If your daycare or childcare provider closed due to coronavirus, are they still requiring you to pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our center is not paying their teachers and have told them to file unemployment. Would we be in the right to request stop payment of our tuition? Not sure what we would be paying for in this case.

Child Care Director here. This is heartbreaking. I'm not sure how much unemployment pays but it's not 100% of salaries. The center will likely offer some reduction but will still need to cover, rent, utilities, and liability insurance, at a minimum.

DP. I understand the center has other expenses. But I am also much less sympathetic to those concerns than I am to to those regarding low wage daycare employees. The center is a business. It should have greater contingency plans -- both in terms of a cushion and insurance -- to be better able to weather some of the storm. And, at the end of the day, they are a business and a business assumes the risks of potential loss, at least for periods of time.

If I am not receiving the service I have paid to, I am going to be fairly uninterested in continuing to make substantial payments so that the center can thrive. At the very least, I would be expecting the owner of the center to significantly share in the pain. I'd be more willing to pay to ensure that the teachers were paid.

You have obviously no foresight. If you don’t pay tuition your center will not pay teachers salaries and you will lose a community service that is vital to many. Preschools are not plentiful in the DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase area. It is difficult to find spots at good ones. Why would you want them to go out of business to make it harder later because you are a frugal person with no foresight? Don’t be that person.

They won’t go out of business, at least for any length of time, for the reasons you cite.

Care is hard to find and people have a significant need. For that reason, once this crisis passes, businesses should be able to reopen. Given the economic turmoil coming, landlords will have an incentive to work with tenants to allow them to continue, presumably with both the center and the landlord taking a bit of a haircut.

The easiest answer is to try to get parents to pay for a service they are not receiving, but that doesn’t make it right, especially when the center isn’t even paying its employees. It’s pretty ridiculous for a business owner to say that his employees and customers should suffer, but he must be made whole.

[Anonymous]

Our center is paying its employees as well as other expenses (mortgage, health and dental insurance for employees, and property, workers comp, and liability insurance). They anticipate being close at least through April, and expect us to pay tuition. Like a PP it is our last year there so we only have a few months to go. I am still getting paid, but my job is not secure. There is a good chance I will be laid off when this crisis passes. I'm really struggling with whether to continue paying or pull my child and make other arrangements for the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our center is not paying their teachers and have told them to file unemployment. Would we be in the right to request stop payment of our tuition? Not sure what we would be paying for in this case.

Child Care Director here. This is heartbreaking. I'm not sure how much unemployment pays but it's not 100% of salaries. The center will likely offer some reduction but will still need to cover, rent, utilities, and liability insurance, at a minimum.

DP. I understand the center has other expenses. But I am also much less sympathetic to those concerns than I am to to those regarding low wage daycare employees. The center is a business. It should have greater contingency plans -- both in terms of a cushion and insurance -- to be better able to weather some of the storm. And, at the end of the day, they are a business and a business assumes the risks of potential loss, at least for periods of time.

If I am not receiving the service I have paid to, I am going to be fairly uninterested in continuing to make substantial payments so that the center can thrive. At the very least, I would be expecting the owner of the center to significantly share in the pain. I'd be more willing to pay to ensure that the teachers were paid.

You have obviously no foresight. If you don’t pay tuition your center will not pay teachers salaries and you will lose a community service that is vital to many. Preschools are not plentiful in the DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase area. It is difficult to find spots at good ones. Why would you want them to go out of business to make it harder later because you are a frugal person with no foresight? Don’t be that person.

They won’t go out of business, at least for any length of time, for the reasons you cite.

Care is hard to find and people have a significant need. For that reason, once this crisis passes, businesses should be able to reopen. Given the economic turmoil coming, landlords will have an incentive to work with tenants to allow them to continue, presumably with both the center and the landlord taking a bit of a haircut.

The easiest answer is to try to get parents to pay for a service they are not receiving, but that doesn’t make it right, especially when the center isn’t even paying its employees. It’s pretty ridiculous for a business owner to say that his employees and customers should suffer, but he must be made whole.

Our center is asking if parents can continue paying tuition as a donation so they can keep paying their employees. I agree, it's a big ask, but we're currently in the fortunate position that we don't have an urgent need to get back the money we already paid for April. We are still getting paid. Don't think it's something we could sustain or justify long term though. With all the demand for child care I hope the teachers can find work as nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our center is not paying their teachers and have told them to file unemployment. Would we be in the right to request stop payment of our tuition? Not sure what we would be paying for in this case.

Child Care Director here. This is heartbreaking. I'm not sure how much unemployment pays but it's not 100% of salaries. The center will likely offer some reduction but will still need to cover, rent, utilities, and liability insurance, at a minimum.

DP. I understand the center has other expenses. But I am also much less sympathetic to those concerns than I am to to those regarding low wage daycare employees. The center is a business. It should have greater contingency plans -- both in terms of a cushion and insurance -- to be better able to weather some of the storm. And, at the end of the day, they are a business and a business assumes the risks of potential loss, at least for periods of time.

If I am not receiving the service I have paid to, I am going to be fairly uninterested in continuing to make substantial payments so that the center can thrive. At the very least, I would be expecting the owner of the center to significantly share in the pain. I'd be more willing to pay to ensure that the teachers were paid.

You have obviously no foresight. If you don’t pay tuition your center will not pay teachers salaries and you will lose a community service that is vital to many. Preschools are not plentiful in the DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase area. It is difficult to find spots at good ones. Why would you want them to go out of business to make it harder later because you are a frugal person with no foresight? Don’t be that person.

They won’t go out of business, at least for any length of time, for the reasons you cite.

Care is hard to find and people have a significant need. For that reason, once this crisis passes, businesses should be able to reopen. Given the economic turmoil coming, landlords will have an incentive to work with tenants to allow them to continue, presumably with both the center and the landlord taking a bit of a haircut.

The easiest answer is to try to get parents to pay for a service they are not receiving, but that doesn’t make it right, especially when the center isn’t even paying its employees. It’s pretty ridiculous for a business owner to say that his employees and customers should suffer, but he must be made whole.

Our center is asking if parents can continue paying tuition as a donation so they can keep paying their employees. I agree, it's a big ask, but we're currently in the fortunate position that we don't have an urgent need to get back the money we already paid for April. We are still getting paid. Don't think it's something we could sustain or justify long term though. With all the demand for child care I hope the teachers can find work as nannies.

I agree. And the distinction that your center is still paying employees is an important one that would make me willing to pay a bit longer. Earlier in the thread, people were discussing still paying centers that were not paying employees, but still obviously had other expenses. That is harder to stomach.

[Anonymous]

Our DS is in an inhome daycare. 9 kids, 3 staff. We will pay even if they close. Sometimes at home our DS will call out some of the staffs name when he needs help. So their well being directly impacts our DS wellbeing

[Anonymous]

It seems deeply irresponsible to continue using tuition dollars to continue paying preschool and daycare employees when unemployment compensation is available.

Next time, they should get insurance.

Time to get lawyers involved, as this will go on for months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems deeply irresponsible to continue using tuition dollars to continue paying preschool and daycare employees when unemployment compensation is available.

Next time, they should get insurance.

Time to get lawyers involved, as this will go on for months.

I am sympathetic to parents who won’t or can’t pay when care is stopped. But to call it deeply irresponsible to pay teachers because of unemployment, which covers only a fraction of income, seems ridiculous.

Even in DC, I doubt we will lawyers involved. Centers almost certainly won’t sue parents who stop paying, most of whom have the right to withdraw with relatively little notice any way. And if a parent who withdraws loses a spot, there wouldn’t be a basis to sue to get it back when this is over.

The only place where litigation seems at least slightly plausible is schools where parents paid the full year tuition and now argue they should get a refund. But even that isn’t that likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems deeply irresponsible to continue using tuition dollars to continue paying preschool and daycare employees when unemployment compensation is available.

Next time, they should get insurance.

Time to get lawyers involved, as this will go on for months.

I am sympathetic to parents who won’t or can’t pay when care is stopped. But to call it deeply irresponsible to pay teachers because of unemployment, which covers only a fraction of income, seems ridiculous.

Even in DC, I doubt we will lawyers involved. Centers almost certainly won’t sue parents who stop paying, most of whom have the right to withdraw with relatively little notice any way. And if a parent who withdraws loses a spot, there wouldn’t be a basis to sue to get it back when this is over.

The only place where litigation seems at least slightly plausible is schools where parents paid the full year tuition and now argue they should get a refund. But even that isn’t that likely.

I’m sorry, but are daycare employees and preschool teachers a special class or something? Are they superior to restaurant workers, airplane pilots, etc.?

Whatever percentage of lost income you get in unemployment is what you get.

Whether you paid tuition all at once or in 10 payments is immaterial.

There will be refunds, one way or another (if the K is silent on acts of god).

[Anonymous]

I consider the people who I trust to care for my child 40+ hours a week, to administer CPR if she’s choking, to cuddle her if she’s having a tough day, a “special class.” I will be doing what I can to ensure they get paid as much as possible during this time.

The parents at our preschool who are throwing the biggest fits seem to be the ones with no immediate financial concerns, who have never themselves had to worry about surviving on A few hundred dollars a week unemployment or applying for medicaid. This crisis is really bringing out people’s true colors.

[Anonymous]

We've been asked to pay 90% of tuition for April, which we'll do. Hoping that things will become more normal in May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been asked to pay 90% of tuition for April, which we'll do. Hoping that things will become more normal in May.

Woah!!!

Seriously, glad you got it like that! Only 10% off? Why even bother?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems deeply irresponsible to continue using tuition dollars to continue paying preschool and daycare employees when unemployment compensation is available.

Next time, they should get insurance.

Time to get lawyers involved, as this will go on for months.

I am sympathetic to parents who won’t or can’t pay when care is stopped. But to call it deeply irresponsible to pay teachers because of unemployment, which covers only a fraction of income, seems ridiculous.

Even in DC, I doubt we will lawyers involved. Centers almost certainly won’t sue parents who stop paying, most of whom have the right to withdraw with relatively little notice any way. And if a parent who withdraws loses a spot, there wouldn’t be a basis to sue to get it back when this is over.

The only place where litigation seems at least slightly plausible is schools where parents paid the full year tuition and now argue they should get a refund. But even that isn’t that likely.

I’m sorry, but are daycare employees and preschool teachers a special class or something? Are they superior to restaurant workers, airplane pilots, etc.?

Whatever percentage of lost income you get in unemployment is what you get.

Whether you paid tuition all at once or in 10 payments is immaterial.

There will be refunds, one way or another (if the K is silent on acts of god).

Did you even read my post? I never said they were special or that a school needs to pay it teachers. But I am certainly not going to fault a school that does it as long as it can.

And you are very wrong that it doesn’t matter whether you have paid yet or not. Bird in hand is a powerful difference as the party trying to compel payment or compel a refund is at a significant disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I have both lost our jobs (full and part time) and daycare has closed. They are still keeping our money. How can I be expected to pay when I am laid off and can't afford other childcare now even if I can find another job? They even have our deposit for next month from the beginning of the year. We only made 34,000 before this. We can't afford to pay for them to stay home when we have no money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I have both lost our jobs (full and part time) and daycare has closed. They are still keeping our money. How can I be expected to pay when I am laid off and can't afford other childcare now even if I can find another job? They even have our deposit for next month from the beginning of the year. We only made 34,000 before this. We can't afford to pay for them to stay home when we have no money.

I’d just like the majority of the parents reading this post to realize that not everyone on DCUM is well off. My husband works in the service industry - he’s had to close his business. I am an essential employee, I literally have to show up in person for work. Our daycare has been closed for 1 week now and they haven’t given us anymore info about the month of April. We can’t afford to pay for childcare if we’re not receiving it. Perhaps those of you that are so well off should offer to donate above your tuition to help the other families at your center who can’t afford to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I consider the people who I trust to care for my child 40+ hours a week, to administer CPR if she’s choking, to cuddle her if she’s having a tough day, a “special class.” I will be doing what I can to ensure they get paid as much as possible during this time.

The parents at our preschool who are throwing the biggest fits seem to be the ones with no immediate financial concerns, who have never themselves had to worry about surviving on A few hundred dollars a week unemployment or applying for medicaid. This crisis is really bringing out people’s true colors.

You have no idea someone else's situation.