Nursery charging when they’re closed

[Zogggg]

A recently retired worker at my DS’s nursery has recently passed away. The nursery has let us know that they will be closed the day of her funeral as staff want to attend. Fair enough but they are still charging for the day.

I’m genuinely not sure if this is reasonable or not? This is my first DC so I don’t have much experience of nurseries to know if this is normal?

Check your contract, but it's pretty common for nurseries to charge even when they're closed

What does your contract say? In ours there are circumstances albeit the least likely ones where they won't charge when closed.

Check your contract and their terms, in general yes they can charge when closed if its for circumstances outlined in your contract. Personally i wouldn't contest it as they're going to a funeral for a member of staff who only recently retired and presumably they cant afford for all staff to attend any other way, but in theory if they aren't covered then you could try and contest.

I don’t think it’s so unreasonable. They’re recently retired so not as clear cut if it was a current member of staff but it’s a hard thing to complain about if you do think you have a case. Obviously you don’t want them taking advantage but I can’t imagine there would be another day off like this anytime soon.

I think given the circumstances, I’d probably just put up with that.

Whatever your contract says, for one day only and for this reason (hardly likely to become a regular occurrence) I’d suck it up.

Are you going to be the miserable one who complains that they inconvenienced you and left you out of pocket because they went off for a fun trip out to their colleagues funeral?

Yeah good luck with that.

Let us know the knock on effects and resentment.

Technically, no I don't think it is reasonable! They can reasonably charge you for choosing not to use the service they are offering, they can't reasonable charge you for not choosing to use a service they aren't offering. However given the circumstances, I wouldn't fuss. Presumably a nursery doesn't have 100s of staff, so the likelihood that anymore will die while your child is there is tiny. I couldn't bring myself to make someone feel like they can't afford to go to a colleague's funeral - that would be the height of selfish and mean.

I would be absolutely screwed if our nursery did this tbh.

I wouldn’t complain for fear of being insensitive but I would be put out. The issue is that I would be significantly out of pocket as I’d have to take the day off work (unpaid) and still have to pay nursery fees, feed and entertain my children. Bank holidays I suck up but I would be annoyed at this.

It's your child ever unwell and you're called to collect?

Very rarely, thankfully.

I have two children. I have been called to collect DS three times in total. Once he was sick after I dropped him off, once he developed a fever and once was with an ear infection. He is four years and four months and so that’s less than once a year. DD has been at nursery for eleven months now (where has that gone) and I’ve had to collect her once when she developed a fever.

'absolutely screwed' just seems a bit overkill!

At the moment, it would be pretty disastrous to be honest. I would lose money I can’t afford to lose and I also have exam classes on the cusp of sitting their A levels and GCSEs.

As long as they don't charge you for food or nappies for the day off I would be publicly OK with that

I used a nursery who charged for nappies and food on Christmas day now I accepted paying for food (not nappies) on dds sick days but don't tell me you can't plan your food delivery over Christmas which never changes dates literally happens every year? I didn't use it for long

I’m not saying I’m going to complain I just didn’t know if this was normal? It seems like it is so we can absorb the cost and luckily have grandparents to help with childcare.

Either way the nursery has you over a barrel as he won’t get a place anywhere else so I guess they can do what they like!

They may well offer you a day in lieu if they have spaces through the term so that might be worth asking - after the funeral though!

I think it’s really unreasonable. Lots of people are saying the OP should suck it up but it’s the nursery that should be ‘sucking up’ the cost. It says a lot about the morals of the owners of the nursery that they have chosen to put the cost onto their customers rather than themselves.
If I was the OP I’d be ok sucking up the inconvenience but not the cost.

Whenever there’s a bereavement or emergency, whether a cleaner, nanny etc I would always pay. This is a part of life.

I’d hate the workers to miss their friend and colleagues funeral, if they were all close.

That’s one thing when you have someone self employed like a cleaner working for you regularly but in this instance the owners of the nursery are the ones who should be paying, not the clients.

There is also a difference between offering to pay someone as a goodwill gesture and something that is legally enforceable.

I think it’s “normal” but I don’t agree with it. If they aren’t offering the service then you shouldn’t have to pay imo. It’s bloody hard holding down a job with dc so paying for additional childcare for a day feels unfair. I had 3 in nursery at one point and losing that money would have stung. And I didn’t have local family or any friends who could suddenly care for 3 dc. Taking AL at short notice also tricky.

I’d wonder if all these nursery staff are being paid that day. It’s exceptionally cheeky if the owners are charging full whack but just giving a day of unpaid leave.

Obviously this occasion you can understand, but normally I wouldn't be happy

This is what annoys me. If I wanted to attend a funeral of someone not a close relative my employers would make me take an unpaid day of leave.

I wouldn't say anything but I'd be annoyed because they are making a business decision to close so it's a cost they should absorb. The impact means you will both be charged for childcare and need to take unpaid leave or find an alternative.

So their freebie* is at double cost to you.

*sorry for using freebie in this context, I know its a bit grim but couldn't think of a more succinct way to put it.