Policy Change...Need Advice

[JennyBear]

Hi everyone!

I'm in a bit of a pickle here and I need some advice before Sunday evening. I'll give a bit of a background on the history and you guys can give me your advice.

When I first opened my daycare one of my policies was that my fee was a set fee regardless if the child attends daycare or not (the only time the weekly rate changed was if I was sick or took vacation). I needed to fill my 5 spots asap so my first family that was interested in my daycare tried to negotiate this policy with me...and won. I ended up changing my policy to any child's sick time or vacation time would be paid at only $10/day. (I know I know...STUPID MOVE!!). So anyway, this family signed on and has been happy with that. This change wasn't just for this family, it was a change period...I lacked confidence and a back bone hence why I changed this.

So, this just isn't working for me. Other families are taking advantage of this policy and I'm loosing out on income SO I changed the policy back to what I wanted - It's a weekly flat rate regardless of child's attendance. I sent this new contract out with this updated policy for all of my families to review, sign and return back to me. I sent it out last Thursday and it's due tomorrow (Friday). I had a letter to all families explaining my reasoning for this. When I handed out this stuff, this mom called me up and wanted to talk about it. She said she felt as if it was unfair because when she first signed on (this past June), this was our agreement and she doesn't want it changed. She asked if we could work something out. Here is her suggestion:
10 Vacation/sick days per calendar year at 1/2 rate-anything above this will be paid at full rate.
I told her I would think about it for a week and get back to her. I have until Sunday evening to figure out what I am going to say or suggest to her.

I don't really want to do this, nor do I want her to control how I run my business but I really want and need this income right now so I can't really afford to send her packing but at the same time I don't want to be taken advantage of. So I'm asking you guys what you think i should do??

I should also mention that this family always pays on time, and has not caused any issues.

Any advice would be great! Thanks for reading!

[mismatchedsocks]

How long have your families been with you? How many sick/vacation days do they take?
When does this take affect? Maybe give them some time to adjust, like 2 weeks or a month?
I allowed one change with one family to my policy, they started toward end of year. I told them no vacation days that year ( they get 5 per year unpaid here ) and they asked if they could get the 5 because they were getting married christmas week. I oked that but let them know that only one time will I be flexible on this.

Can you say, Since you have always paid on time, Lets do 10 vacation/sick days a year unpaid. Then nicely tell her, when you are not here, I cannot have a child come with such short notice to fill the spot.

[Blackcat31]

Hi everyone!

I'm in a bit of a pickle here and I need some advice before Sunday evening. I'll give a bit of a background on the history and you guys can give me your advice.

When I first opened my daycare one of my policies was that my fee was a set fee regardless if the child attends daycare or not (the only time the weekly rate changed was if I was sick or took vacation). I needed to fill my 5 spots asap so my first family that was interested in my daycare tried to negotiate this policy with me...and won. I ended up changing my policy to any child's sick time or vacation time would be paid at only $10/day. (I know I know...STUPID MOVE!!). So anyway, this family signed on and has been happy with that. This change wasn't just for this family, it was a change period...I lacked confidence and a back bone hence why I changed this.

So, this just isn't working for me. Other families are taking advantage of this policy and I'm loosing out on income SO I changed the policy back to what I wanted - It's a weekly flat rate regardless of child's attendance. I sent this new contract out with this updated policy for all of my families to review, sign and return back to me. I sent it out last Thursday and it's due tomorrow (Friday). I had a letter to all families explaining my reasoning for this. When I handed out this stuff, this mom called me up and wanted to talk about it. She said she felt as if it was unfair because when she first signed on (this past June), this was our agreement and she doesn't want it changed. She asked if we could work something out. Here is her suggestion:
10 Vacation/sick days per calendar year at 1/2 rate-anything above this will be paid at full rate.
I told her I would think about it for a week and get back to her. I have until Sunday evening to figure out what I am going to say or suggest to her.

I don't really want to do this, nor do I want her to control how I run my business but I really want and need this income right now so I can't really afford to send her packing but at the same time I don't want to be taken advantage of. So I'm asking you guys what you think i should do??

I should also mention that this family always pays on time, and has not caused any issues.

Any advice would be great! Thanks for reading!

You need to simply find a way to tell her that just because you were in the position to do something before doesn't mean you are in the same position now to continue it.

Just like a child.....your group's needs change all the time. I have a PITA mom like this too and she always says "Well, you were so good about it before...." and then waits. I always say "Because I could. Now I can't."

[JennyBear]

How long have your families been with you? How many sick/vacation days do they take?
When does this take affect? Maybe give them some time to adjust, like 2 weeks or a month?
I allowed one change with one family to my policy, they started toward end of year. I told them no vacation days that year ( they get 5 per year unpaid here ) and they asked if they could get the 5 because they were getting married christmas week. I oked that but let them know that only one time will I be flexible on this.

Can you say, Since you have always paid on time, Lets do 10 vacation/sick days a year unpaid. Then nicely tell her, when you are not here, I cannot have a child come with such short notice to fill the spot.

They have been with me since June of this year (since I opened). This mom that I'm talking about get's 25 paid vacation days per calendar year, 5 paid family emergency days, and I don't even know how many paid sick days but I'm guessing it's pretty decent.
I think if anything, I'm prepared to offer her maybe 10 vacation/sick days a year and that's it. I do want to be fair to her, but I just don't want her running the show.

[mismatchedsocks]

Well she gets 25 PAID vacation days,and 5 PAID emergency days, and PAID sick days, so paying you should not even be an option. She is still getting paid, and you are not closing. 10 days would be pushing it, but its a start, then have contract for all new families. 5 days a year or whatever you want it to be. Then this lady is the only one with "special" old contract. ???

[small_steps]

I would say no compromise in a nice way of course. If you compromise on that she will expect you to compromise on other things down the road. You aren't being unreasonable with what you are requesting. Most providers have very similar policies.

[bice99]

Do you give your families any vacation time? I don't give sick leave. But if requested one month in advance, they get 1 week of vacation at half rate. That's after they have been here for 6 months. Then after another 6 months, they earn another one. Weeks must be used before July 1st of the following year (my contract year starts then with everyone). Use it or lose it. No stockpiling more than 2 weeks. And they must be used as calendar weeks, cannot be used during my paid week of vacation during Christmas or during hold periods (maternity leave or summers for teachers). I already give half rate to hold spots for up to 2 months. They don't get a vacation week, too.

[daycare]

All of my clients get the same deal across the board..

I use discrimination as a reason why I cant.

Why does johnny get special but not jimmy? If I do it for you I have to give it to everyone else too. If I did that I would be out of business...


I know we all make mistakes when we start and we learn from our mistakes usually the hard way. I would stand firm and say what Cat said.... I could then, I can't now.

parents are just like children sometimes....when you let them get away with things and then try to tell them no later, they throw a tantrum..

[kimsdaycare]

Tell her sure you will gladly keep that part of the contract unchanged.

But you will be adding that all of your own sick/vacation days will be charged $10 per day.

You cannot predict at this time how many days that may be, but will probably be about the same as her own