How much do you charge when you go on Holiday?

**clorogue** · 05-06-2009, 06:43 PM

Just interested to know from all of you your charges. I have always operated full when parents go away and nothing when I go away - have done this for years. Am thinking of charging 1/2 or full when I go away do any of you do this? If you do, do you set a time limit for your holidays eg 4 weeks? I am thinking also of bringing it in for new parents coming on board, not the ones currently on board, so it gradually filters in. What do you think? THANKS!

**butterfly** · 05-06-2009, 06:53 PM

i've always thought this was a little difficult! i don't charge when i'm not working as i think it's a bit unfair as i'm not providing a service! it does make it difficult to decide to go on holiday though as i know i'll be losing loads of money!

would be interested to see what everyone else thinks.

**Chimps Childminding** · 05-06-2009, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by butterfly

i've always thought this was a little difficult! i don't charge when i'm not working as i think it's a bit unfair as i'm not providing a service! it does make it difficult to decide to go on holiday though as i know i'll be losing loads of money!

would be interested to see what everyone else thinks.

I do the same as you butterfly - I agree you do lose a lot of money, but feel that if i am not available I cannot justify charging, particularly as some of my parents use another cm (if she has space available at the time) when I am off, so in effect would end up paying twice for me being on holiday (iyswim)

**Mouse** · 05-06-2009, 07:07 PM

I give parents 4 weeks a year when they don't need to pay. They can chose whether to use that for their holiday or mine.

When a holiday is due (theirs or mine) I ask them if they want to use it as a holiday week. Once they've used their 4 weeks everything else is charged at full fee. I do limit my holiday time to a maximum of 4 weeks a year.

**ORKSIE** · 05-06-2009, 07:14 PM

I charge half for holidays

**clorogue** · 05-06-2009, 07:19 PM

I have found it a little awkward to, but I am having a rethink. I know that it seems unfair if they have to pay another childminder if I am away - and then they pay twice. But we are on contract to them and part of the contract is that we are available to them. Also I feel with all the extra work we have to do and we are entitled to do this, it could be justified. Saying all that I am still unsure what to do at the mo!

**Minstrel** · 05-06-2009, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by clorogue

But we are on contract to them and part of the contract is that we are available to them.

But surely if your on holiday then your not available to them?

This for me is the reason why i won't be charging.

**clorogue** · 05-06-2009, 07:51 PM

I understand what you are saying and I have felt that all this time. But you are on contract to them, just a like a nanny could be and they would be paid when they go on holiday.

**Minstrel** · 05-06-2009, 08:05 PM

Sorry I disagree. A nanny would be an employee. They are paid a wage which may include sick pay and holiday pay. They would have to negiotiate how much holiday allowed and when.

We are self-employed and parents use our service. We can take as much holiday as we wish and when we want to. I think being self employed we have to accept that at times our service may not be available and during those times we don't earn.

Just my opinion and I realise that its obviously not everyone's POV

**Lily Grace** · 05-06-2009, 08:07 PM

When my little girl went to a childminder it was always full fees for my holidays and their holidays, even when my childminder told me she was going away for nearly a month! I changed childminder after that!

I charge normal fees for my hols but I am thinking of changing it to half fees.

**charleyfarley** · 05-06-2009, 08:12 PM

I don't charge a fee if I'm on holiday as I'm not here to provide the service, just the way I do things.

Carol xx

**wendywu** · 05-06-2009, 08:31 PM

I dont charge when i go away on holiday. I know that you dont get paid but to be honest i would rather have a holiday than give it to the tax man. I have 5 weeks off a year and it brings my earnings down.

**deeb66** · 05-06-2009, 08:34 PM

I don't charge if my services are withdrawn due to sickness or holiday but I do charge for the parents holidays as my services are still available.

I ensure that I book my holiday well in advance and give all parents plenty of notice and encourage them to take holiday around the same sort of time....

I know that it means that I don't get paid (and neither does my other half as he is self employed too) but we budget for it......I find it works really well

**wendywu** · 05-06-2009, 08:40 PM

Yes Dee i think any holiday works really well

**Alibali** · 06-06-2009, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by deeb66

I don't charge if my services are withdrawn due to sickness or holiday but I do charge for the parents holidays as my services are still available.

I ensure that I book my holiday well in advance and give all parents plenty of notice and encourage them to take holiday around the same sort of time....

I know that it means that I don't get paid (and neither does my other half as he is self employed too) but we budget for it......I find it works really well

same here

Lady Haha · 06-06-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by charleyfarley

I don't charge a fee if I'm on holiday as I'm not here to provide the service, just the way I do things.

Carol xx

Yes, same here. Having used a childminder in the past myself, I wouldn't have been happy to pay if she couldn't look after my son!

I recently went looking for a childminder to look after him for a couple of after school sessions (to give everyone a break!), but the only one I found with vacancies was charging for her four weeks holiday AND for three training days per year!

No wonder she is the only one left with vacancies......

**Hebs** · 06-06-2009, 12:04 PM

I charge 4 weeks paid holidays for MYSELF,

My parents work various hours and I work all the time inc overnights and weekends so I feel I can more than justify having paid holidays!

**candy cat** · 08-06-2009, 11:55 AM

Holidays are very difficult as i know a couple of friends who have had issues over holiday pay....I am re-registering again and this time round i am not charging for 4 weeks contracted days a year ie if someone only comes 1 day a week they will get 4 days a year when they pay no fee....if 5 days per week they would get 20 days without paying and so on...I just feel i don't want to feel guilty about going on hols also means it reduces your yearly income so less tax to pay.