Are center based daycares still going to pay their teachers?

[Anonymous]

Work is full steam ahead for the foreseeable future (think essential functions...). I have two under 5 and daycare is obviously and understandably closed for who knows how long. Given that, we're likely to hire someone to be with the kids so we can work, meaning childcare costs will be 2X normal. My willingness to incur that cost for an extended period depends on whether the (quite good) teachers at said daycare are getting paid while the center is closed. If the answer is yes, I'm more inclined to grin and bear the expense as long as we can swing it (which may not be the duration if this drags into the summer). If the answer is no, I'm thinking the right thing is to stop paying tuition and instead put that money toward employing one of the teachers directly as a nanny. I'd also be troubled by the operators basically doubling their margins by taking in tuition and incurring no labor cost, all while they're not actually operating...

An embarrassing embedded question is I don't know whether the teachers at the school are hourly or salaried. I'm in Arlington.

Anyone know what centers are likely to do? Does the answer depend on the type of center (for-profit vs non-profit). Looking for answers from both center admins, teachers, and parents who are knowledgeable. Any insight would be welcome!

[Anonymous]

Ours is.

[Anonymous]

I teach at a half day preschool. They guaranteed us 2 weeks pay, but none after that.

[Anonymous]

Our daycare director confirmed that staff are still “on the payroll” but her email wasn’t specific so it’s possible they aren’t getting full time pay while the center is closed. Hopefully they are, we will be asking for clarification.

[Anonymous]

We are still open, so I would assume they are still being paid.

[Anonymous]

For centers that close, most families prepaid for the month so they have the means to pay through this month so the question is what happens next month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our daycare director confirmed that staff are still “on the payroll” but her email wasn’t specific so it’s possible they aren’t getting full time pay while the center is closed. Hopefully they are, we will be asking for clarification.

If they're not getting full-time pay, I hope you're not paying the full usual fees.

[Anonymous]

The only way they will keep gettting paid is if we keep paying. Please keep paying if you are continuing to receive a paycheck yourself. It’s the right thing to do. Do the right thing, think of the workers who care day in and day out for you child for barely over minimum wage. They will truly suffer if they lose their pay. We all need to come together and think of the community and not ourselves here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only way they will keep gettting paid is if we keep paying. Please keep paying if you are continuing to receive a paycheck yourself. It’s the right thing to do. Do the right thing, think of the workers who care day in and day out for you child for barely over minimum wage. They will truly suffer if they lose their pay. We all need to come together and think of the community and not ourselves here

Sorry op I admittedly read too fast and was thinking in the context of my home daycare. You’re asking some great questions but I just wouldn’t stop paying unless you have confirmation workers won’t get paid

[Anonymous]

At our center, which we have decided to close for the time being, March payroll is fully funded by this month's tuition revenue, and will go on as planned regardless of our operating status. In the event of a long-term closure, our ability to cover expenses, including payroll, benefits and rent, depends on the willingness of parents to continue paying tuition. We expect that willingness to decline over time if conditions demand that we close for longer than a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Parents should absolutely demand it of their daycares, to protect the teachers, especially those chains (like BH, Kindercare). You'd be surprised at how little daycare staff is paid.

My kid goes to a non-profit, and I was told that the teachers would be paid during the 2 week closure.

[Anonymous]

Op your questions are good and are ones we asked too. It seems they aren’t going to pay their workers and will pocket the different. Also, there’s huge food costs they won’t have to
Pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op your questions are good and are ones we asked too. It seems they aren’t going to pay their workers and will pocket the different. Also, there’s huge food costs they won’t have to
Pay.

Actually they will probably have to still pay the food costs. Most of them outsource meals to catering. I’m sure there are contracts involved.

[Anonymous]

For those parents wanting to make sure staff is being paid, ASK! You’d be surprised what centers and even private preschools will get away with. Email them now! Ask if their workers are getting full pay. Most of you already paid for the month. The owner shouldn’t be pocketing anything without all staff being fully compensated.

[Anonymous]

My small center in DC said they will continue to pay the teachers while closed.