Another child minding related subject today.
When I was a registered child minder I did charge for bank holidays; this was because I was advised to on an introduction workshop that I attended before getting my registration. Parent will be paid for bank holidays we were told, so should you.
If I was asked by a parent to look after their child on a bank holiday then I charged double fee ( I didn’t mind working on a bank holiday, if my husband who was also self-employed was working too).
I must say that most parents were happy with this as I had it written into the contract that we both signed.
One mother who used me on Mondays did mention that she felt it was a little unfair that bank holidays almost always fell on a Monday, so I suggested that in the spring she paid for the Easter bank holiday Monday, I would overlook the May day one and she would pay me for the Whitsun bank holiday at the end of the same month. She was perfectly happy with this.
Occasionally I worked with social services to provide respite for parents and was once asked if I could possibly consider having a baby on a bank holiday, I said that I would for double my usual fee. The social worker told me that she wouldn’t give up a bank holiday for less than double so that was confirmed: In fact I ended up with 2 children on that bank holiday and to say that I worked for the extra money is an understatement ( it was as if the children knew that I was being paid more than usual).
If you are a parent who uses the service of a child minder would you expect to pay for bank holidays? please share any thoughts and experiences.
As always questions and comments are welcome.
Until next time.
Karen
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I was a childminder quit last month, I never charged as never open and if they needed me badly then double, I was always if I’m open then I charge but if I was closed then I don’t, as a mum I don’t have extra money so that is what I would have wanted, I work in a nursery now that is closed so I don’t have to pay my child nursery fees on that day [ yes I still work with my children ] and we get paid holiday pay on bank holidays.
That sounds reasonable, thanks for sharing, Saffy
I am in the states, and though I have never been a full time “nanny”, I have babysat and tutored countless littles aside my own. I have only ever been paid the hours I worked. My husband gets paid time off days, but in none of my retail jobs did I. I only got time and a half for working holidays, too. That said, I don’t think it wrong to build in paid time off for full-time nannies/childminders. Nor do I think it wrong to ask for double rates on holidays. It just isn’t something common here as far as I know. And it isn’t something I have experienced. But I also don’t use nannies.
Thanks, Kendra, for sharing your thoughts, with respect, a babysitter is not a professional, child minders are registered, have insurance and are qualified in first aid and many other child related subjects, all of which are paid for themselves ( not that I am distracting any babysitters, you understand?)
Absolutely Karen. I was speaking from what I know. I believe in the states, nannies or au pairs (I apologize if that is incorrectly spelled), are the equivalent to childminders. However, first aid is generally requested and not required. And there are no additional certifications I am aware or. I highly doubt insurance is involved. However, we also value our children’s educations less here if the salaries of nannies and teachers are any indication. And, although I worked in a professional photography studio for many years, we did not have paid holidays off. That is a perk relegated to certain businesses and is not typical. Even teachers don’t get paid through the summers unless they choose their paychecks to be distributed that way. Our society just doesn’t place as much value on the working class it seems. I think, as I said initially, that you should absolutely value your worth and demonstrate it as you do!
Thanks for taking the time to leave another comment, Kendra, it is appreciated
I agree 100% with you. Child minding is a job, just like any other. Most jobs here pay double on bank holidays too. #mischiefandmemories
Thanks for stopping by and agreeing with me, Astri
I understand why people charge extra for bank holidays but as someone who had my child in pre-school on a Monday it did wind me up that we always had the issue of bank holidays. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
I totally get it from a parents point of view, Jade, thanks for sharing
I think it’s fair to charge for bank holidays, schools would be closed so I think it’s fair that you either charge or close. It’s perhaps bothersome for some parents but if they are working bank holiday I imagine they are being paid double too so why shouldn’t you.
Katrina x
#KCACOLS
Absolutely, Katrina, thanks for your input
Hmm tricky one but it sounds like you dealt with it reasonably 🙂 #mischiefandmemories
Thanks, Hannah
Popping over from #KCACOLS again 🙂 xx
I’m a childminder and only charge if I’m working it. In my opinion bank holidays are for family time so in reality I wouldn’t want to work however if I had a parent who was emergency services, medical then I’d happily work it for them
This makes perfect sense, thanks for sharing, Janine
It’s a very controversial question with some adamantly saying they wouldn’t pay. I encourage parents to compare all offers over a year so you get a full picture. Typically the bank Holidays equate to less than 1 Cup of your favourite coffee a week if you then factor in different hourly charges and what is included you can often find little difference over a year.
Childminders work lots of hours outside their paid time and training weekends is normal. Often holidays are spent in part doing maintenance, deep cleans and catching up on paperwork I think its important to havd some time off to recharge but many can’t afford it unless its paid for. You get childminders who only take 4 or 5 days a year which is not good for them or the children.
Thanks for taking the time to leave this long comment, Janette, much appreciated
I agree that you should be paid for a bank holiday, I’ve never used a childminder. But it’s annoying when my boys who only go to preschool on a Monday and a Tuesday miss out on all those Mondays. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences, Helen
What an interesting post. I think as long as it’s in the contract and parents know up front what to expect, then that’s reasonable. I’m fairly sure it’s quite standard here to pay childminders for bank holidays. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories
Thanks, Annette and thanks for having me as part of the linky
I think that if it is specified in the contract then it is reasonable to be paid or to have double time to care for the child. However, as a single mum with limited income, I did always make sure that I didn’t have my paid childcare hours on Mondays and Fridays. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories
That was well thought out, Laura, thanks for sharing
Most people get to enjoy the bank holiday so if a child minder needs to give theirs up to work, I definitely think it is reasonable to charge double. #KCACOLS
Thanks for explaining your thoughts so well
I am not sure what to think on this one to be honest. I guess the ideal scenario is where parents and childminders communicate well and work in partnerships #MischiefandMemories
That’s it, in a nutshell, Kiate, thanks for your input
My husband and I run a very small business (only one other part time employee) and we are struggling with this. For our two children to not be provided with childcare on bank holidays costs us £1,600 per year. If the childminder offers top up days for free at other times in the year, when other children are off sick or on holiday and paying her anyway as per their contract, then I can accept paying for 8 bank holidays x2 children. I know other families have opted out of the Monday because they don’t want to pay for all the days off, so we got the short straw with Mondays.
Thanks for sharing this, Kim, however, child minders are trying to earn a living too
It is wrong! Simple! You are NOT working and parents are the ones home with their children! It adds up and to essentially ASSUME that parents get paid for bank holidays is quite annoying. I don’t get paid for bank holidays and to have to keep the baby home AND pay you, while I’m not being paid, is unbelievable.
As a former registered child minding myself, I have to disagree with you Stephanie, I was self employed and was advised during my pre- registration training that I should charge for bank holidays so that’s what I did, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject though