Childminders do you charge if your mindees are off sick?

[MilaMae]

This has only just cropped up,not sure what the done thing is.Do I charge full amount,half,none?

Yes

I can't replace the child for the day & as I am available to work, I charge

i charge full fee as i am available to work

I don't, but I think I am in the minority.

yes, full fee

i don't charge

Yep, full fee charged here too.

Yes, it probably does leave me open to that but I only have 2 part-time mindees currently (I'm part C/M, part SAHM) and I don't think either have 'pulled a sickie' yet!

I think if I start to do C/M full time once my DS is older, I might think a little differently. Maybe I would think of it as more of a business rather than a sideline to being a SAHM and not be quite so generous.

I think it's more likely that I might!!

Full charge here too. If I am open you pay.

I charge too, but not if it is me or my DD that are ill.

My MIL charges all the time, her hols, their hols, any sickness etc.

I charge for mindee sickness, but not if me or DD is ill. Although it does say in policies that if I'm ill because a sick child is brought here then fees won't be returned - although this hasn't happened so far so not sure quite how easy it is to put in effect, x

tabbykat - bloody good idea to put that in your policies...I might pinch that one if thats ok!

currently I charge if they are ill but not if I am

Good idea, but think parents will say its just as likely you picked up bug from preschool, school playground, toddler groups etc as their own child.

I also charge if I am open and child is absent - whether its sickness or a day out, holiday or anything else. I will waive the charge if I fill the space with another child - but it hasn't happened yet!. It might do one day - if another childminder is closed for sickness/holiday at the same time.

I don't charge if I close for sickness (mine or family member). Some people charge 1/2 fees for all sickness but I think that the unexpected drop in income everytime a child is off sick would make it hard to budget.

Would suggest for anyone charging less than full fees, put in your contract a maximum no. of days that can be taken as sick days. Eg up to 10 days a year on half fees, thereafter full fees apply. You'd still be able to make arrangements for special cases - eg taking a retainer instead of full fees if a child was in hospital for a long period.

If I am open they pay. If I am closed they don't.

certainly do