Daycare center closing early for holiday weekend - is this appropriate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely be annoyed - especially with such short notice. I wouldn't ask for a refund of fees, but I would perhaps write back to the director explaining how such short notice is difficult to deal with and asking if she can build such time off into the advance schedule in the future.

OP here - I think this is the most sage advice so far. Frankly, asking for the half day credit back doesn't really do much for me, as the actually daycare money isn't a huge difference (it's the time off that is). I'm more interested in making them realize that this is NOT OK to do with any kind of regularity (all federal holidays, etc), unless they specifically state that in their guide.

We typically don't like to plan vacations around federal holidays because travel is such a nightmare all of those weekends - but if we knew at the beginning of the year that every federal holiday was a 3.5 day weekend, it may tip the scales for us to plan our trips around them.

[Anonymous]

It would be perfectly reasonable if it were part of the published schedule at the beginning of the year. It's really weird to spring it on you at the last minute.

(When I read the subject line I thought this would be that they were closed on July 3, which I do think it reasonable since it's a federal holiday.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be happy to take unpaid time off to spend with my child.
I'm not obsessed with work.

Thanks, supermom.

Agree with others that this is waaay too short notice.

[Anonymous]

Unreasonable. I would press the refund point only to help them "feel" it too. They won't do it, but you want it to be viewed as not a good deal for them to close early next time.

[Anonymous]

Can someone else watch your child that day? High schooler that lives down the street and just pay her 10 per hr yes you would be out 100 but that's better then 250

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be annoyed by this and yes you should ask to have a credit to your account. Is this a large daycare? I'm assuming it is not a Federal. I can see the President calling for half a day on the 3rd, but not the 2nd. You pay for them to take care of your child, fight them on this.

July 3rd is the federal holiday. Doubtful that they will let us go early on July 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone else watch your child that day? High schooler that lives down the street and just pay her 10 per hr yes you would be out 100 but that's better then 250

Yeah - we're probably going to use a sitter. But frankly, its more about the principle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be annoyed by this and yes you should ask to have a credit to your account. Is this a large daycare? I'm assuming it is not a Federal. I can see the President calling for half a day on the 3rd, but not the 2nd. You pay for them to take care of your child, fight them on this.

July 3rd is the federal holiday. Doubtful that they will let us go early on July 2nd.

Seriously? I'm a PP at a federal center, and they get out a few hours early fairly regularly before a holiday. It may be agency-specific (i.e., it's the head of that agency making the call).

[Anonymous]

A few hours early might mean 3pm (rather than 6pm). Noon is basically the whole day.

[Anonymous]

That would really bother me - not just the fact that you weren't notified at the beginning of the year, but mostly the simple fact that I use a daycare because I need regular childcare during work hours. If they are going to have a regular habit of closing at noon the day before a holiday, then that would be unacceptable to me and I would find a new daycare. I would push back on this or at the very least ask them if this is something they are planning to do every holiday.

[Anonymous]

It's ok to reply back to the Director letting her/him know that you do need care for that entire day. If you need care, speak up. It's possible the Director has some staff who are willing to work the entire day (especially true for hourly staff).

They may have done a rough head count of kids and discovered that a majority would not be there on the 2nd so they are trying to allow staff to leave early for the holiday.

[Anonymous]

My daycare is doing the same thing. Told me yesterday at pick up. I was slightly annoyed at the late notice but in all honesty the amount of notice wouldn't have made a difference. Then about 30 seconds later I remembered I absolutely LOVE this daycare and they work their asses off. Then I wasn't annoyed any longer.

[Anonymous]

The answer then is either "that isn't possible-it's not in your stated hours" or "ok, but of course I'm sure you will have no issue with my deducting payment for half a day from my next payment to you, since I'm sure you don't expect compensation for care you aren't providing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's ok to reply back to the Director letting her/him know that you do need care for that entire day. If you need care, speak up. It's possible the Director has some staff who are willing to work the entire day (especially true for hourly staff).

They may have done a rough head count of kids and discovered that a majority would not be there on the 2nd so they are trying to allow staff to leave early for the holiday.

this is good advice. at a minimum let her know that it's not OK for her to unilaterally close early for no reason- and if possible get other parents to complain as well - so she doesn't start to routinely do this before every holiday weekend. if it's not on the schedule, she shouldn't be unilaterally closing and if enough parents complain she will need to stop doing it. Is there anyone above her you can complain to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your list $250 by taking half a day off work then you must earn $500 per day or $2500 per week or $10k per month. I think you will be fine.

Oh good, my math was spot on! And therefore, so were the rest of my thoughts about OP's "problem"