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.

I don't charge for BH as I wouldn't want to work them but I agree with lots of the other posts and I think you're completly justified charging them (does that make sense?!). I tried to give mindee1's Mum a refund for next Monday and she refused point blank! They also pay me over Christmas as a bonus as my holidays are supposed to be unpaid.

Rebi - I think your post was lovely and you sound very much like one of "my" Mums! I'd also like to be put on a waiting list for your dc!!!

Just to add another pov: I approached a childminder to look after my 2 dcs. I wasn't working at the time, I was a student. I just needed 1 day a week child-free to enable me to study. The only day she had a vacancy was Mondays. So I agreed, but then had to pay all her bank holidays, at £70/day for the two of them when I was unwaged (she knew this). She never worked on a bank holiday.

So after a year I moved the children to another childminder.

I think if you can be flexible, it would help.

If you know the parents have a paid day off for bank holidays, then by all means charge them. If they don't, then perhaps you could come to some other arrangement?

HOpe you don't mind me butting in here. But on various childminding threads I have heard many CM's say that the parents are not employing you. You are self employed. Therefore, you are not entitled to paid holiday IMO.

I do not think of my CM as my employee in anyway whatsoever, and she doesn't charge for Bank Holidays, the same as my husband doesn't get sick pay, holiday pay etc as he is self employed.

OK, not happy with it really.. will have a word with the mum this morning and see what she wants to do, as it's not worth it coming between me and the only mindee I have full time.

I am still very new at this so it's trial and error, and obviously both of them are upset about it so it's not worth it.

To be totally honest the way I as a self emplyed person look at any sort of fee charging is on a supply and demand basis.

In m y line of business we charge decent fees for a very high quality service and people will pay that. They would not pay for days where the service is not provided, they would go to a competitor instead.

If there is minimal competition and you know that you will keep your mindees then by all means set your charges accordingly (though do make sure parents signing up know this). As a parent I personally would go elsewehere, but then again where I live I have several options.

Some of the minders on here possibly have a situation where there is a shortage of good childcare, you need to balance out your situation.

Well it certainly is not my intention to take advantage of anyone, due to lack of care or not. Frankly just not cut out that way but I can see your point.

The dad came to pick up today and we had a chat about it. He said they'd pay as they are so happy but found it unusual - they didn't pay at nursery, and I believe them. So I guess that's that but I certainly don't feel good about it. He did say you need to be ruthless to be selfemployed.. kind of made me laugh, as I am sure he wouldn't want me to be ruthless. They are great people to have as mindees parents - just glad it's worked out.

well i charge half rate on bank holidays BUT am available @ £5 p/h if needed.I also charge full rate for my holidays (4 weeks) and half rate for theirs (upto 4 weeks)don't charge if i can't work due to sickness and half rate if they're ill.This was all made clear and agreed on when drawing up contracts so there can be no arguing with it !! also i would've charged full rate bank hols except that's one of reasons mum left previous minder. if it was all in the contract they signed you shouldn't feel guilty. ENJOY THE DAY OFF.[GRIN]