Did You Pay for Your Child's Daycare While on Snap Lockdowns?

With snap lockdowns becoming more common across major states here, did anyone worry about the cost of daycare that we pay for keeping our kids at home? The last time when Brisbane was in lockdown for 3 days, it was only one working day so I didn't really bother much about it. But now it has become a 3 working day lockdown and possibly more days given the current outbreak with increasing positive cases. Personally, am looking at a loss of minimum $200 for this three days of lockdown. In addition to managing kids at home along with work meetings, this is an increased burden financially for me. Does anyone have similar thoughts? Is there a way we get some financial assistance or pause in payments for Government enforced lockdowns affecting us in sending kids to daycare?

Comments

  • -2

    I would think if the government mandates the closure of daycare you should be able to ask for a pro-rate refund no? It would be illegal to keep it otherwise?

    • It would be illegal to keep it otherwise?

      Which law in particular?

      • +13

        Section 5(1)(a) of the Ozb refund Act 2021
        "Though shall refund services not legally able to be used by the customer"

        • +1

          I knew everyone should put any problems through ozb! So many experts!

  • +2

    this is an increased burden financially for me

    If you are still working (albeit WFH), how are you any more out of pocket than if you were in the office?

    • Am reducing my work hours to be able to engage my kids which means less pay. This also means I am paying day care fees in addition to loss of revenue.

      • +2

        At least you are working…

        What you are asking is for child care workers to lose their pay. They are already amongst the lowest paid workers.

        • +6

          I'll comment on what I know and seen - In my kids' day care most staff are casual employees paid by the hour and on days like this, the whole centre runs with minimum staff to be able to manage only a handful of children (about 10) instead of the usual 150+. So, imagine only 4 staffs working instead of 20 people but they still charge us in full?

          I'm not suggesting that they lose their pay for my benefit. It is the business that makes the money and there are losers are both sides because the business is making the most of it.

          • -1

            @ozshuttler:

            It is the business that makes the money

            Would you rather they go out of business?

        • +5

          The child care centre not saving cash to pay employees for a rainy day is not OP's problem.

          • @[Deactivated]: The children aren't enrolled on a 'casual' basis…

            If you want a permanent place, there are fees involved as the centre has costs to pay, rent, staff, maintenance, insurance etc…

            If you want the flexibility to pull kids in and out without paying, make other arrangements. It's not mandatory to put you child in child care.

        • Disagree with this. Child care cost is quite high in this country.

          • -2

            @apple2016:

            Disagree with this.

            With what?

            Child care cost is quite high in this country.

            Yes they are… But they are not mandatory, you can make other arrangements, like get a nanny, use friends, relatives, grandparents etc….

  • -3

    Did You Pay for Your Child's Daycare While on Snap Lockdowns?

    No. Stopped paying daycare years ago…

    • +4

      3 posts in 15mins on the same post… jv is definitely 'working' from home.

      • -1

        Wie geht es Ihnen? Gunther…

  • +2

    I think this translates to —> I could save $200 because I am not sending them to childcare anymore.

    so simple, if you want to save the massive $200, cancel the childcare and take the risk of not getting back in.

    its 3 days, melbourne was months.

  • +1

    I’m in Vic and the last snap lockdown we had to pay for our permanent OSHC bookings. Reason being is permanent bookings pay lower rates as compare to casual bookings and the centre’s forecasts/contracts (staff and rentals) are based on this.

    As much as it would have been nice to not have to pay as per previous lockdowns, it is what it is.

  • Perth experienced the same. We also had to pay. Ours was for 1 week.

  • Not in NSW then.

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