C/M's, help me not feel bad about charging for bank holidays..

[crace]

I really don't want to spark a "you aren't working, you shouldn't charge" debate here. I know most c/m's charge for bank holidays, and I presented an invoice for the month with those dates on as normal rate.

The mum questioned it this morning, and perhaps I should have had a better answer, but I just said it's normal procedure amongst most c/ms. In fact I remember being surprised when my old c/m charged me.

I still feel bad though.

Well I charge too but I am available to work (but at double pay if needed). This is pretty standard where I am. All was discussed at contract signing as there is a section on the NCMA contracts about bank hols. Do you use these contracts? If so, what does it say on yours?

Why shouldn't you be paid. The parents will be being paid and won't be at work.

It's normal practice to pay people for BH's not just CM's :D

I don't get paid

My decision, but I do regret it

Don't feel bad, wish I'd been more business minded at interview!

i pay 50 weeks a year (cm has 2 weeks hols in august) and see this as paying for the place as well as the care. does that feel better?

I don't get paid for my holidays, so I say to parents that Bank Holidays is the only time they will pay me when I am not working.
I don't expect them to pay if a bank holiday falls into a week I have booked as my holiday though.

It amazes me that some parents seem to resent paying for childcare. I have been a childminder so maybe am more empathising! I now am back at work full time and have a fantastic childminder. As far as I am concerned we are a team and I pay her the same every week, regardless of bank holidays. I also paid her over Christmas, even though she was in Florida and I was working between Christmas and New year. I feel very strongly that the goodwill created is worth the money. She is going away for week in August and I will just fit in my time off with her and I will pay her (even though not on official contract).

I do not earn mega bucks (far from it) but I do get paid every week, so therefore so does she. If my childminder is happy, my children will be happy (and are) and I will be happy!

Good childminders are worth their weight in gold and should be appreciated!

I charge for a childcare place......it is available 50 weeks of the year apart from Bank Holidays

They don't pay per day they pay for the "place" & that's how I "justify" it - if I ever needed too

My goodness Rebi - if only all parents were like you! In fact, the only person who was ever like that with me had been a childminder before too!

Rebi - why can't all parents have the same attitude as you?
Like looneytune, the only people who have ever been like that with me are people who ahve previously been CM's

I think that's the difference. I have experienced the other side!! It is beyond me how parents don't see the connection with treating their childminder well and having a good relationship which benefits everyone. My childminder is flexible with me because she knows I don't take advantage. Although I did have another childminder before who took that to mean that I was a soft touch and she tried to stick the arm in big time. So it works both ways I suppose. (I looked for another childminder!)

You all do a trully amazing job and you should be appreciated for the role you perform for your families.

Rebi, we will all be asking to have your details and hoping you live near us!!
I'm lucky with my parents but some-one always comments about BH, having to pay while at pre-school or when they have days off.

Phew, thanks - I was afraid I was going to start a debate. I guess I shouldn't feel bad, it's all over my policies too but I didn't think that it would be such a big deal. She's getting paid and having both days off.. it's just one of those things.

I think I will just print off a copy of my hours/fees for her as she mentioned not being able to find anything about it.

ACK! I hate confrontation.

I always send out a letter saying we will be making Spring/Easter type things, asking for appropriate clothes as it can still be cold desopite the sunshine (otherwise no coats and I'm still wearing my scarf and gloves), raise any other issues and THEN I include
'I will not be working on BH, though as agreed in our contract, I will still be paid for these hours'
Then I wish every one a Happy BH.
It seems to work well.
(I'm hoping to have an extra day next week as I've got an allotment now and am hoping to have a chance to do some digging!! I think I am a masochist!!)

EM - Digging over our garden will be part of the day for the LO's! I have baby spades, trowels and shovels all ready for the purpose, though I am lucky to have it in my own garden.

They are starting their own bean and tomato plants this week too as part of Spring learning. We are well into the self sufficiency movement (greenies) so growing our own veg/fruit is a highlight of our summer so the mindees will be joining in the fun, and reaping the benefits by bringing theirs home.

Roll on summer!

i pay nursery the same every month, regardless of whether dd is there or not - for whatever reason, they can't fill the place with other children if she's not there, and i'mm paid every month.
would be different if it was a child you had occasionally, who just paid per hour, but not a regular child.

im sure the mum is being paid for bank holiday like everyone else who is employed

can see it not being likes if parenst are self employed (like childminders) and wont get paid themselves though

parents pay me for bank hols but i have let one parent off this time as her dd comes to me mon and fri and i feel bad getting paid from her. must be getting soft

The dad came to pick her up today and he was really off with me - I wrote a note saying that I didn't want it to come between us and if it's that much of an issue I would let it go.

Blech, why can't it just be about the children??? I hate the money side of this, honestly.

As a parent I wouldn't pay it unless you were available to mind in which case I would probably use you on some bank holidays.

I am self employed on Mondays though. Childmonders are self employed and providing a service.

I don't get charged bank holidays at nursery as they are not open. We get charged our holidays but not the 2 weeks at Christmas that nursery closes.

Same as mumlove - dont charge for hols but do charge for bank hols

If you charge for bank holidays but are not available for work, how do you explain this to parents who still have to work on bank holidays?

I've never charged for bank holidays - it wasn't done locally when I first registered, and I really don't have a problem not charging even now. I do have minding parents who work bank holidays though, so still need childcare (they have to use friends and family).

So am I right or wrong doing this then? Because then I own the parents and apology and money..

crace - I don't think you are wrong - I'm just one of the "old school" who never charged for bank holidays! I think all the new information and guidelines (including NCMA) say that you should charge for bank holidays.

I was only asking my question for interest, only because this is something I would have to explain to one of my families if I decided to charge (which I won't be anyway!).

my first CM charged for BH's which I thought was cheeky as one of the draw backs of being self employed is that you don't get holiday payb etc..... My new CM (the other one moved away) doesn't charge for BH. We still pay when we are on holiday, but not when she is on holiday, which I think is fair.

My childminder charges full rate for bank holidays, half rate when she is on holiday, full rate if we're on holiday and she's working. I completely agree with her. And yes, I'm self-employed too - but those are her terms, and I respect her for sticking to them.