AIBU to think this is cheeky of DD's creche

[SaraKatie]

When I went to collect DD from creche yesterday I say they had stuck envelopes outside the main door with a different staff member's face on each, and a sign inviting parents to show their appreciation. The envelopes are the small kind that wouldn't take a card or a letter, so I'm 99% sure they are asking for cash. I think if they were asking for cards or notes etc. they would have done a letterbox thing instead.

I know childcare workers are underpaid, but at the end of the day we pay €1250 per month for DD's place (and it's €1400 for under 1s). Parents are struggling to meet these costs, and I just found the whole thing very cheeky. It was clearly a decision on the part of management, but to be honest they should be paying their staff properly and not relying us when their fees are so high as it is.

We'd always give her minders a card and a gift on the last day before the Christmas break, but I was very taken aback by the envelopes. AIBU?

It’s not compulsory.

It’s anonymous.

Many nurseries in the UK (not sure about elsewhere) are really struggling to meet their own costs at the moment because of a lack of govt funding for early years provision. The issue of staff wages has more to do with that than nursery management.

It’s a pretty Covid-secure way to show appreciation - no stuff being brought into the nursery.

It requires less thought and effort than picking out a gift. And it allows the nursery workers to choose something for themselves.

Maybe it is for cards/notes/drawings and/or money?

Overall I would say it’s not cheeky at all. Hopefully the crèche will clarify what it’s about and you can simply choose not to contribute if you can’t or don’t want to.

I'm not from the UK. Their fees are the highest in the area. We had no other choice though because places are impossible to get.

Not sure about the covid argument. They are minding my toddler all day and I think they'd be much more likely to get it from her than a gift and Xmas card from us.

To me it reads like the usual gifts aren't acceptable, and they want money instead. Envelopes aren't big enough for cards/notes/drawings. Really the only thing you could pop in would be cash or a gift card. I've no intention of giving them either.

YANBU, they should pay their staff appropriately. Effectively they're trying to pressure parents into "tipping" their staff so they don't have to pay them more. Nurseries etc. make a small fortune, as with care homes the owners are sitting on a goldmine (and one that will never run dry, because there will always be a fresh batch of customers) by charging huge fees yet paying pitiful wages.

Playing along with them just causes the situation to continue - by "tipping" you are condemning the staff to continual low incomes.

I imagine it's for writing a small note on a strip of paper etc rather than a full card or letter

I understand the argument that nursery workers are very poorly paid, and that many nurseries are really struggling, but any request for a cash gift does leave a sour taste I think.

OP, I live in Dublin as well and yes, i think this is very cheeky.

However, I work somewhat in the early years funding sector.

Creches are closing everywhere because the overheads are astronomical. Very few are making profits even with the high fees and government funding.

The childcare ratios are so high - it doesnt make having under 1s a viable option. They are a lead loss for the creches.

Every year the staff are inundated with wine, chocolate and best teacher crap i am sure they would prefer the money to top up their minimum wages.

@elizabethdraper

OP, I live in Dublin as well and yes, i think this is very cheeky.

However, I work somewhat in the early years funding sector.

Creches are closing everywhere because the overheads are astronomical. Very few are making profits even with the high fees and government funding.

The childcare ratios are so high - it doesnt make having under 1s a viable option. They are a lead loss for the creches.

Every year the staff are inundated with wine, chocolate and best teacher crap i am sure they would prefer the money to top up their minimum wages.

I used to be a teacher and I get the being inundated thing. However a gift is just that – a gift. I don't think it's appropriate to put in a request. Also, a box of chocolates can be a tenner, whereas a cash gift is usually more. Our creche already upped their fees during covid and my current fee payments are on top of the universal childcare subsidy. The fees a borderline unmanageable (due child no. 2 and we will be paying €2500 per month for the two next year). I've heard the argument regarding the overheads but I just can't quite buy it when other creches in the area are charging up to €200 less (but waitlists so long the kids would be adults – and I started the process of looking when I was 6 weeks pregnant with my first, and again when I was 5 weeks with my second, so I don't even understand how?!).

Are you sure its for cash? Seems very open to theft and cash is more likely to carry covid if anything