Is my Childminder being unreasonable?

[Tulips99]

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

Many families will be 1 wage down atm due to having to stay at home to look after the kids.
If course if they can easily continue to earn full wage despite having the kids (are people actually able to continue full time work at home with pre schoolers around? I know I can manage a day or 2 per week but the others I'll have to consider time off in some way or the other or a babysitter if safe and appropriate) or if they are laid off then fair enough to contribute.

There is no inherent logic to employed people supporting self employed businesses. Self employed individuals go in it knowing the risks and benefits (both usually higher than a regular employed job). However I'm happy to help anyone who needs help if I can afford it.

Re the assistant wage - the assistant will be laid off and covered by the government scheme.

I am still being paid so while I don't use a childminder, I'm going to continue paying for the afterschool care and the DC clubs and activities I usually use - all are having to close for now but I don't want them to close forever. Some are family businesses and some have staff who will really struggle without their pay.

It would help here to know how much financial difficulty OP is in herself.

I wouldnt pay it. If shes closed down then I think she shouldn't charge. If I choose not to send my child in, then I should pay.

I think what people will need to understand is that when you work from unless job critical, your hours will need to be flexible.

My children aren't little - 7&8, so can follow instruction. I feel I should be able to do at least 60% of my normal day job, but what it will mean is that, I will need to flex for the other 40% - say do an hour early doors and then log on again later once they are in bed. Most employers wont care what hours you work as long as the job gets done. We will all have noisy conference calls and possible video hangouts with our children in the background......

I don’t have anyone over a barrel. I don’t charge for bank holidays, my holidays or my sickness. I am very flexible with my parents allowing them to reduce days when on maternity for a whole year, taking the financial hit myself, trying to find extra work to fill the gaps. I object to the blanket response of saying we hold families to ransom.
Please, we look after the most precious things & I am honoured when I am asked to look after them. I know some parents dislike paying us but I promise I take my job very seriously and have had many enjoyable years of being part of the lives of some wonderful families.

It depends on the contract. My childminder only charges if she is available to work therefore she won't be charging parents.

I'm a cleaner , my clients are continuing to pay . If they hadn't I think I would have quietly & without a fuss replaced them by a new client when this is all over . Good cleaners are like gold .

Wanna - depends on the job. I could easily work from home even before all of that but I do need to be available between certain hours, that's the job.

Catsareme - you're assuming your clients would have all retained a full wage - what if some had to go on unpaid leave? Would you replace them just because they didn't pay you for a service you couldn't provide? Presumably you knew the risks and benefits of being SE before as otherwise there are plenty of PAYE jobs in the same trade.

Nurseries are lucrative, money making enterprises. Their owners tend to be quite wealthy (I have reason to know). Parents struggle to pay their exorbitant fees at the best of times. They should not be holding parents to ransom over the possibility the place won't be there when this is over as there is no one else they can give it to in the meantime (unless the child of a keyworker in which case they don't need to charge the other parent as the place is filled in the interim).

We're a self employed family and we certainly don't expect anyone to pay us for services not rendered. Yes, we have all the same bills but so do they.

Oblada . All my clients are wealthy in well paid secure jobs . Obviously it would be different if their financial positions were compromised

I at least want a deduction for food not eaten, nappies not purchased etc

But those things are on contract with caterers and suppliers, they don't just nip to Tesco every time they need to buy more biscuits!

This!

Catsareme - good to know. Still I find your stance a bit odd as it effectively relies on (your knowledge of) the wealth of your clients. Whereas really it should be about your ability to deliver the service. If they are choosing to pay voluntarily then great and such behaviour should be applauded but I see no reason to 'sack off' a client who wouldn't pay for a service that isn't rendered.

I wouldnt pay it. If shes closed down then I think she shouldn't charge.

But she's not choosing to close - she has no choice. How do you suggest she survives if nobody pays her?

"
But those things are on contract with caterers and suppliers, they don't just nip to Tesco every time they need to buy more biscuits!"

Those contracts are likely to be considered frustrated by the current situation.

I am all for supporting ANYONE who needs it.
But I am definitely against being made to pay businesses for services not rendered.

But those things are on contract with caterers and suppliers, they don't just nip to Tesco every time they need to buy more biscuits!

Childminders?!

@catsareme14 so they have agreed to pay you full rates for 3 months plus?

But I am definitely against being made to pay businesses for services not rendered.

Then I assume if you're laid off temporarily you'll refuse any money you're given by your employer or the government? After all, you're not doing anything to earn it so why should they pay you - right?

And that's fine, but don't expect her to still be in business once all this Is over. People can't survive on nothing. Business can't survive if they're not making money. People still have overheads to pay even though they can't operate.

The government is making provision to the self-employed.

Really?? Well let's hope they hurry up a tad and let us all know what help they are offering because at the moment we are entitled to claim universal credit! Depending on our partners income we could receive absolutely nothing!

@Nekoness you sound like a horrible person. I'm not going to even attempt to argue with you or make you see sense. You must have a very dark soul.

'I'm alright Jack' is not a pleasant trait and it's during times of crisis like this that people show their true colours.

The sweeping generalisations made upthread also about how CMs are grabby and charge 50 weeks of the year, bank holidays etc is ridiculous.

I am a CM, I didn't take a holiday last year - because I couldn't afford to!! I don't charge if I'm on holiday or sick. I don't charge for term time only contracts over the 12 weeks the schools are off. I am honest, more than fair and the opposite of greedy or grabby. I would expect my clients to value the service I offer and help support me through this tough time.

We get ZERO help at the moment from government- don't confuse us as a small business as we are not - we are sole traders.

Our income has to cover our living expenses, mortgage and council tax, pension, holidays and sick days, ongoing training costs, advertising, insurances and equipment as well as supporting our own children and putting food on the table.

All childminders insurances have stated we are not covered as this is not a disease listed on the policies.

Most of my parents have said they will continue to pay full fees if I have to close if they themselves are still being paid as they want to ensure I am there when they need me again.

I had one who left without a care in the world and one who I know will not pay despite having a box of hundred pound notes stashed under the bed at home (the joys of kids telling you all the secrets ) but they may find I am unable to accommodate them coming back to me.

I will stick with the families who support me and shake off the rest.

Please people, value your childcarers. We are working with risk and open our homes to your children so you can work and earn a hell of a lot more than £4 per hour!!

No one knows how long this will go on for, it could be more than a year until you need your childminder again. Do you really want to be paying her 50% for all that time? I would just hand in your notice now, pay the notice period, & then get back in touch if and when you need childcare again. She may not take you back but I'm sure she won't be your only option.

I would very happily continue to pay 50% but our childminder still wants 100% even though my partner and I are key workers (although I have the option to WFH, he doesn't). She picked which key worker's children she would continue to look after to keep the numbers as low as possible.

As I WFH she didn't choose us as it's expected that I can do both. Which is fine. But she still expects full payment. I got told I was mean and entitled on the other thread but I still maintain this doesn't seem fair to me.

I would just hand in your notice now, pay the notice period, & then get back in touch if and when you need childcare again. She may not take you back but I'm sure she won't be your only option.

Wow, aren't you a delight? I hope if you treated someone like that they'd tell you to get fucked!

My childminder officially is asking for 100% fees but in reality I think she’d happily accept any payment

would just hand in your notice now, pay the notice period, & then get back in touch if and when you need childcare again. She may not take you back but I'm sure she won't be your only option.

This exactly the sort of selfish attitude I’d expect from many at present...

Well some of you sound lovely parents still paying your childminder. I don't know if it's because I haven't directly asked (& don't feel I can now as my policy clearly stated that if I close I don't charge) but I childmind for 11 families and NOT ONE has offered even part payment. I have 2 key worker children but they have partners at home so won't be sending their child in which means literally zero income. I told them I can't promise to still be available if I'm forced to seek employment elsewhere and I've had some lovely messages, but not one though to offer payment.