DD goes to daycare 2 days every week (Tuesdays and Fridays). When I picked her up on Tuesday this week, I saw a sign saying that the centre would be closed over Easter (Friday - Tuesday, opening on the Wednesday), which means that it will be closed on two days that DD usually attends.
We pay a daily fee for each day that she attends (we make fortnightly cash payments to the centre director). Yesterday I got an email from the centre saying that even though the centre will be closed, fees for those days will be charged as normal. Am I tripping, or does this seem really unfair?? I understand that if DD does not attend on one of her regular days when the centre is open that we would still be charged, but if the centre is closed, how can they charge the daily fees? Is this legal?
Yep that's the way it is and it is legal. The centre still have to pay staff for a public holiday.
Unfortunately it is just bad luck. My two go to creche on a Tuesday as well, still have to pay full fee even though that day is a public holiday this year.
I work part time and still get paid if it just so happends a public holidays falls on one of my work days, it is my good luck that this year Tuesday after Easter is a public holiday
totally normal (and yes, it sucks, but as has been said, they still have outgoing expenses on those days)
what makes it worse is places that close but parents still need to find alternative care as they don't get public holidays off (sooooo many places will still be open on anzac day for example) - so they have to pay normal fees, they need to pay higher fees for occassional care if they can get it as well
Yep sucks doesn't it. Especially when you pay such high fees in the first place - we changed the kids recently to a new place, really happy with it but for 2 days a week we are paying almost $100 a week more :0 Stings a bit when they are sick or on PH.
Bummer. Thanks for letting me know.
I still don't understand how they can charge for a service that they're not providing, but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do...
RE paying the staff - surely if they are paid an hourly rate, they would not be paid for public holidays. I remember when I was studying and doing casual work, I would hate public holidays as I would not get paid for those days. Has this law chaged, or is this something that only happens in childcare centres??
You know what dd2 has been going on a Monday for 12 months and I am
not sure if we pay for the public holidays. I have probably just assumed we don't. Will check the bill when we get it this week.
Feeling decidedly miffed here that Sam's days are Tuesdays and Fridays. The only saving grace is that DH also gets the public holidays so I won't be at home alone with him tearing my hair out!
As said, pretty standard accross the board practice. We do try and provide a makeup day where possible to families falling on these days, however that is only possible if rooms aren't full. My families sign a an agreement on enrolment that covers a pile of things, including agreeing to pay for all booked days including days of absence, public holidays, etc, so I imagine other centres would do the same.
As a parent it sucks, but from a business perspective
60 chn at $70 a day with three days of one pay week as a ph would be at
~ 12 thousand dollar loss to the centre.
+ they pay staff anywhere between 100 and 175 hours per day (depending on ratios and centre set ups)with likely average rate of $19.
A conservative estimate for that three days of wages is $7500.
As they must roster as per it being a normal working day (the same as any workplace).
Not including cook or management that are also permanent staff.
That is a lot of money to 'waste' in three days.
Thinking of the exorbitant rent, weekly food, nappy, supplies, resources, bills it is a damn lot of money for centres to lose.
Public holidays are factored in to the costs for care.
It is legal because the centre is not choosing to close,
Unlike Christmas holiday periods, for example.
Yes, of course most child care staff are permanent -
it is how we provide continiuty of care & keep fees lower.
Casual staff would likely put a 25% rise on your fees because they are required to be paid 25% more.
Question Re Childcare Fees
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