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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

childminder off sick- who pays?

20 replies

kilburnfrenchie · 14/10/2014 08:58

DS goes to a childminder - every day and is very happy there. Last month they were sick and as a result for 2 days did not take DS. As a result I take half a day off work, so does DH and we get emergency childcare to cover us in the middle. So we have paid them for 20hours of childcare which they have not provided through no fault of ours, and we have also paid for 12hours of emergency childcare (not cheap). They are arguing that the 20hours they didn't do they should still be paid for- which seems unreasonable to me. Is this standard practice?

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Sunflowersareblue · 14/10/2014 08:59

look in your contract. all cm make their own rules. so what did you sign?

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 14/10/2014 09:04

Its down to the individual. My CM doesnt charge if she is not available. Ive never known her take a sick day now I think about it

Original poster

kilburnfrenchie · 14/10/2014 09:05

Doesn't say explicitly in the contract.

We pay if we don't send DS (e.g. if we are on holiday or he is sick)- I am fine with that- it's our decision/ responsibility and they clearly can't just "re-sell" those hours.

OP posts:

mymummademelistentoshitmusic · 14/10/2014 09:14

If its not in he contract then absolutely not. She's self employed, that's the risk she takes. Cheeky mare.

nokidshere · 14/10/2014 09:26

It obviously depends on the contract but mine, and most childminders I know, says that if I am unavailable to work then the client does not pay.

BerylStreep · 14/10/2014 09:30

Unreasonable of her to expect you to pay for a service she wasn't able to provide on those days.

Groovee · 14/10/2014 09:31

My contract with my childminder stated that we paid if the child was ill but we didn't pay if she was ill or unable to work x

PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair · 14/10/2014 09:34

Standard practice would be that you pay if it's your fault your DC isn't there, you don't if it is CM's fault. This should be clear in the contract but if not, she's being cheeky expecting you to cough up if she is not available for work.

One of my ex's favourite sayings "there's no sick pay for the self-employed" as I dragged my poorly butt back into the office.

BerylStreep · 14/10/2014 09:45

It's an area worth sorting out from the start, as are holidays.

My CM expected to be paid for weeks when she was going on holiday, as well as when we were on hols.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/10/2014 09:53

If it doesn't say in contract then cm doesn't get paid - very cheeky of her to say you pay as she isn't providing a service so shouldn't get paid - or she could take as many days off as she likes !!

Original poster

kilburnfrenchie · 14/10/2014 09:56

Thanks everyone- I am glad I am not being totally unreasonable...

OP posts:

PenelopeGarciasCrazyHair · 14/10/2014 11:04

Yeah if your CM was a sickly type who took a day off every week where would you be? She can't expect to get money when she chooses not to work.

Most CMs I know offer 4 weeks of holiday per year when they are unavailable for work (& you don't pay) too. If you take holiday outside of those times when she is available to work then you pay, but if you can make your time off coincide then you don't pay.

I obviously don't work Xmas day/Boxing day, so children who would ordinarily come to me on those days won't be paying, as I can't expect to earn money for a service I'm not offering.

Cullercoats88 · 14/10/2014 11:29

I don't charge for my sick days. As others have said this is in contract and was discussed at start.
I would broach subject again, what is her reasoning for charging? If it's not explicit in contract then I would just make deductions when you next pay. Let her know you are doing this though

HSMMaCM · 14/10/2014 11:40

Very surprised it's not in the contract, but if it's not, then I wouldn't pay.

Notagainmun · 14/10/2014 16:14

I don't charge when my service is unavailable (sick or hols) but if the child is sick I still charge as the contract is for a space not as or when needed. Check your contract though.

Jinxxx · 14/10/2014 19:25

I took a day off last year (very rare) and said I would take it off the bills and parents were quite insistent they would pay anyway as it wasn't my fault. I insisted myself and did take it off the bills, but most of them just paid the full amount anyway, which I thought was kind.

starlight1234 · 14/10/2014 20:44

I have had a couple of sick days usually from sickness bugs I have caught from the little one's I don't charge.

duckbilled · 15/10/2014 11:52

I would never charge my parents for closing due to my or my children's sickness. They will have enough to pay out for either emergency care or possibly unpaid time off work.

Heels99 · 15/10/2014 11:57

We don't pay if child minder I'll. I wouldn't pay.

fieldfare · 15/10/2014 12:11

I don't charge if I'm sick. Well, I invoice in advance so I'd end up applying a discount to the following month's invoice.
I've only had 4 days off sick in 5 years though and one of those was for my dd. I'm self-employed and if I'm not open it impacts too greatly on other people. Generally the reason I am unwell is because of their children giving me a virus!

Check over your contract carefully but I'd say no to paying.

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