Would you be annoyed with it ?

[Newatchildminding]

Ok, I'm a childminder and I don't charge at all for my holidays. I took on a friend's dd about a year ago and she is always asking me when I'm going to take my holiday so she can coordinate hers with mine so she doesn't have to pay. Anyway, for this xmas, I have suggested we do half/half, if she wants to take some time off, she can pay me half and if she doesn't want time off, she pays as normal. She refused but said that I could take some time if I wanted, she will arrange something else..I can't help being upset with her.

Unless you are going to introuce a clause saying "you only don't have to pay if you use other childcare"

surely it doesn't affect the amount of money you get?

sorry, I don't understand the problem

do you normally take time off over Christmas? can you not just take the holiday you want, and then charge her full rate for any holidays your friend chooses to take on top of that?

I am a CM and I let parents know asap when I am taking holidays, so they can do exactly what your friend is suggesting ... take their holidays at the same time and not pay. If they take their holiday at a different time, then they pay and also run the risk of running out of leave entitlement when I am away, if they can't find alternative care.

I know a few CMs who send out their holiday dates for the whole year in January, which is really helpful for parents.

Are you just upset that if she booked her holiday first, then you would get paid? I work on the basis that I am paid if I am available. If I am not available, then I don't get paid.

Having said that ... some CMs do get paid holiday, so maybe you want to review your policies?

I'm upset because she doesnt want to do 50/50 for christmas, we both take time off and she only pay half fee, so she doesn't lose too much and I don't lose too much but yes I was wrong and I'm going to review my policies.

My parents were informed about a month ago what holidays I'm taking for the whole of next year. Reason being, as HSMM says, so they can book the same time as me if they want. If they don't then of course I get paid when they are on holiday but it would be highly unlikley I'd actually get any extra time off unless ALL families took those same dates. Luckily most of my families pay me a fixed monthly fee (I work out the annual cost minus my time off and bank hols and divide by 12) so I don't actually have a big loss income wise when I am on holiday that month. Maybe that would be something to consider when reviewing your policies?

Looneytune, I'm going to look at that, it is a very good idea ! Thank you !