Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Do I have to still pay when childminder takes a holiday?

144 replies

colacubes · 23/07/2008 01:35

Obviously this isnt just a money issue as child minder is a trusted professional who takes care of my dd, so dont want to upset the applecart, but.

I go to pick dd up and the cm informs me she is having a 2 week holiday in 6 weeks, so fine,obviously I will have to make other arrangements, so I mention the situation in regard to fees, to which she replies, "Oh I still get paid, its my holidays"

So my question is, I pay for her service, she is not an employee, so why do I have to pay for her bloody holidays. I am self employed and no bugger pays me. I of course said nothing, my mind ticking, slightly bemused, and trying to think about the bigger picture.

Until today I get a text informing me she is booking another day of later in the year as a holiday and I will have to pay for this day also. So I will either have to pay for her day off and then pay someone else to care for my dd, or pay for her day off and take one myself to care for dd, and not get paid, because, I am self employed!

Is this a normal arrangement with childminders ?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

colacubes · 01/08/2008 18:46

Well shes getting paid for nothing for the next two weeks.

OP posts:

PinkChick · 01/08/2008 20:20

but why are you paying her when its not in your contract and you strongly disagree you should?, have you not discussed it with her? explained you didnt think it was right seeing as its NOT in th contract?..is it an ncma contract?

MamaGLovesMe · 01/08/2008 20:49

Sto throwing your toys out of your pram, chnagemenameforthis. I bet you did!!

Original poster

colacubes · 01/08/2008 23:11

Pink I have said earlier that the reason I am paying her is because of the relationship my dd and her share, i can not afford any ill will between myself and her to reflect on my dds position in her home. So I am paying, but I have to say that I am still not aware why cm are paid holiday pay when se, nobody has yet to tell me why, this profession claim holiday pay from their clients when they are not employees. Are there other professions that do this?

I am beginning to think that this will become the eternal question, never to be answered, apart from, ncma tell us to, or you earn more than us so you should!!

OP posts:

vInTaGeVioLeT · 01/08/2008 23:33

colacubes - the thing is - you are feeling pissed with your c/m - you are feeling hoodwinked - there is hard feeling on your part i presume your c/m is not stupid - so she will pick up on that, therefore she will feel pissed/upset about it - that will affect your daughter.

if you have not signed a contract saying you will pay holiday/ sick pay then you are a fool to pay it - she is also being very cheeky asking for payment before it is due.

I now realise how bloody lucky i have been with my longest standing mindee's mum - she filled in contracts alongside me whilst discussing anything she didn't understand , she agreed to my terms and signed. She pays on time every week, when she or i will be on holiday the following week she gives me my payment in advance[her idea] we have a good professional relationship - she is a gem

Original poster

colacubes · 02/08/2008 00:11

"LOL..dya mean my get out clauses???wink" posted by pink on another cm thread. In reference to holiday pay!!!!

OP posts:

vInTaGeVioLeT · 02/08/2008 00:32

i know that when parents piss me about turning up late/early, changing their minds at last minute or even turning up when not booked in - it puts me in a bad mood.
Which changes the vibe in the house.
Kids pick up on that.

Julesnobrain · 02/08/2008 01:33

Wow - if there was any reason to chose a nursery over a cm, you ladies have just provided it. Thanks!

PinkChick · 02/08/2008 08:24

CC go and have a sit down love, its all getting to you..YOU said Cm's have "Upside down get out clauses", i was taking the micky out of your comment not secretly trying to con parents, you really are looking for things that arn't there..including your holiday payment agreement with your cm...and WHERE did it say on mine at that point that my comment was in relation to holidays????...bless

Original poster

colacubes · 02/08/2008 08:35

LMAO!

I cant have a sit down, I have to work for a living, unfortunately no bugger to pay for my hols!

OP posts:

InTheDollshouse · 02/08/2008 09:16

Cola, I would guess most self-employed people factor in things like leave when they set their hourly rates. That's why the hourly rates for most freelancers are higher than the hourly rate for an employee doing the same job - because the freelancer has to cover their own annual leave, sick leave, pension etc. Perhaps you should raise your rates?

vInTaGeVioLeT · 02/08/2008 10:39

julesnobrain - if you'd make your decision on where to leave your dc from reading an out of hand and overheated thread on mumsnet i'd say your mumsnet name is a really good choice.

MrsFluffleHasAWuffle · 02/08/2008 11:04

CC I can't understand why you are paying if it is not in your contract??( thanks for FINALLY answering that question )

Original poster

colacubes · 02/08/2008 11:25

Mrs i am paying simply because of the situation that was pointed out by vInTaGe, I do not want any animosity to be around my dd at the cm.

I will serve notice on monday, she is off for 2 weeks then I will either see where the land lies in relation to her wanting dd there or not for the remaining 2 weeks.

If she is in good spirits about her being there then fine, if not then fine either way I am sorting alternative arrangements with a nursery.

OP posts:

aGalChangedHerName · 02/08/2008 11:31

Colacubes,i am not sure that you can give notice in a holiday period. Someone correct me if i am wrong. In Scotland i think notice has to be given outwith any period the parent or CM is on holiday.

I do not charge for my hols but i have put my hourly rate up and work out a monthly fee which incorporates hols etc and i actually get paid more now than i did before.

I am happy,parents are happy!!

Maybe something you other CM's should think about? Would save the bitching from parents and posters like the ones on here.

vInTaGeVioLeT · 02/08/2008 11:52

i see what you are saying aGal - but that's what i don't understand - the parents are paying more but they are happier?!

i am doing exactly as i was advised to do when i undertook my childminding foundation course as advised by the NCMA and my local CMA - i don't care how many times this debate comes up - i feel i am in the right!

Everyone i childmind for is paid every week{holidays too} most of them are paid sickpay, they also get help paying for childcare by the government this is also paid to them every week.

I am not money grabbing - i am not ripping off my clients.

cola-cubes i'm sorry you have decided to remove your dd from the c/m and put her in a nursery BUT that surely that is down to the relationship between you and this c/m? {who i agree sounds rather money grabbing and unprofessional}
I hope that your dd will enjoy nursery

jillyj · 02/08/2008 11:57

most ncma contracts state notice should not include holidays.

changedmenameforthis · 02/08/2008 12:04

or you could just try a boarding school. that way you could spend the least amount of time possible with your child and have more time on here slagging off people who earn a pitence for 50+ hour weeks.

MrsFluffleHasAWuffle · 02/08/2008 12:24

I agree, I don't think you can give notice in a holiday period sorry CC. Check out what it says on your contract. Good luck with nursery - just remember you'll have to pay for all the holidays still.

VV a very good point you make there about people claiming chilcare costs.

vInTaGeVioLeT · 02/08/2008 12:35

thanks! i know this cos i used to claim when i worked for someone else where i got paid a good wage and holidays and sick days and bank holidays and i was a single parent and got nearly all my childcare paid for whether i used it or not

by the way i'm not whinging really - i work with little kids cos i love them cos they are fun and mainly cos they don't care about money or boring things like contracts [blows raspberry]

namechanged - that's kind of mean

changedmenameforthis · 02/08/2008 12:39

sorry. just makes me soooooooooooooo mad. sorry

vInTaGeVioLeT · 02/08/2008 12:42

this subject never fails to start a war it is so silly really.

Original poster

colacubes · 02/08/2008 12:48

omg, glad i was out of the office then!! Why you changed your name for this?

OP posts:

aGalChangedHerName · 02/08/2008 13:17

Vintageviolet i totally agree. In Scotland we are also encouraged to have 4 weeks per year paid holidays but i got so fed up of parents having a go at me and whining about me having paid time off i decided to up my fees.

They probably don't even realise they are paying more but hey i get the money i am entitled to and they don't feel as tho they are having to pay when i am off.

My CM friends charge for their hols and 1 parent in particular nit picks for 2 weeks before my friend has her hols. Mum is really mean and complains the whole time to "get back" at my friend. Happens every year.

piggysgal · 02/08/2008 13:52

If you are paying her during her holidays just like every other week, then I would say that yes, you are perfectly within your rights to give her notice during her holidays. She can't have it both ways!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread