Parent Lied and was Shopping When They Said They were Held over at Work!!

[MrsCoffee]

How do you handle these situations "Professionally"? :confused: I provide daycare to a family that is set to pick up between 530-545, I leave for my 2nd job at 555. I know, I know but I had this job first and am not ready to let it go yet. Any way my pick up time was always 5pm, I moved it regrettably for this family, knowing that I wanted to transition to daycare as my main job.

I have told this family that they are not to go past 545! The father called Thursday and spoke with my husband to say that he was going to be about 25 minutes... this was at 530!! That left no time for hellos/goodbyes. He said there were some issues at work and he would come as soon as he could. At pick up I was walking out the door. I didn't let him chat just gave him his children things. He couldn't carry all their things so I helped DCG to the car, carrying her bags for her... the way to the car he is telling me that this new job will be the death of him and when I get DCG in the car... IT"S PACKED FULL OF GROCERIES!!!!! I am now late to my job ! And he flat out lied! Straight to my face.

I have talked with him in the past because he started pushing his time, was 547-556 and I told him that U was pulled aside and told that I needed to be on time. He told me he couldn't control traffic. I told him pick up was again NO LATER THAN 545.

How do you handle these kinds of parents?:confused:

[jen]

Honestly if a parent pulled something like that I would terminate if at all possible. I know that financially that is sometimes easier said than done. If you cannot or don't want to terminate as yet you could do a couple of things...

Do you charge a late fee? I would consider making it $20 for any part of 5 minutes late. I would also change their pick up time from 5:45 to 5:30.

I would also let them know that if this situation EVER happens again it will be grounds for immediate termination.

[mac60]

I would change his pickup time too to 5:30. I had a family like this once, push push push until they pushed themselves right out of a provider. When I finally terminated them, I gave them 14 papers that had issues on them I had given them over the year.

I would write him a letter stating that beginning on *** date, your new closing time will be 5:30. And any pickup times after that will be ***x additional late fee. I would also add that your services are for while the parent is working. (some how you may be able to get in there about his shopping spree on your time). Good luck.

[Daycare Mommy]

I'd have lit him up right there! I'd tell him that your hours are only until 5:30 and NO LATER. You are there for work and commute time ONLY, not shopping trips! With a second job that soon after daycare closing time you don't have the luxury of being flexible on closing times. I'd have told him if he needs even 1 minute after 5:30 he needs to find another provider with later hours because that is not what you both agreed to. I'd let him know that if it happened even once more I'd give notice right then and there no matter the reason.

Edit: I didn't see that you'd agreed to as late as 545. So change my above reccommendation to as late as 545 if you think 530 isn't reasonable for a commute time. I'd move the closing time to 5:30 personally, but if you decide to keep it at 5:45 I'd make it clear that there's no messing around if they come that late. Their child will be dressed and ready to go and there's no chit chat or escort to the car. You only have 10 minutes to get ready for work say goodbye to your family and get to the car.

[momma2girls]

I would definately charge a late fee from now on!! Maybe do $10-$15.00 per 15 min. That is awful, especially on your time!! There is many times that I have to leave right at their contracted pick up time, or within 10 min. so I needed to beef up my contract this last yr. as well!!! I have had this happen many times!!!!! It ****s!! Especially if you need to be somewhere with your own children, for meetings, activities, etc. or just to make supper quick, because you have to leave. Good luck!!

[melskids]

oooohhhhh......i definetly would have said something about the groceries in the car.

like " your job makes you do their grocery shopping for them!?!?! you ARE a dedicate employee"

that would have at least embarassed him.

maybe, just maybe, he picked up some groceries on his luch break ????

[tymaboy]

Yep I would terminate if you can afford it. I also teach Religious Ed. on Wed. & I have it stated that all fees are double on Wed. That gives them more of a reason to be on time on the day I/ they know I have something else going on.

[momma2girls]

I also have religious ed, 1st communion classes, swimming lessons, softball games, and practices, gymnastics, girl scout meetings, camp and the list goes on on on- I have missed games, school functions, been late at things, couldn't find seats, etc.because of late pick ups, not anymore, I really put a crack down on it!! I was very tired of being used and missing things, because of it!!!

[MarinaVanessa]

How do you handle these kinds of parents?:confused:

It's too bad that it's a job that you are going to. I had responded once before on another post about a DCM that used to do that to me constantly and not even call me to tell me even after talking to her and telling her that this was a problem.

I would just pack up her child and take him with me on the most out-of-the-way-errands that I had and did my errands with him without letting her know. She's call me and tell me that she was at my home and I'd just be like "Oh hi, well you didn't call so I'd assumed you'd be late and since I didn't know when you'd be by and since I had things to do I brought him with me. I'm at _____ so you can come here and pick him up." then I'd add a good 'ol "It's a good thing that you called when you did because after i'm done here I was heading over to (next town over) and you'd have to pick him up there. I hope you hurry, I'm almost done here". Then i wouldn't answer the phone once she got to the store I was in and run around all over and let her find me. Evil I know but it was the only thing that made me feel better for her taking advantage of me. Oh and the best part would be when she'd find me and pick him up and then I'd look at my watch and then remind her that I had been watching her son until that exact moment and so I'd be billing her for the extra time. I had to do this twice but she was never late again.

[MrsCoffee]

I can't let him go just yet, I really love the children and also I need the income. I could let go of the second job but I have had it for 8 years and love it. My boss from that time switched my hours from 5-9pm to 6-9pm just so I could take this family and as I had told them that I would be transitioning into this (daycare) full time.

Also I don't think this was a lunch time shopping trip, there was to much fresh produce popping from those bags - milk ice cream fruit chicken etc..

Plus even if he needed to do his shopping if he had arrived on time I wouldn't have cared. But all the lies and making me late.


I will be switching the time and if they don't like it then they will need to find another provider. Thanks every one I needed the advise!

[Childminder]

Get out the shot gun! Seriously, could you have left and taken them with and then called to have parents pick up at your work? Or hire someone to watch them quick like and leave? My dh or sister would and meet them at the door with a bill in hand stating you owe me $XX.XX for emergency child care.

[Unregistered]

Extra hours policy

I do charge an extra fee when parents came in late to pick up their kids $5 for every 15 min they are late and also need to let me know in advanse, otherwise termination is my option if this happens a lot.

[MrsCoffee]

I gave them an updated contract! It states 545 with a $15.00 late fee for EVERY five minutes late NO EXCEPTIONS... Thank you all for your advise. I really want to have it be 530 but I don't think it is reasonable at this time. However if this family chooses to leave I will put it at 530 with the same late fee policy.

[momma2girls]

I gave them an updated contract! It states 545 with a $15.00 late fee for EVERY five minutes late NO EXCEPTIONS... Thank you all for your advise. I really want to have it be 530 but I don't think it is reasonable at this time. However if this family chooses to leave I will put it at 530 with the same late fee policy.

Does the other family really need 5:45 with their work and commute times? I have a daycare friend of mine, just because she has 5:30 as her pick up time, families abuse that to the max with her. This summer she has to crack down on it, because of her children having softball, swimming lessons, etc....

[Liliya]

I have a family(next door neighbor) no meter what, they will be here at 5:30 or even later,even if they home.This child always last one to be picked up. Sometimes I am done by 5 or 5:15,but NO he will be here until 5:30 and I can see mom home.:confused: Some people just do not get it.