Childminder wanting to still be paid 70%!!!!

[BusyBeeMummy1]

Hi all,

I am a keyworker and so is my husband. My Childminder has remained open for Keyworkers children but I am lucky enough I am able to wfh until things go back to normal.

I told my childminder that DS won’t be going back For April atleast. She told me she was advised by PACEY (A childminder body) that she can charge on a child by child basis and as she’s open for keyworkers its our choice to keep him home and she wants 70% of her usual monthly pay.

I pointed out to her that as she charges monthly she has also been paid in full for the week coming and that the childcare vouchers I pay her with had already automatically been paid to her (inadvertently) and FURTHERMORE the govt are meant to be paying self employed 80% aren’t they!

Please can any childminders or other parents using a childminder advise me on this because I don’t think it’s right.

Thankyouuuu

@DeRigeurmortis - the se will be given government support even if they are still working. No need for op to pay for a service she is not using. Your post is pretty vile, will you be happily paying for holidays you’re not taking or for a plumber you no longer need?

Za

She is using the service.

She's reserving the place for her child.

And yes - I am continuing to pay for services I'm not receiving (cleaner - in full) because I'm lucky enough to still be in employment and have no desire to pull the plug on someone's income.

My post isn't vile.

You might not agree with it but the fact remains that in this crisis (some) people have a choice.

Those of us lucky enough to have retained our full incomes can support those who have not or make a decision to save money because our sense of self entitlement regarding "what we deserve for our money" outweighs any social morality/ obligations to the wider community.

Like it or not it's a choice and one some of us are lucky to have.

I wonder if your CM is writing a thread about you OP?

If I was her your place for your child would be gone as I could no longer work with someone like you. The relationship would have broken down.

Like you said you are in London so she will pick up new clients easily and hopefully you will find a new CM. Hopefully they will accommodate your needs. Hopefully you will be able to trust them. Hopefully your child will like them and feel comfortable around them. Hopefully you will approve of their routine and ethos.

Your post is pretty vile, will you be happily paying for holidays you’re not taking or for a plumber you no longer need?

We are in the midst of a pandemic. This is about how we treat our fellow human beings.

Honestly 🤦🏻‍♀️

Of course you don’t pay her. Not sure why there is any discussion about this

How can you compare paying a cleaner that might cost £100 a month to 1k for childcare? Parents are already looking for discounts on private school fees & that's with teachers still providing work. What happens if the op paid 1k for April & then loses her job in May?

What happens if the op paid 1k for April & then loses her job in May?

And what if this goes on for many more months? Is she expected to spend $$$ per month on a service she’s not getting? How long is she expected to pay out? One month? Two? What about four months? Cut your losses now OP

Her productivity has plummeted because she has to work and care for her kids at the same time while her childminder does nothing.

Apparently forever @MangoFeverDream even when she is jobless & homeless!

It's always nice to return to a thread to see that the vast majority of posters are in agreement about common decency saying an OP is unreasonable and the OP pounces on the couple who agree with them.

Threads like this are less asking for advice and more seeking validation for my actions/my intended actions.

DeRigeurMortis

Spot on with your post.

Thank you.

Is 50% not a good compromise? It will cost the OP to have her child at home now and it will cost the CM less in activities, food etc. It's neither persons fault this and it's unprecedented, surely 50% would be a fair?

“ Her productivity has plummeted because she has to work and care for her kids at the same time while her childminder does nothing.”

Well, you clearly aren’t reading the thread!
The childminder is a keyworker caring for the children of other keyworkers. She can’t take her usual non-keyworker children, hence the financial dilemma.

I really hope she ditches you after this.
If you weren’t being paid I could understand your point of view, but in actual fact you will be PROFITING and saving money from this situation by taking your full pay and holding onto the fees that you should be paying her.
I think your behaviour and attitude is shocking, frankly.

Hello, I’m a childminder.

Absolutely if she’s still open for you, even if you choose to self isolate and can do, fact remains she can still charge you and your child’s place will be safe. I assume you’ll still be paid as normal?

She may not have earned a lot over the past three years and also she won’t be getting any government help until at least June.

If she's open but you don't require her then I think she's within her rights to charge

God people still aren’t getting this..

Absolutely if she’s still open for you, even if you choose to self isolate

I havnt met a SINGLE person who is choosing to self isolate! The CM is NOT still open for people like OP. Why can’t people understand this?!? This comment coming from someone who is actually a childminder is just baffling. Childminders and schools and anyone else should be closed to everyone unless they absolutely have no other option & are key workers. The OP can and is working from home therefore she should NOT be sending her child and the CM is NOT open for her to do so!

Again as I have said before, some payment perhaps should be paid if OP is still getting her wage but this isn’t under usual circumstances of paying a retainment fee doing this outbreak. It’s almost like you are all encouraging parents to send in their kids if they are key workers and this is NOT what has been advised! Childminders surely have a level of responsibility here as do we all. 50:50 seems reasonable in these circumstances where both CM and parents are being understanding to each other.

And meanwhile on the Gordon Ramsey thread

People seems to expect everyone should act like a charity to them even when they are better off themselves.

Bizarre

OP, as you get child care vouchers from work you already get the reduced tax and NI benefit of the salary sacrifice (which not everybody gets from their employer) plus your CM is offering you a reduced fee which enable you to keep your place. Firstly have you asked your employer to stop your child care vouchers as you're not planning on using them any more? Secondly in order to keep your place but not send your child have you asked CM to reduce fees further, say 50% instead and meet you part way? She might.

I'm not sure what you think your child minder will get 80% of. It won't be her earnings, it may be nothing at all and it won't be for a long time and she will have running costs to pay to keep the doors open at all, including for your child if you change your mind on when things go back to normal. Hopefully you didn't actually say to her that the government would be paying her 80%, how could you possibly know?

If she's a good child minder it's worth keeping the place. If people refuse to pay for the childminder places as this situation progresses more will have to close and those that remain open will have no problem filling the empty places.

OP What is the point of asking the question of you only want to hear what you want to hear?

Your childminder may not be reimbursed if she is still working, my impression is that peopple who will benefit from the scheme are those who are not working at all.

If you are so unhappy, negotiate 50% maybe? But otherwise don;t ask questions if you only applaud people who agree with you and ignore everyone else.

Why wouldn’t you pay her if you’re getting your normal pay?

Also on the Coronavirus board:

A thread to show some love for less recognised key workers

... unless they're childminders who, according to the trolls, are greedy, profiteering bitches and deserve nothing.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen - that is what many of us are reading on Social Media and some are now getting that attitude from parents.

This morning, I was reading an account from a childminder who has been taking in keyworker children. She has now had to close because she has caught this virus. I do hope her parents haven't been quibbling over their fees.

Still no need to pay for a service you are not using. Op says she has other children and she will get taxpayer support. No need for any of these nasty histrionics.

And @MonaLisaDoesntSmile - the self employed can work and still get 80% of their average income. It’s the employed who can’t work.

So it’s likely she will be doing pretty well out of it. No need for op to pay for something she is not using.

And you're another that is very obviously not reading the thread. It's already been explained why she is not doing well out of it.

Mn always supports cf childminders though- I suspect a lot Of childminders are on here instead of looking after their charges as they should be.

Childminders are self employed and don’t get to get all the benefits of being employed and self employed and none of the drawbacks of either. She is not providing a service so op should not have to pay her.