Child minding

[Elspeth]

Can a childminder make the parents pay when the childminder goes on holiday, and also on bank holidays, when the child is not being minded? This seems very unfair, as parents have to make alternative arangements and pay again. Is it legal?

[hippyhoppy]

Any childminder worth his/her salt will make sure that the financial arrangements are in place and draw up a contract with the parents. The National Childminding Association reccomend that the minder negotiates 4 weeks paid holiday a year, either fully paid or at the very least half pay. Another thing to consider is if the parents decide to have a holiday they will still be required to pay for the space as the minder is limited with how many children they can have at one time and won't be able to fill a space for a week or two whilst the child is on holiday. It can be a bit of a minefield as we are notoriously cagy when it comes to talking about money...

[Elspeth]

Thank you Hippyhoppy.

[ethanryan]

hi my niece and nephew are both with different childminders and there parents have to pay the childminders when they go away, this was told to them before the childminder started having the kids. but you say that when the childminder goes away, this hasnt happened to my sister or sister in law yet but my sister said that if the childminder goes away she dont have to pay her cause like you said you will need to pay someone else. however my sister in law will have to still pay . maybe you shouls sit down and talk things over with the childminder, if your not happy look for another one, but gets the money side of things clear before you take someone else on.

[pink-kittens]

Yes, but it should be discussed at the initial appointment. Personally, if the minder goes on holiday then I don't think the parents should pay as they will need alternate childcare and will have to pay for it

But why should the minder not be paid for BH? Just because the parent gets the BH off, doesn't mean they shouldn't pay the minder. If they don't like it then send the child to the minder on a BH but be aware you may be charged more for the time

Is it legal? Yes, it is and I can guarantee if the parents don't pay and the minder decides on legal action to regain lost fees, the minder will win. There hasn't been a case yet that hasn't been won by the minder for unpaid fees

[Elspeth]

Thank you all for your help.

[Doc2410]

My childminder doesn't charge for her holidays or bank holidays & when we have a holiday I add the last 8 weeks of her pay together divide by 8 to get an average then pay her 50% of that. I suppose it all depends on the childminder but mine's fantastic.

Doc2410
xxx

[Elspeth]

Wish we lived near you Doc2410! Thanks for the info.

[Postdog]

I am not a childminderf, but I have frinds who are.

The comment made earlier about the parents paying if THEY go on holiday is right. When all's said and done, the childminder is doing this for money after all, and they cannot just mind another child in the meantime, so they should expect to be paid.

However, to your question, unless it was agreed from the outset, I ( and one of my friends who I have just been speaking to about this) would say no, you shouldn't pay. In fact, of the childminders I know (6 or more) they arrange their own holidays to co-incide with school and nursery holidays, so they take the time off when they are least likely to be needed.

[Elspeth]

Thank you postdog - that seems very reasonable.

[Bohne]

I have a childminder and of course she gets paid for her holidays.
So do I and I would be extremely upset if my boss decided to cut holiday pay all of a sudden.

[beanebabe]

I have just given up childminding and I think it is a total cheek for childminders to get paid when they have holidays / time off. If a self employed builder/plumber etc doesn't work he doesn't get paid - end of!

[Elspeth]

My feelings too beanebabe. There's a difference between being self-employed and working for someone else. Self employed people do not get paid if they take time off. And to charge for minding when the customer is on holiday is a step too far I feel Thank you for your support.