so such a contract would be unenforceable in law.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 18/12/2018 19:13

£1000 a week? You either live in an hour where you can command a high hourly rate or you look after a lot (!) of children.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 18/12/2018 19:13

*area not hour

AlpacaLypse · 18/12/2018 19:13

Just found this thread while browsing around looking for a nice parking bunfight what I find truly shocking is the low rates people are paying for their children to be cared for compared with what I charge to look after other people's dogs and cats! We don't charge for stuff we don't do - but we do charge a minimum of £8 an hour for walks, and that's old clients/mates rates. Looking after other people's animal companions is still a very responsible job which we take very seriously - but honestly it's insane that I pay more to my staff to care for pet animals than childminders, nursery staff, and also carers for older and disabled humans get per hour.

brighteyeowl17 · 18/12/2018 19:13

‘**nokidshere

Off topic- but so many childminders are stating that they don't earn much etc?! How?

I'm a childminder and earn over 1 thousand a week. I don't know any childminder in rl who isn't earning well. Is this a regional thing?

A childminder without an imagination, that's novel. Surely it's not hard to work out that a) you might have more children for more hours or b) that you might charge a higher rate.’

How unbelievable rude. Another one with a chip on their shoulder about childminders maybe?!

lampshadelife · 18/12/2018 19:14

HSC - sorry was not gloating! It's just so many people on these types of threads say childminding is a low paid job. Where I am it's not the case at all for all childminders. Just surprised as childminders work hard a deserve to be paid accordingly

lampshadelife · 18/12/2018 19:16

Georgie- I have 3 a day. The average rate is £75 per child per day where I live

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 18/12/2018 19:20

Ok, so I was right then? Confused I don’t exactly get your point?! Bragging maybe. Well congrats.

Yura · 18/12/2018 19:21

@lampshadelife based on numbee of kids and rates my childminder makes more than 1k per week i would think, but that is before expenses. For 60 hours weeks , and after expenses its not a lot of money for a job with a lot of responsibilities and no breaks etc.

ZoSanDesu · 18/12/2018 19:22

@lampshadelife yikes! I charge 40 per child for 8-5:30 as it's the going rate in my area and I was thinking I was being ridiculously cheeky doing at 5% pay rise to £42 in the new year!

I have two children of my own who I can't claim funding for, but who count in my ratios, so that affects childminders earning potential too.

OP: lots to read and digest here. Did you decide what you're going to do?

hibbledibble · 18/12/2018 19:23

Childminders aren't low paid, certainly not in London.

I know a childminder who is taking in £3000 a week gross. She is paying an assistant and food bill out of that, but it still leaves a big take home.

themoomoo · 18/12/2018 19:24

£75 per day. Bloody hell!! we charge £37.50. Guess there's a huge difference countrywide

nokidshere · 18/12/2018 19:28

How unbelievable rude. Another one with a chip on their shoulder about childminders maybe?!

@brighteyeowl17 I have been a childminder for 20yrs, no chip on my shoulder thanks Grin

But really, how can anyone, childminder or otherwise, not understand how she is making 1k a week and others aren't? Surely only someone without any imagination at all? Every childminder I know, and probably all the ones I don't, can work out how I earn just £160 a week and they earn £1000 a week.

helenlsmith · 18/12/2018 19:32

I don't suppose she will open on xmas day and boxing day, so that's her choice ,not yours. so if she's not opening she is breaking the contract not you

EwItsAHooman · 18/12/2018 19:37

Childminders aren't low paid, certainly not in London.

Not everyone is in London. Going rate here is £3-£4 per child per hour with siblings charged around 50p-£1 less per child per hour.

EwItsAHooman · 18/12/2018 19:40

I don't suppose she will open on xmas day and boxing day, so that's her choice ,not yours. so if she's not opening she is breaking the contract not you

No, she's not.

  1. They OP and the CM have no contract so neither of them has a leg to stand on.
  1. If they did have a contract stating Christmas/bank holidays are payable even though the CM is closed and the OP signed this, indicating agreement, then she would have to pay it because she signed her agreement to it. Childminders set their own pay and conditions.
Runsforwine · 18/12/2018 19:48

@themoomoo I'm with you here, I'm a childminder abroad and yes I'm paid 3€ an hour, and yes I'm always doing extra hours or swopping to accommodate parents which means my children miss out. The difference for me is we are employed by the parents so they pay all our social charges and we are entitled to holiday pay and paid bank holidays, and why shouldn't we have the same benefits as the rest of the employed population? People pay waitresses more per hour to serve food than we get paid to care for other peoples most precious family members? It's madness!

lily2403 · 18/12/2018 19:49

If she closes her business then no don’t pay