Childminder charging me for her holidays?

Morgan_Ree

My new childminder has said she takes 4 weeks holiday per year. All of which she will expect to be paid for (well the days that my son would normally be with her which would be 5 days a week anyway!)

Is this pretty normal?

I mean I'm not going to question it with her either way. She's the only childminder around so I'm lucky to have her! But just wondered if others have come across the same.

pinkpig08

Not sure what the general rule is but my childminder charges half fee for my holidays, but no charge for her holidays.

gonzo127

dont know about childminding, however it doesnt seem that bad when you consider most employers to give their staff so many weeks paid holiday a year, so i am guessing she is seeing herself as being employed by you, instead of selling you a service

jules68

My childminder does not charge if she is on holiday.The reason being that I would possibly have to find alternate childcare for those weeks.

cannyscot_2

gonzo127 wrote: »

dont know about childminding, however it doesnt seem that bad when you consider most employers to give their staff so many weeks paid holiday a year, so i am guessing she is seeing herself as being employed by you, instead of selling you a service

I had a difficulty with my childminder and we fell out so if you want to keep her then I guess say nothing.

HOWEVER the point is that childminders are self employed and are tax as such. In order to continue having the benefit of being self employed -and it is as they can offset lots of expenses-they have been advised by the childminding assoc not to charge for holidays where they are not available as a self employed person would not be paid for holidays. But greed gets the better of them and in small areas where they are the only childminder -the poor mums have no choice.

I've come to have little regard for childminders now as in our village they have ganged together to charge for everything and anything and although some are dedicated at least 65% just want a paid stay at home ,do what they want job.

shellsuit

The childminder I used to use didn't charge when she wasn't working (for holiday/illness etc), but did charge for the times I didn't want her to have the kids. Whether that be because they were ill, or I was off work etc...

lindos90

totally agree with pink pig and jules, Our childminder did not charge for her hols as she figured we would need to pay for alternative care or take time off ourselves. If we were on hols or our chils ill, she charged half which I think is fair.

As gonzo says though, it depends how she views her work. Also depends on whats in the contract, that im sure you have now agreed to by signing.

Some childminders see it as casual/vocational work at home, others see it as a business. If shes the only one in the area then she can more or less charge what she can!

LittleTinker

Tell her to take a running jump.

She is self employed and as such she ought to be budgeting for holiday through out the year.

How can she possibly expect you to pay for her holidays when you will also need to find an alternative minder and pay them too!!?

onehitwonder

You could mention it but it all depends on how much you want to keep her and as you say if she is the only childminder around then you may have to pay what she says.

If she didn't charge for her holiday but increased the other weeks charges by say 15% to cover for her holiday would you still use her or maybe there is a nursery close by that would then work out cheaper?

As people say it does differ for different childminders and depends on what arrangements you have. One we had when our second son was younger didn't charge, but the one we used for our first child, a few years earlier charged half.

Good luck.

poppyolivia

its usually that you have to pay when YOU are on holiday and when YOUR child is off sick...as she still has to hold you place, its not like she can get someone else to take your space......YOU having to pay when she is on holiday is a joke!..your paying for her to go on holiday and have to find someone else tohave your child so for her to go on holiday that week is going to cost you double the price as a normal week!

Kt8

ours did and have heard of quite a few too, i think its v.v.strange but we didnt really question it as seems quite common..