Paid Days off for Daycare

My daycare provider take 2 weeks paid vacation every year plus holidays. Anything over 2 weeks we dont pay for. We also pay her if she calls in sick. I have been sending my son there for over a year now and she has never called in sick, and the holidays she takes off are the same ones most companies have off already so there isnt any problems there. The previous daycare provider we had took 2 weeks paid and 2 weeks unpaid. I personally think that having more than 2 weeks paid vacation is to much considering most parents only get 2 weeks paid vacation a year if that. It makes it hard for parents if there is more and even with that it doesnt leave the parent with anytime left to take off for things they may want to do to.

I am a licensed childcare provider in Scott county and have been for 7 years. I do not increase my rates each year, instead I opt to have 1 added day of PTO per year. I like it and so do my families. I take 10 paid PTO/personal/vacation days per year AND also New Years Day, Provider Appreciation day (Fri before mothers day)Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve. That's 22 days per year that I am closed, but paid for. I must give my families a 2 wk notice of all PTO taken, but on the flip side, all full time families get 5 "free" days to use as they wish for personal or vacation days. They are NOT able to use them as sick days for their child, nor can I with mine. If myself or my children are ill, I am closed and do not charge for that day, but if their child is ill and they stay home, I still charge as a "spot" is still being saved for that child, for that day. I hope this helps.

Hi, I have been a daycare provider in my home for 14 years. I work on a budget plan. My parents pay me a flat monthly rate of 350 per month. This is based on 21 days per month average (17 per day) Ages 1 thru kindergarten. I take off 2 weeks paid vacation and most Holidays. New Years, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor day, Thanksgiving Day and the Day After, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
For school age children I charge a flat monthly rate of 200 per month. This is based on a 20 day per month average (10 per day) This stays the same all year long. My parents like the budget system, no surprises.

I have a daycare in my home in olds iowa and I only have 1 paid day off per year and that is Christmas. I hope that this helps you out!

My daycare is closed 12 days a year including holidays. I also get a free week after I've been with them for a year.

Added comment later
*** Ok, I do see now that you have posted she has been in business for 3 years. I don't feel adding 2 days in a year is too much, but starting with what she did seems like a bit more than average. I do feel that she has more PAID time off than the average provider who has been in the business for only 3 years. If she has worked in the child care field before home daycare, maybe it is justified. If not, she seems rather bold to start with that much time off. But, she is probably going into this job, knowing it is long hours and people burn out very quickly, so has anticipated needing the time off to recharge herself.***

I am a licensed family child care provider and have worked in child care for 22 years. I currently have 19 paid holidays, 7 paid personal days (used for illness, training, vacation, etc.), and 4 scheduled non-paid days off for 2010.

You say you have been with her for 3 years, but not how many years she has been providing child care. If she has only been doing this for 3 years, IMO, she has a lot of paid time off. If she has been doing this for a long time, it would seem appropriate. Also, she increased her rates by 50 cents, does that mean you are paying her hourly? If so, chances are she is making less than someone who gets paid per day or per week.

I just want to speak about some of the comments Amantha made below. There is a lot of information we do not have, so it is difficult to come to some of the conclusions you have made. When a parent enrolls their child with a provider, they are accepting the provider's policies and are aware that policies and rates can, and probably will, change yearly. Anyone in any job hopes for more time off and more money each year, so this provider taking both is commendable. Many, many providers are over worked, under paid, and under appreciated and have a difficult time standing up for themselves and taking the well deserved time off and the well deserved rate increase. J. does not tell us how many days her provider is adding or what her old rates were. She may be adding one day off. Maybe she has not raised her rates in 7 years (MANY providers have a hard time raising rates and take YEARS to do it). We also do not know if this provider has increased her education, gotten a degree, become accredidated, or had any other professional accomplishes or added any services that more than justify additional time off and a rate increase. This provider may go over and above what is expected of a provider to do, we don't know. I don't mean to be rude or defensive, but your post makes it sound like the provider is doing something wrong and does not deserve the extra money or time off.

And just a comment on daycare providers taking time off; most providers work long hours, many more hours than most people. Not only do we work the hours we spend with the children, but the hours spent preparing the house for daycare, grocery shopping and buying art supplies, planning the curriculum and setting up our space, cleaning up at the end of the day to make our daycare our home, the time spent planning and preparing meals for the kids, time spent in daycare association meeting, training meetings, and other classes to become a better provider, etc, etc, etc. A daycare provider's job starts well before the kids arrive and continues long after the kids have gone home for the day. So, when a provider asks for a few extra days off each year, be grateful. Be glad that your provider is taking care of herself and taking the much needed, and deserved, time off. The happier, healthier, and better frame of mind your provider is in, the better the care she can offer, and the happier your child will be.

J., I am glad you have found a provider you are happy with and feel so comfortable with. I hope that relationship continues.

S., mom of 3, daycare provider for 22 years

Hi,
I have the parents pay for 48 weeks of care, ave 20 days a month (per whatever fee per day is). Since there are 52 weeks in the year, I have 3 weeks vacation and 5 holidays off. The parents pay the budget plan, the same amount per month. That way we can each budget. This works for part time families too 3 days a week X 4 weeks X 48 weeks divided by 12 months.
I also have 3 paid emergency days in my contract that I may or may not use, funeral,medical,sick,legal, jury duty etc.

I encourage my families to take the same vacation days that I do: Christmas week, Easter week, 4th of July week. Since no one is already paying for it. Hope this helps, M. in Wisconsin

I know you have this figured out now but I wanted to let you know that Im a daycare provider and I ask for only 8 non paid holidays off a year.

I did daycare for 5 years. In my contract I was allowed 7 PAID days off and the families were allowed 7 free days that they could take off without paying me.

Plus I got all the holidays PAID. New Year's Eve, New Years Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas, Day After Christmas.

(I did NOT take Halloween off as a paid holiday because I really don't feel like that is a holiday that pertains to our beliefs. And the kids always had so much fun dressing up and having our daycare party that day. Plus I would take the younger ones out to trick-or-treat at some area businesses and then out for lunch.)

If a holiday landed on a weekend, I could designate a Friday before or Monday after off for that paid holiday.

NOTE ADDITION:
25 paid days off a year seem like a LOT. And to give herself a 50 cent raise too??? Does she do this every year??? I would definitely speak with another parent that you trust and see how they feel. And I would also just CALL a couple daycares in your area and see what they get for days off and what they charge. Then you will know if she is being fair or outrageous. And if she is out of line, I suggest talking to her. (Possibly inviting some of the other parents along that feel the same way if you feel comfortable with that.....)

Our provider gets 3 weeks paid vacation. She takes two at Christmas and the other is spread throughout the year.