I need help...which holidays are usually off?

[MissTwisties]

I made a search on the internet but I'm still not sure. I'd like to know which holidays people usually have off during the whole year? Specially the ones that you have off, but still get paid for them. As you know, I have a daycare business, and my only benefits ARE the paid holidays and vacations that every daycare provider can take if they want to.

This is the list I came up with so far...I'd like to know if some of these holidays are usually NOT off and if Dec.24 and 26, New Years Eve (Dec. 31st), and January 2nd can also be considered?

Thursday, January 1
New Year's Day

Monday, January 19
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday, February 16 *
Washington's Birthday

Monday, May 31
Memorial Day

Monday, July 5 **
Independence Day

Monday, September 6
Labor Day

Monday, October 11
Columbus Day

Thursday, November 11
Veterans Day

Thursday, November 25
Thanksgiving Day

Friday, December 24 ***
Christmas Day

Friday, December 31 ****
New Year's Day 2005

[MissTwisties]

Also, I know some people get personnal/sick days...how many days is usually the norm for that?

Thanks...

[Honclfibr]

Well let's see, first you've got your religious holidays, christmas, easter, chanukhah, yom kippur, ramadan, jesus day, etc. Just because you don't celebrate that particular faith doesn't mean you shouldn't get the day off, that's what freedom of religion means.

And of course there are the "Day" days, Veterans Day, Labor Day, Arbor Day, Earth Day, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, Take-Your-Daughter-To-Work Day (misnomer, as it is an important holiday in this country).

Oh and there's one holiday for every day of the week at least, Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday, and you can't forget Manic Monday (where everyone stays home and wishes it was sunday).

Halloween is another important one, and really you should give your employees the week of prior to this one as they need time to shop for candy and prepare really bitchin costumes.

Don't forget the fourth of july, but really july is just too damn nice a month to work in general, you should just give them the month off with pay and all go fishing or something.

Basically you should really only expect about 40 hours of work to be done in any given calendar year (40.5 if it's a leap year). The rest is pretty much paid holidays.

[bentbryan]

Originally posted by Honclfibr
Just because you don't celebrate that particular faith doesn't mean you shouldn't get the day off, that's what freedom of religion means.

errrr, I think you misspoke there pardner.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by bentbryan
errrr, I think you misspoke there pardner.

Ssh, you're gonna blow my chance at a sweet gig here

[bentbryan]

sorry.

"What he said!"

[Lucky13]

I get nine paid holidays. All the ones you listed except Veteran's Day.

For sick/vacation time:

1wk sick time

2wk vacation time

If I don't use it it rolls over to the following year. I can buy additional days, but it is too exspensive.

[katana0215]

my company starts you out at two weeks sick time and 2 personal days. Plus we get :
New Years Day
MLK Jr Day
Presidents Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day After Thanksgiving
Christmas Day

you start with 2 weeks vaca and after 5 years youy get a 3rd week, a 4th week after 10 years and a 5th week after 20 years

[MissTwisties]

well I was thinking about taking all of these "regular" holidays. And 5 days of sick/personnal days per year (both combined, not 5 of each), and 2 weeks paid vacations (10 week days anytime during the year). I think it's reasonable and it's what most people get. I just want to have them on my new policy I'm gonna write so there is no confusions with the parents as what days I"m gonna take off. And I can also stay open if I decide to, if one parent is in trouble finding a replacement and they have to work. But I'm always clear with them to make sure they have another person available "just in case".

Honclfbr...being a smart-ass?

[sahd03]

I get 6 sick days (or 48 hours), which is odd
I also get two weeks of vacation

Paid holidays are few and far between:
New Year's Day - if it falls on a weekend, we will get the Friday off.
Memorial Day, which is always a Monday off
4th of July - if the 4th falls in the middle of the week, too bad!
Labor Day - always a Monday
Thanksgiving Day always thursday
Day after thanksgiving, always friday
Christmas Day. If it falls on a weekend, we will get the previous friday off instead

That makes 7. A lowly, pitiful 7. I think that is the Federal minimum for holidays.

As far as when you are closed, you might also want to consider your clients. For example, if they are almost all professionals with 9 to 5 jobs and regular schedules, it's easier to make a schedule.

But if you are in an area where the majority of people work on holidays (for example, a ski resort town or people who have 4 different jobs to keep head above water), you might want to consider staying open on the holiday for your client's convenience and working out another day off when it would easier for them to get a "back-up". That would probably also help you draw in more clients and if you are able to hire employees, you would eventually have someone under you cover the days most places are closed, while you take off.

[MissTwisties]

well I have a family daycare. I'm allowed to 5 kids only because my youngest is still home most of the day (2 1/2 hours at pre-k). I do not hire anyone (no assistant either) since this is not a public daycare center. I actually got to read on a daycare providers board, and it seems I'm right in the average of what providers do with their holidays/vacation, etc. time off so I can now feel better about what I'm doing knowing the majority of the providers are doing the same thing. (some actually even charge half time on holidays to stay open! Something I won't do.)

[FazerChic]

I get 23 days off - it includes sick and personal time. Plus, I get the normal holidays off. Depends on the industry in figuring out how many days off a company will get. Day care businesses may generally go by the days off the parents will get off from their companies.

[MissTwisties]

aye you're spoiled!

Yeah, daycares usually goes with federal holidays. Which I'm still getting used to. Where I come from, for exemple, Thanksgiving is on a different date, and not celebrated that much.

Originally posted by NinjaChic
I get 23 days off - it includes sick and personal time. Plus, I get the normal holidays off. Depends on the industry in figuring out how many days off a company will get. Day care businesses may generally go by the days off the parents will get off from their companies.

[RandyO]

I pay my employees for

New Years
Presidents Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
LaborDay
Columbus Day
Veterans Day (most employees swap for day after Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving
Christmas

[MissTwisties]

Thanks!

Originally posted by RandyO
I pay my employees for

New Years
Presidents Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
LaborDay
Columbus Day
Veterans Day (most employees swap for day after Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving
Christmas