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

Original poster

Am I right to be a bit reluctant to pay?

28 replies

offtobuttonmoon · 03/12/2008 15:07

My childminder phoned to say her son was unwell (very chesty cough) but she was still working. Basically I was given the choice if I wanted to risk my child catching it or keep her away.

I decided not to risk it and she has billed me for the day. Her costs are not cheep either.

Is it right that I feel a bit reluctant to pay her?

Cheers.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NorthernLurker · 03/12/2008 15:13

She was available to work - why shouldn't you expect to pay her?

LIZS · 03/12/2008 15:14

Seems a bit rich tbh . Would she have minded someone else's child with such a cough or have minded if she were ill. If not then I don't see how she can charge you. Perhaps you could agree a compromise.

Lauriefairycake · 03/12/2008 15:15

yes, I think you should pay

This could happen with any of her mindees.

Original poster

offtobuttonmoon · 03/12/2008 15:15

Because it did turn out that her child was quite unwell and needed treatment.

OP posts:

leonifay · 03/12/2008 15:47

you need to read her policies, also when she spoke to you, what did she say. some will let it go unpaid others wont. it depends on the childminder. i'm afraid if her policies say that if she is avaliable to work then you have to pay, then that is what you have to do.
imo i do think its a bit cheeky to give you the option then make you pay, but thats how some childminders work.

HSMM · 03/12/2008 16:02

My policies say if my DD is ill, then the other children do not come and parents do not have to pay. I do sometimes say ... she is ill, your children can come if you like. If the CM children do not come, they do not pay. Check your contract.

TheFallenMadonna · 03/12/2008 16:05

I think it really should depend on whether she would accept your child in the same condition.

PeaceNLove · 03/12/2008 18:12

This depends on your contract.
If it says full pay when minder is off than you will have to pay, However if it does say no payment when childminder off or ill than i would say have a word.

As if the minder has a sickness policy in place where she would NOT look after a minded child if it was in same condition she cannot expect you to A put the your child in this position or B bill you for a day she should of been taking off.

Hope this and everyone elses comments help, Overall have a quick word with her, she may happily see the light and take it off.

NumberFour · 03/12/2008 18:14

Sometimes I leave it up to the parents to decide if they want to send their child if my DS is a bit unwell. However, I say that if they choose not to send their child then there will be no payment but of course payment will be due if the do decide to send their child.

Good luck. Hope you get it sorted

SammyK · 03/12/2008 18:22

I can't understand why she phoned you if her son had a cough?!

As a cm - If I am available I charge, if I'm not I don't. I don't give parents options regarding illness as I am really strict with illness exclusion and don't want the lines to be blurred. I say if more than a cold stay at home, if a cough is so bad the child can't go about normal activities, or needs more attention which will affect the other mindees then they need to be at home.

NumberFour · 03/12/2008 18:29

Sammyk, one of my new year resolutions is to be strict about my exclusions policy! I agree with you in that it is much better is there is a clear cut, workable policy for everyone.

Original poster

offtobuttonmoon · 03/12/2008 18:37

SammyK you ask an important question. Why did she phone me? If it was not much of an issue then why would she contact me in the first place. She does know that I would not take my child if faced with a situation like this. I suppose that by saying that she is still open for buisness puts me over a barrel.

OP posts:

SammyK · 03/12/2008 18:41

I hope you don't mind me asking but why dont you want to risk your DD getting a cough? (I do understand in some circumstances parents have to be more cautious of coughs and colds BTW) just curious.

It sounds to me then like your cm has called you knowing hat your reaction would be, and also knowing/expecting her days pay still. If I have this situation right I would be annoyed at having to pay too, but if it's in your contract you are a bit stuck really.

SammyK · 03/12/2008 18:43

Number4, I don't want parents to think it is ok t bring their ill dcs, as I have invited them in when I or ds has been ill. It works the majority of the time and parents respond well to it and soon catch the consideration bug.

I tightened up after losing two days pay die to a parent knowingly bringing an ill child and not mentioning it at drop off.

dustystar · 03/12/2008 18:47

She may have been trying to be helpful. I am always very conscious of th fact that if i don't work then it causes problems for parents - often resulting in them taking an unpaid day off work. I have called parents before when one of mine has been home sick but are not really poorly and offered them the option of still sending their child. I wouldn't charge them if they chose not to though.

katherinejane · 03/12/2008 20:15

Hi - relatively new to Mumsnet, and this is my first post.

I'm in a similar situation. In short, my daughter (18 months) goes to a CM once a week. Last time she went (a fortnight ago), the CMs 4 year old was off sick with a cough. My daughter caught a cold the same week and ended up in hospital for 4 nights with bronchiolitis (discharged on Friday).

She's fine now, so took her along this morning to the CM's only to find her duaghter with her, who's still off with really bad cough on her chest and cold. Obviously hadn't got a clue whether she was viral or not, but I couldn't risk it, so came home, but am a bit pissed off because CM knew what had happened with hospital etc, but hadn't warned me. I'm certain that of it were my daughter with virus then she wouldn't have (she's quite strict), so wanted some advice on where I stand as I'm assuming she'll want paying, but I don't feel that that's fair.

chloemegjess · 03/12/2008 20:30

I think it is really important that Parents talk about this when they first meet the CM. It will be in her policies, do you have a copy of them? I don;t think it is unreasonable for her to ring you. She probably wasn't really sure if it was bad enough to take the day off, but didn't want to risk giving it to your DD without saying anything. I PERSONALLY don't charge when I am not avaliable, but my MIL charges all the time, even if she goes on holiday for 2 weeks

katherinejane · 03/12/2008 20:34

will check contract. first time I've employed a CM, so a bit green about what to check out beforehand!

cheeseandsproutssarnie · 03/12/2008 20:42

id still pay but then i have excellant relationship with our cm and wouldnt want to risk losing them.

chloemegjess · 03/12/2008 21:36

Sorry, don't want to sound rude, but just wanted to point out that you do not employ a CM. A CM is self employed and you use their service. If you had an Nanny, you might emply them. But to a CM, you are more like a customer than an employer i'm afraid.

HSMM · 04/12/2008 07:37

If my DD is off sick, she stays in her room and does not have contact with the minded children. I also wash my hands after checking on her.

katherinejane · 04/12/2008 11:13

@ cloemegjess - don't be afraid. I didn't want to say 'use' because it didnt sound very nice, and I thought employ sounded better. I stand corrected though. Thanks for putting me right, and I hope I didn't cause any offence.

llareggub · 04/12/2008 11:37

I'd pay in this situation.

Our childminder is great, and I'd be happy to pay full price for her holidays too. I think it is important that she can rely on a regular, equal payment from me each month. It's what I get from work, after all. She has been so helpful and flexible I would prefer to maintain a good relationship.

chloemegjess · 04/12/2008 12:52

katherinejane - thats ok, I was worried my post would sound like I was being too picky. It just makes quite a big difference because as they are self emplyed they "set the rules" as long as they are put accross in their policies. Rather than if you were emplying somebody you would be their boss so you could set the rules.

Illhavethisinsize12 · 04/12/2008 13:27

dont wish to sound harsh, but a child could catch a cold anywhere, not only at the cms. parents send mindees with all manor of coughs and snotty noses but i dont send them away, knowone would ever be able to go to work if we kept every one away. i only refuse entry if contgs or high temp, or if they really are tearful and want constant attentions becouse i cant give others my time. if my children (older now) are ill they stay upstairs but if only a cold then they may need a day off of school but would still be around and possibly even give me a hand. teachers etc still work with a cold.i would stay open and if parents choose to stay away i would charge.
rambled abit sorry

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread