Paying for Daycare When Its Closed During Bad Weather

It all depends on how you look at your daycare. In my opinion, my daycare is my employee, and if an employee calls off, they have PTO to cover it, just as with sick days or vacation time. We all expect these luxuries in our jobs, but don't seem to think our daycares deserve the same benefits. Think about it, you don't provide their healthcare, dental, vision, 401K, disability, workmans comp, unemployment, overtime, etc...the very least you can do is provide them with a consistent paycheck just the same as you expect your employer to provide you. Now, that said, I also feel that it depends entirely on your daycare schedule. I work part time, and as such, I don't get the above benefits from my employer. My daycare has the same policy, part-timers are exempt from paying her for days off, vacation, etc whereas full timers are expected to pay those benefits. If it comes down to one day of pay, I would let it go...just look at the service they are providing to you and your child!!
~L.

1 mom found this helpful

Hello L.,

I hope you and you little one are doing well.

I have just opened a family child care facility called Crockett Kiddie Care and we are now excepting new enrollments. We are a state licensed facility, ICCP Certified and trained in pediatric first-aid and CPR. CKC is focused on safe, reliable, affordable child care for your little one. We follow a daily schedule that includes story time, out-side play, circle time, arts and crafts and less then one hour of an educational video (Baby Einstein) per day. We also serve healthy meals and snacks that include fruits and veggies every time.
As of now, we have two children enrolled, one is 18 months and one is 12 weeks old. Your son will have the best care provided by myself (mother of two) and Ms. Tere (ex-nanny).
CKC is located at Maple Grove and Lake Hazel Rd. in the Fiddlers Glenn Subdivision. If you have any questions or need more info. on rates and references please feel free to contact me at ____@____.com and I will e-mail you any more information that you might need.

Good luck and I hope you find the perfect place for your little guy :)

Thank you,
K.
CKC

I also am a daycare provider and think its odd that someone closed for bad weather. Also to charge when the provider closes is just rude in my opinion. I admit I do get paid holidays and if a child does not come due to the parents just not bringing them that day then yes I do charge. But to charge when the provider cannot do the service is just horrible.

no not at all i have never heard of that befor i could see if your son was sick and did not go but to pay when they close

My son only goes to daycare 3 out of the 5 days we pay for, since I'm off on weekdays, and most of my days off are scheduled around his doctors appointments and physical and occupational therapy. We still have to pay when he's in the hospital and when we or she is on vacation or can't work. We just deal with it because a lot of daycares won't take him because he needs catheterized. It stinks, but it is what it is.

L.,
I can understand your frustration when you still have to go to work but you have no where to take your child. I run an inhome daycare in Kearney, NE and if the parents can get their children to me I am open but I do know of other places that if the schools close they close, mostly the centers though not an inhome daycare. If you are unable to afford the charges then I would just look for a new daycare because your provider probably will not change her policy for you because then she would have to for everyone. Make sure she doesn't have a two week notice or if she does that you are aware before you just switch daycares. I do require a two weeks notice if parents are taking their children out of my daycare. Have you gotten the list of licensed providers from the health and human services website that would be a good place to start or the Chamber of Commerce in Lincoln. Just make sure that you read the policy of the next place you check out thouroughly and also ask for references of the daycare provider and talk with those people about any concerns you may have. I have learned that the hard way but the other way around (getting references on the parents). I know that money can be tight especially through the holidays so I hope that you can find a place that you feel your child is safe, happy, and is affordable. Take Care and God Bless
S.

L., did you sign a contract with them? If so, read the policies. If it is there then you pay no matter when your child is there. It is a flat $xxxx.00 per month.

If not, then you can challenge the charge. If you live where the schools are closed alot for snow, then you might want to call around and see if there is another care center close that doesn't do that. Or at least doesn't charge you for it.

M. B.
____@____.com
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If you have to pay for daycare when it's closed during bad weather, that policy should be spelled out in the daycare's handbook.
Many of the daycares in our area require payment for holidays and also for times when the child is not there the entire day (for example the child goes to pre-school and then comes back).

It is difficult to pay for services when you didn't make any money to pay for them--talk to your daycare provider and see if you can work something out! Even though he loves it there, I would look for a daycare that works for ALL of you; and always read the policy book carefully! Good luck!

I have a sick day policy for the families I care for. If it is an unexpected (sick-last minute day off-bad weather-leaving early unplanned) day off- the parents pay me for the time I was scheduled to be available. If it is planned I do not charge them. I have never been closed due to weather and it's the parent's choice to keep their kids home. If they do decide to stay home, I ask that my pay is not influenced- I was here and ready to have fun!
That is different than a daycare facility- I am a home/person. But as the other mom's said I believe it is in their policy to charge you- so either talk to them OR find an in-home provider. We are a lot more flexible I think!!
I just wanted to remind people that when working with an in-home provider you are working with another mom- talk about days like today and the policy before enrolling.

Try Kids Planet. It is on 18th and N. They are great with the kids and have a great infant room. It is curriculum based and they have weekly themes. They have never closed for bad weather and if they did they wouldn't charge you. My kids have gone for two years and we love it.

If it's not clearly stated that it is paid, I would challenge it. I am a daycare provider and I don't close for poor weather (I don't need to leave my home so I don't see a reason to) - but if a child is kept home anyway then I would be paid. Other than that I do receive paid vacation time (per my contract), and paid holidays, other than that I am not paid for days I am closed.

L.,
I am a childcare provider and no, it is not fair. As a mother of 6, I learned the hard way a few times. Always read the fine print in the contract and handbook. Communication is key when dealing with your childcare. Always be open with your provider. You should only be charged for days your child is supposed to be there and care is available. Not for the providers days off for any reason. My advice is talk to your provider and try and work it out. If you can't; give notice and move on. Check out this web site:
http://www.childcareaware.org/en/
L.,

No I don't think it's fair but I think it would be hard to find one that doesn't do it. My friend's daycare closed and they were an inhome one! My inhome daycare use to tell me that if I could make it then they would be open. Now I understand the Centers closing because the staff has to drive but I think it stinks to pay for it! I also don't agree to having to pay when my son isn't there once in a blue moon. I use to work a normal forty hour week but once is awhile I would take a half day. I would still have to pay even though he wasn't there, I don't agree with that.

I agree. that if a center chooses to close then it's wrong to expect customers to have to pay for that day....they should issue a credit for one day or something. But if the parent chooses to keep little billy home whether their sick or taking a personal day, then the parent should still pay. If they allowed everyone to say, "oh, were not coming in today", they'd end up losing so much in income if those persons didn't pay it wouldn't be profitable to stay open.

I could see a late start. Because if most people could still get to work there has to be some option for those persons that need care. And if most working people can get to work, then daycare workers should be able to do the same.

Absolutely not ... if they are not watching your kids then why should you have to pay.. that makes no sense!!!!

I don't use daycare or work for a daycare, but... I don't think it's fair. They're not working, so why should they get paid?

I'm with the other gals, if it was in the policy book, that's a bummer. I did not think it was fair when I was a provider, so it was in my policy book that if I chose to close for the day for illness, weather, personal day, etc, then I did not get paid but if the parent kept the child home, I did. Otherwise, I could be motoring along with a parent who normally would pay $125 per week suddenly coming down sick or leaving a kid with Gramma and losing income, sometimes a weeks worth. It was something ammended into my contract after a parent did that to me a few times, even though I had a two week notice for days off in my contract. I ended up doing a weekly minimum, kids there or not. It's odd that they close when the schools do, is it a center??

I am also an in-home daycare provider and do not charge if it is my decision to close. I have never closed for bad weather, but if I did, I would not charge the parents. I do, however, still charge if it is the parents decision not to bring the children for the day. Hope this helps!

J.

I understand if its a big daycare and has employees that may be in danger driving but when the woman doesnt even have to leave her own home... thats rediculous. If Im not getting paid, neither are you buddy!

L., I do home daycare and I too have a policy of paying when the family isn't there, but NOT when I close for the day. My families also get a number of "free" days to use for illness/ vacation whenever they want. I think you should discuss it with your provider. Just be careful how you approach her. If you are nice about it and honest, you never know. She may be able to change it, she may not due to past experiences. You just never know. Go over your contract and policies and make sure you ahev all your facts/ concerns ready. Before you switch though really think about how happy your child is there and what he's getting from her. Is a handful of days you have to pay for worth the hassle of findng placement for a baby and going through the adjustment? It's hard to find places for babies in our area. Just something to think about.