Guest Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Bit of a difficult one and wanted to get some other opinions before I face the committee! We are paid set hours and overtime if agreed in advance. So we are paid until the session ends (at 12.30) although we always stay at least 15 - 30 minutes due to late parents (the committe chair!!) and to tidy up. We dont get paid for this. Anyway, the school was closed on Tuesday so the treasurer mentioned we wont get paid, however my view is that if we are paid set hours, this should be the case in a closure too! afterall the parents still pay for their child to attend even though we were closed! and both staff had to still pay for their own children's childcare. So what do other settings do? I know funds are tight as only a small pre-school but I feel like they can't have it both ways, and they need to decide - do we get paid for hours worked OR for for set hours.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I would definitely still pay staff - it's not their fault it was closed, and, as you say, parents have still provided the daily income. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shiny Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 There was a similar thread on here the other day with some opinions if that is any help!! Here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsbat Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 If parents still pay when there is a closure then you as staff should all definately get paid too! At the pre-school I run we do roll fees for the closed session over to the next term so they don't lose out but we don't get paid for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 We closed for a couple of days last year due to a major sickness outbreak. I felt we should refund the parents for the two days, and also felt that the staff should be paid. I lost out both ways, but felt it was the right thing to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Whenever playgroup was closed due to snow I didn't get paid. Parents who paid the full fees also had this session refunded. Perhaps if you feel that staff should be paid there should be some sort of agreement in advance that if the setting is forced to close for whatever reason, then staff will use these hours to catch up with paperwork etc. instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Staff should still get paid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 of course the staff should get paid...............................but i don't think parents should have to pay when the setting closes.Hard on the committee, but the staff shouldn't suffer because of this.My own group has managed to stay open but i will offer a replacement session to those families who simply couldn't get to us because the roads were too dangerous.i won't refund any money, as we were open, but i think it's fair to give a session instead.it makes for good customer relations i think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 we are a small commitee run group - but do get paid as others say its not the staffs fault! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Absolutely. We've only ever had to close for funerals (being in a Chapel) and parents don't pay, staff get paid. Children in receipt of NG chose another session in that week as a replacement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MaryEMac Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 We were closed yesterday and I assumed that we would not get paid but I spoke to the treasurer this morning and she said that we would be paid full wages for the morning session and then the 2 staff who were down to work the smaller session in the afternoon would get min wage. All of the children who attend are funded on a thurs so the playgroup wouldn't be out of pocket. i wasn't gonna argue !! Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I would just echo what everyone else has said. Paying your staff who were available and willing to work but were unable to because the setting was closed is really the least an employer can do. To do otherwise is not so good for staff morale! Although obviously in my case this would come out of my wages! However I'm also making the assumption that you wouldn't have to pay back the nursery education funding for that day! Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 In my humble opinion! Yes of course staff should get paid. I wouldn't dream of not paying my 'girls' - but then, as I remind them (daily) they don't know how lucky they are to work for me!!! Sunnyday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 we got paid, also committee run group.. I also kept a note of all the extra unpaid hours staff did and reason for the overtime.. gave this to committee at regular intervals, so they are aware of the unpaid hours we did.. they decided to extend our hours to help cove this by 15 mins a day.... Inge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 As a committee run pre-school we both refund parents if fee paying and all staff are paid at their full rate. At the end of the day my staff do enough work unpaid and its not as if this happens very often!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Absolutely! Welcome Paintbox! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnyday Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 paintbox - great name! sunnyday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 (edited) look at it like this they still get the funding for the children of those that are of funding age so why should,nt staff get paid . I do lot for my pre school out of hours and don,t get paid or thankyou from commitee only from the preschool level 3 who is well aware of what i do and she does for free,sometimes me and her feel where the only staff their anyone else ever feel like that. How many of us are doing our learning journeys in our own time casue we do not have time in the setting . Edited February 6, 2009 by bubblybee3107 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Welcome to the Forum, paintbox! Maz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 hello and welcome Paintbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I think it's almost universal that professional employees get paid even if their place of work isn't able to open. It might be interesting (if any of your committee are in employment and were unable to get to work on that day) to ask whether they were expecting to get paid or not. I bet they would be outraged if they thought they might have their salaries docked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 "I think it's almost universal that professional employees get paid even if their place of work isn't able to open. It might be interesting (if any of your committee are in employment and were unable to get to work on that day) to ask whether they were expecting to get paid or not. I bet they would be outraged if they thought they might have their salaries docked..." TBH (although I'll be paying my staff for the day we closed) when I worked in the private sector we had to take such time off as holiday. RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyMaz Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 TBH (although I'll be paying my staff for the day we closed) when I worked in the private sector we had to take such time off as holiday. My DOH's company has just said the very same thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mundia Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 If we are unable to get into work due to adverse weather, we are expected to take the day as annual leave. If we have no AL left then as unpaid leave. This in not unusual across many LAs However if the place of work is closed (as it was today) then you would not be expected to take this as AL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 As a teacher if I can't get into my own school we are expected to report to my nearest school and offer my services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chill Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 And did you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Hehe, what a thought - more teachers in schools than pupils! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 funnily my husband works for BT and he said if they cannot get to thier place of work he has o make his way to the nearest exchange! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Hi Well Im querying this with my committee. Off on mon as no heating and off thurs as snow made it impossible for deputy to get in. The rest of us live locally and can walk in but we are a rural village. If deputy coudnt get in then no way agency could have got there (need another qualified to open). So chair decided to shut. Strapped cash committee tho so not sure if we will get paid. Will let you know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 (edited) We won't get paid.....we had the heating breakdown a couple of weeks ago and although I was there, set up and consequently cleared away when children were telephoned to say we would be closed I wasn't paid a penny! I only worked one day last week due to the weather and I will earn hardly anything...also am at the setting for an hour or more daily that is not paid for. We are a private nursery - so what can I do? (Don't answer that I know change jobs??) Edited February 7, 2009 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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