carers can now charge for public holidays, regardless of if they are open or not!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Melissa F on January 13, 2010 at 12:27pm

I believe you will find that you are still eligible for child care benefit for the public holidays. Besides, all of the Child Care Centres have the same policy. They are always closed on public holidays, but still charge the parents fees for these days, which means the workers don't miss out on any pay. That's fair, right? Don't forget that Family Day Carers, like most employees, are entitled to be paid for public holidays. Why is that an outrage?

Permalink Reply by Camma Goodwin on February 3, 2010 at 1:24pm

I think what gets parents off side with this regulation, is that a parent needs to take the day off to care for the child/ren and when said parent is not on salary (which is quite common) they are out of pocket for that day. We have to remember that each families situation is different and what may be fair and reasonable for one family may not be for another. This rule dose not only apply to LDC or FDC centres, My Gym Creche is not open on public holidays which means I can't go for the sessions i wold normaly, however, i still have to pay my weekly fees for both the Gym and Creche even though I can't attend. I suggest that If you have a problem like this or If you ever feel unsure regarding a certain rule, take it up with the caregivers or go further and take some action! Write up a petition cause these things need to be discussed and worked on to make life fairer and easier for everyone.

Permalink Reply by Sarah Linsley on February 3, 2010 at 9:31pm

As a family day care provider I dont see how this is an out rage considering that parents today including myself have the best they have ever had. Not only do we get a CCB on our fees that form our Carers wages we also get 50% of our out of pocket expenses every quarter. Hello you are all on a very good wicket I never got that when my kids where in care and please dont forget if you didnt have carers to look after the most important person in your life no one would have a job. Dont for get this is a job and like you I expect to get paid if my work days are Mondays and it happens to be a public holiday why shouldnt I get paid ?? everyone else does?? who has a permanent job and thats what this is a permanent job a job that most of us love and enjoy and put a great deal of effort and time into not only in the inservice training that we must attend each and every year min of 4 which we dont get paid for and some of them cost us money and time from our families. PLEASE APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY DAY CARER because we deserve it.

Permalink Reply by lulu on February 4, 2010 at 4:40pm

I'm afraid I agree with the majority on this one, Liz. I too am an FDC provider, and I do so as a career choice, not just for some extra pocket money. My husband and I rely on my income for our weekly expenses (we have bills and a mortgage just like everyone else!) and for us to just miss out on a whole day's wages makes a big difference to us. Keep in mind that as self employed professionals, we don't get sick leave, we don't get 4 weeks paid holidays each year, and we don't get any other benefits that would come from working in an organization. And lets be realistic here, our incomes aren't huge as it is. So considering you DO get 50% of that public holiday payment back, and if you have a CCB percentage, the government picks up that part of the tab too... I don't think that the occasional public holiday payment is too much to ask.

Lulu.

Permalink Reply by liz on February 4, 2010 at 8:22pm

hi girls, I wrote this ages and forgot about it. At the time of writing my carer didn't give me any information about the changes, she hadn't charged for a xmas holiday before and I was confused. I rang the office and they advised me of this new change to the system. I think I was more upset about my carer not informing correctly and not telling me anything about this new change.

Getting paid when you aren't open is fair enough, I think I was just put out that she intended to charge for christmas and not tell me why when she didn't the year before.

Permalink Reply by Deb on February 5, 2010 at 10:49am

Hi,
I manage a Child care centre and would just like to point out that while many centres charge parents for public holidays , not ALL centres do it. We are a community based, not for profit organisation and we dont charge parents for public holidays or when we close for our once a year pupil free day.
So it is worth looking around for when looking for a position for your child.
That been said I fully understand why cenrtes and FDC carers need to it as wages still need to be paid

Permalink Reply by frieda on February 23, 2010 at 7:16am

hi . i am a familyday carer also.In my scheme we are allowed to charge for public holidays but only if you are actually working or will be avaiable for work on that day.I myself never work public holidays and have never charged and dont think i will start .I budget holidays etc into my fees at the beginning of the year