childminder holiday question

[johnw]

Hi

We have a childminder weve been with for about 6 months and are very happy with. She only works Mon & Tues for us as we have another for wed,thurs and fri. She has just given us this years holidays shell be taking, and there is a total of 18 days (mon & tues + 2 bank holidays) throughout the year!
We pay her holidays include bank holidays, so it will mean that we`ll need to pay for her holidays and another childminder for all these days.

Now on the contract it states 4 weeks of holidays but surely as she only works 2 days a week for us this amount of holiday she`s asked for is too much.

Anyone care to help with this? This is the first time we`ve used childminders but we assume the holidays should be worked out on a pro rata basis.

Thanks

J

If she looks after your child(ren) 2 days a week and the contract states 4 weeks paid holiday, then I would assume you only have to pay her for 8 days holidays? This is why I don't charge for my holidays, because parents end up paying twice. Read your contract carefully, to make sure the contract isn't giving her 4 whole weeks worth of holidays.

I agree with HSMM that, logically the holiday pay should be worked out on a pro rata basis, ie 8 paid days. However, it does all boil down to what is specifically written and agreed to in the contract.

Coral (another childminder who also doesn't charge for her holidays!)

you would have to ask her how the contract is meant to be intended, but if it where me,,i would either give you x days as my holiday so it was clearer or 4 weeks would mean that on 4 occasions / seperate weeks you would pay what is agreed...it would be bad if shes saying 28 days now after not specifying!

Also, how much holiday pay have you paid her already in the last 6 months as you need to take this into account when looking at the holidays she wants up unitl June/July when your contract started with her the previous year.

Personally there is no way I would use a childminder that charged me when they weren't available, although I am happy to pay for bank holidays.

In your situation I would not be happy to pay for 16 days of holidays for somebody I had agreed could have 4 weeks off at my expense - for you that's 8 days.

I would talk to her about this and tell her you are not prepared to pay her for so much time off. If she gets snotty about it I would look for someone else and give her notice.

you have obviously agreed to something and signed a contract without reading it properly.You agreed to pay for bank holidays when those are the days you require so presumably she is available to you if you need her!!!
I would look elsewhere and be clearer about what your needs are.
Problem is now the only way out is to ask for a contract review so you can understand what you are paying for and see what can be agreed.
I also don't charge for holidays and I only take mine in the school holidays which is much clearer and easier for parents to work around if need be.

She could just be letting you know about her holiday dates without expecting you to pay for all the time she's off. Just ask her.
I would have thought it would be pro-rata for paid holidays, you really need to check with her to get it clarified.

i would have thought 4 weeks would be 8 days and then possibly the 2 bank holidays