Wow! I've never heard of an in-home provider asking for paid holidays and vacations! I personally do not have my child in day care, but I have many friends who also use an in-home provider. None of them pay for the sitter's holidays or vacations. As you've noted, finding care on those days is already an extra financial burden for you. I would check with other providers in your area to see if that is the norm. My husband has been working at a large company for 15 years and doesn't get 4 weeks paid vacation! I don't think you're being unreasonable at all!

I have a Family Childcare Home. We do get all the holidays that office and retail workers do - I negotiate - I don't have small children of my own. But 4 weeks is a lot to ask for - to get paid for! I agree with you. I only ask for 2 weeks.

Nancy in Valrico

I agree that 4 weeks is too much.  How are you supposed to arrange your schedule to be home that much when I bet you don't even get that much time off!?

Wow!  I have a FCC and I also have a LAUP pre-k and I don't take 4 weeks off.  I like most others take all National Holidays, and close for 2 weeks per year.  4 weeks off paid, are they all together or two weeks in the summer and two weeks in the winter?  It sounds pretty steep to me.  You can email me if you like.  laurentrosclair@gmail.com

 Lauren

I am the mother of a 5 year old boy, and lately I have been running into the same issue that you find yourself in. Major holidays I don't mind my sitter taking off, but she takes even the "bank holidays off". On top of those she also takes 4 weeks of vacation, all of which I am expected to pay her for. And on top of that I have to find someone to watch my son on those days and the vacations ( for a fee of course) as well. I just don't know what to do. Is it fair for her to keep charging me for those days and those vacations? I don't think it is, but that's just me.

Wow - I agree that 4 weeks is way too much.  My daughter attends an in-home daycare with 12 kids and 3 providers.  They take all federal holidays and 2 weeks of vacation per year (all paid).  Last year she took an extra 2 days of vacation because she was traveling to Nepal.  I think the paid holidays and paid vacation make sense - the last thing I want is the people who care for my child to be overextended, burnt out and moonlighting at other jobs to make ends meet.  But 4 weeks is way too much.  I know very few people who get that much vacation.

I watch childen out of my home and have done so the past year and  a half.  I have never charged my parents for 4 weeks vacation.  I did charge when their child was out sick though.  I did charge for holidays that are recognized by the state as national holidays.  I also never had more than 4 children including my daughter who is almost 2 1/2.  I am not licensed, but did try to follow their guidelines.  If you are not happy there, I would be interested in talking to you about watching your daughter.  

Tracey

liketotalk@aol.com

I have been in the childcare business for many years as  a nanny and as an in home provider. She is not playing fair with you. Yes, you do have to pay whether you show up or not at the child care home. However if you agreed to that at the interview - tha'ts what you have to do - or find another childcare home. The one thing that I do disagree with is that she cannot have more than 6 children in the house - no matter what. So if she has the grandchildren there with 6 other children she is over he r quota and that is illegal.

Nancy Pursino

My daycare provider for my 12, 5, and 4 year old only has 11 days. But i give her that because my kids seem to love her. Even my 12 year old goes, and she's to old! I belive a WHOLE MONTH is too long.

I can't believe she would have the audacity to ask for 4 WEEKS!  Most corporate jobs don't even give 4 weeks until you've been there for 10 years.  Granted this is her business and she can do whatever she wants.  But if she continues this, I doubt she will stay in business for long.

My opinion, I would consider switching providers, she's not being fair.

 We have went through this with two providers, the first was an in home day care, she got two weeks paid vacation a yr and all the major holidays. Now we are at a facility preschool and they get all the same holidays and vacations that public school gets (including snow days) that are paid. At first this upset me, but you have to look at it from there point of view, this is the only way they will get time off. Most people that work earn time off at there job so childcare providers deserve that too...now four weeks seems like a little much but in general I dont think its a bad thing for them to get paid time off.