Am confused about which CM to pay!

[Heated]

We have been using a CM for half a term to take dc to & from school as we both work a fair distance from home. Unfortunately our CM had an injury and is now in hospital having had an emergency operation. So whilst feeling very sorry for her, we have no CM. The situation I most worried about relying on a sole person for childcare has happened.

After much searching have found another who we are going to see this weekend &, fingers crossed, hope we like her & she likes us. Tbh, I have decided I like her already !

I have explained we need emergency quite long term cover (she mentioned 28 day contracts) but we are still contracted to my original CM. Do I still pay my original CM who obviously can't offer her services - do I pay her sick pay? I currently pay my old CM through vouchers that go straight into her bank account.

It depends on what is in your contract. I only charge for hours when I am available so if i'm off sick I don't get paid. Other childminders have sick pay written into the contract.

I've looked at the NCMA contract and can find no reference to sick pay.

Well I've had my contracts for a few years so the new ones may be different but at the bottom of the first page in the right hand corner I have a section that says 'Charges for Absence' and childminder illness/occasional days off is included there.

So do I just redirect my vouchers? Feel guilty when she's just had an operation, nor is she likely to be out of hospital for some time (so not even contactable) but really can't pay two lots of fees.

If its not in your contract then you don't pay her. Don't feel bad - its part and parcel of being self employed unfortunately.

I don't know about vouchers as i've never recieved those.

Check your contract again as I am sure there will be a reference to sick pay somehwere on there.

Thanks Dustystar, can't find any section like you described. On the back under 'registered CM sickness' and also under 'unforeseen circumstances' it says no fee is payable if the contracted service is not available. Which is technically good for us but then I feel very guilty for my poor cm.

I dont think it is normal to pay CM when they arent availible. Its a shame for her, but she probably wont be expecting you to carry on paying her when she cant work.

Its nice that you feel badly about it but don't. Your CM had the option of charging for sick pay and ,like me, chose not to. Send some flowers and a card to let her know you are thinking of her.

Did chocolates & dc drew a card last week virtually ordering her to get well

Thank you ladies for the advice.