Is my Childminder being unreasonable?

[Tulips99]

To ask for 50% of fees whilst closed to retain my child's place?

Mine hasn't mentioned it so I assumed 100% but now I'm thinking of asking her... we pay £400 a month via childcare vouchers.

No. We were effectively given 2 days to close down. No government support except ssp. No 80% wage. If you can afford to pay then please do.

Dozens of other people in the same situation who aren't charging clients for work they aren't doing.

My family runs a training company. You think they can charge their customers for courses they aren't providing?

I'd leave any childminder who tried to do this. There will still be minders looking for work in 4 months.

@oblada I would hope that they would revise their arrangements given the most recent announcement of government support but it was only announced on Friday night.

Wouldn’t the salaries of nursery staff be reimbursed by the government . I wouldn’t be paying 100% of a nursery bill if my children were at home .

You have a choice pay 50 percent and keep space or end contract and maybe get hours when re open I've done this xx

Is she still getting eys funding if applicable

Problem is Childminder's have parents over a barrel and they know it - that's why they are the only self employed people on earth that charge for bank holidays, holidays and 50 weeks of the year when we get at least 6 weeks annual leave

They state they are a "business" but don't regard parents as customers and therefore there is little "customer service" so to speak

Of course they'll still be "there" - they have no overheads

I do think if you are getting paid in full during this time then you should continue to pay something. If you aren't getting paid then you shouldn't have to pay at all. It should be treated on a case by case basis.

I suspect at the end of this we ll all be remembering those that only looked after themselves during this time - and pulling our children out at the earliest opportunity. I'd be very vocal too on childcare sites and social media so that future prospective parents know exactly who they are doing "business" with

PeridotPassion I'm a childminder and if my parents decide to not pay me 50% I will not still be here once restrictions are lifted. I'll have to go and find another job to be able to afford to live. Also, to be honest if I knew parents were still receiving their full wages but didn't want to pay me half I wouldn't be inclined to take that Child back afterwards as I think it's awfully immoral.

no the government has not announced anything for self employed yet other than ssp

Yet. They will. It's been an oversight rather than a policy decision IMO. That or they are working out how it do it fairly, as if you run a business pulling in 500 quid a month you couldn't expect to get the same as someone who's business makes 5 times that. Working out how to assess it must be difficult without having a huge bureaucratic nightmare in place.

They already extended SSP, so they clearly aren't deliberately excluding.

may not have a guarantee of an income in a few weeks or months.

This is our position. My job may well disappear. Our after school club have asked those who can to keep paying so they can offer free places to key workers. Nice idea but if I have no job in two months for god know how long, that extra 200 quid a month is going into my savings.

Of course, I've had families whose parents have been laid off and I'm not charging them anything to retain their spot. I will offer their child's space back to them once the restrictions are lifted

Of course they'll still be "there" - they have no overheads

So a mortgage isn't an overhead? They don't need money to pay for bills and food?

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted

Do you have overheads? Like food, bills, car payments, rent or mortgage? Those are he exact overheads a childminder has. It’s their job, it’s their income, they need it as much as you need yours. How easy would you find it to manage with only 50% of your salary or worse, none of it?

We use a nursery and they’ve emailed to say they won’t charge. And I’m very worried about how long they’ll be able to survive with little or no income.

I can’t believe the number of people arguing about paying so that someone else can survive. The women who look after your kids have families, bills and mortgages of their own to pay. Of course you should continue to pay them, so long as you haven’t lost your job (in which case pull the DC out and pay your notice).

Who do you expect will look after yours kids when this is all over?

Honestly I know people in London earning quarter of million quid between them, who don’t want to pay for their kids nursery. Tight fisted and short sighted.

Also, to be honest if I knew parents were still receiving their full wages but didn't want to pay me half I wouldn't be inclined to take that Child back afterwards as I think it's awfully immoral

It’s not immoral. You are no longer providing a service. A retainer fee (not 50%) may be appropriate but we are moving into uncertain economic times and they may face joblessness if this goes on too much longer. Even if they have jobs now, it may look very different in a month or two and that extra bit of cash becomes essential.

Croprotation - the kids you're looking after are pre-school kids. I don't know many people able to work from home effectively and look after pre-schoolers so many of your parents will be on unpaid leave. Not sure why you should be earning when they dont?

@Tulipstulips

The nursery is covered under the 80% salary and small business grants offered by the government

I'm happy to pay full whack as I'm still getting paid (at the moment)

My child is full time with the childminder so my fee alone more than covers her mortgage
I would hope that she then passes this on to allow parents who are laid off/not getting paid to not have to pay......doubt it though

yes SIBU.
She has benefitted from the perks of being self employed and now that has come home to roost she would like you to pick up the slack as tho she is an employee.

For all the people worried about not finding childcare if they give it up, think about the number of jobs going/companies shedding staff. There will be lots of childcare post this. Similar to 2008 when nurseries and childminders were biting your hand off to have your child.

Im aghast at the number of self employed people who have nothing put by. The first rule of self employment is a 3 month float for the bad times.

Wow. I'm actually speechless at just how SELFISH some people on this thread are.

I'm sure there are childminders who don't really need the income and do it purely for the love.

But i'm guessing the majority do it because they need a second wage in the home and can't afford themselves to go to work and pay for childcare. .

If you are still getting paid yourself, the thought that you would want your childminder to lose their home it just beyond me.

Someone who you trust to look after your child.

Not comparable in the slightest to still paying a gardener who's services you may not require (although that's also bullshit because a gardener can still garden without coming into contact with you)

I'm self employed and have just lost half my income overnight. My husband has just lost his job too. We are financially fucked without putting too fine a point on it.

But fine. Don't pay your childminder because you'd rather financially benefit from other people's misfortune.

GIVE YOU HEAD A WOBBLE.

oblada I've already explained that I would only ask for 50% of fees from parents who are still earning their full wage in secure jobs.

MangoFeverDream I understand that but I still need to pay my bills, rent, food, registration fees, insurance etc so if I knew parents were still earning their full wages in jobs they're unlikely to loose then yes it would leave a bitter taste in my mouth for them to not pay and I wouldn't be inclined to take their child back once restrictions are lifted.

@TisTheSeasonToBe

Finally someone speaking some sense!!!

The whole premise of self employment is that you are earning more than you would in a comparable job as an employee - it always used to be the advice to have 3 months wages set aside in the event of downturn in business/being unable to work but seems like that is completely ignored these days.

It’s up to you OP. Legally you don’t have to pay unless the scenario is covered in your contract.

Not sure I’d pay for a service I’m not receiving especially when it’s been demanded. You’ll need to
Look for a new childminder though if you choose not to pay.

@StarUtopia

Most people use Childminder's because of the extortionate nursery fees these days. They are people who scrape together the money for childcare.

people aren't earning either though so how are they financially benefitting?????

Wobble your own head

Yes I think you should still pay her at least 50%. I will be paying my nail technician and hairdresser too.

I think it's the right thing to do to pay in full if you continue to receive your wage in full. We're paying DS' nursery even though he won't be attending, as we're on full pay ourselves working from home.