BAY

Anyone had the following experience: what a rip off.

We recently put our 2 year old daughter into Childcare, for half a day every Monday morning. Then last week we were told that we owed for last Monday's public holiday (Labour Day) when the childcare place wasn't open ! Since when do you pay for a service you haven't used ? We had it explained it was in the contract and that they still wanted to get paid and have a salary in effect for public holidays, like the majority of workers, still doesn't make it right !! We now send her to the childcare centre on a casual basis on the Monday, means we don't have to pay on public holidays , but we could lose our place if someone signs up a contract for the Monday. Is this an Aussie thing or does this dodgy prctice go on in the UK ?

Pollyana

Be warned - not all public holidays in Aus are on Mondays. Not unknown to have them mid-week.

JackTheLad

It's standard practice around where we live. Nothing dodgy about it IMHO. Childcare workers are among the lowest paid professionals already. I don't see why they shouldn't be paid for public holidays like the rest of the population.

Did you know you could use your child's annual leave entitlement on public holidays, i.e., paying half-fee instead of full? Assuming, of course, you do actually use up all your child's entitlement.

Mrs JTL

Howard Jenings

Same here in regional WA you always pay when it's a public holiday and the place is closed. It was no different in the UK either when our kids attended there. The staff still need to be paid, wait until xmas day falls on a friday - you have to pay for the Friday and the Monday and it will be shut. Standard practice I would think.

northernbird

Agree with that, had to pay year round in the UK.

BAY

The problem I have is

a) when I worked on contract through a job agency I filled in my time sheet and only got paid for the hours I worked.

b) why should only those who send their children in on the Monday pay for the public holidays on Monday, surely it should be spread evenly across all the parents who send their children Monday to Friday.

Janna and Nick

I don't pay here in the UK for bank holidays or the week they are shut over Christmas.

Wholly agree with the OP. The amount you pay for the balance of the year should be set at a price that compensates for not being paid for bank holidays specifically.... if that makes sense....

Dills

I am a children's centre manager in the U.K and we would never charge for public holidays. Parents have contracts, they do have to pay if they dont attend for what ever reason, due to their child being counted in the adult:child ratio. I do think its unfair practice to charge for childcare provision when the place is shut.

itigo

Have always paid for public holidays in the UK, not sure about here but suspect it will be the same. It's always in the contract.

Rosscarbery

I always paid for public holidays in the UK. Staff are paid for public holidays (as you would expect) and I'm guessing if you or your OH work you expect to be paid on public holidays so I think calling it "dodgy practice" is a bit off.

minibelle

I have worked in child care centres in the UK and Australia, they have all charged for public holidays.

minibelle

BAY

This is my point ... the amount they charge and earn throughout the year should compensate for not being paid for bank holidays.

For example: How many ladies who have their hair done every week on a Monday would agree to pay that cost for when the salon is shut on a public holiday ? None I would expect.

The same goes for blokes playing footy on a Monday evening at a sports centre . How many would agree to pay when the sports centre is closed on a public holiday. Again , none expect.

itigo

Yes but they are leisure activities, not a professional service I guess?

BAY

But they are still services that the consumer pays for ... or shouldn't pay for on a public holiday when the service is not avaliable.