Assistant Help Again - Sorry Long

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

I would let her know that effective May 1 you are discontinuing her salaried position. That you will be going to hourly wages for her and any future employees. I would offer her whatever per hour her salary would come out to if she worked a full week. That way she cant say you are cutting her pay. This way if she misses, you arent still paying her. You are also not offering the benefit of free childcare to employees anymore, a 20% discount on full time preschoolers and a 10% discount on schoolagers. That you took a long hard look at finances and this is the best outcome for your business. You wanted to let her know far enough in advance to find care for her kids if she didnt want to pay for them at your facility , also to give her the opportunity to find other employment if needed. Let her know you value her as an employee and hope she continues to work for you. But if she needs to leave, you understand.
I think this would put the ball in her court as to if she was going to quit or not.

[momma2girls]

If I had a center this is what I would say and do as well. I think this is very well said.

[misol]

I would let her know that effective May 1 you are discontinuing her salaried position. That you will be going to hourly wages for her and any future employees. I would offer her whatever per hour her salary would come out to if she worked a full week. That way she cant say you are cutting her pay. This way if she misses, you arent still paying her. You are also not offering the benefit of free childcare to employees anymore, a 20% discount on full time preschoolers and a 10% discount on schoolagers. That you took a long hard look at finances and this is the best outcome for your business. You wanted to let her know far enough in advance to find care for her kids if she didnt want to pay for them at your facility , also to give her the opportunity to find other employment if needed. Let her know you value her as an employee and hope she continues to work for you. But if she needs to leave, you understand.
I think this would put the ball in her court as to if she was going to quit or not.

All very good suggestions but I like this one best!

[gbcc]

Thank you Laundry. That is a very professional way to put it. I like your wording. As for your question. I don't have an official contract. I am a home daycare and she is a friend of mine and her son and my son are best friends so we more or less had a verbal contract. That was my fault. I am too trusting and have a hard time figuring out who my true friends are. I have since done one for her to sign or for my next assistant to sign, whichever way it works out.

I need to get more of backbone and not worry about upsetting people. I worry about others problems too much. For example, her money issues with not being able to pay mortgage. I need to let her worry about that instead of giving her a break on childcare. I'm too caring of a person that it's a fault!

Thanks again!

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

Im glad I answered this morning after a full dose of coffe because after the morning Ive had ,... not sure I could put that answer together again.

[gkids09]

When I first started my daycare, I had the same problem with two different employees. One was my (get ready, this is a tough one to explain in a simple way) cousin's kids' mother, and the other was someone another lady had recommended who had been in child care before. The first one did not come in except when she felt like it, IF she came in. So, if it was supposed to be only her and me here, and she didn't show up, I was alone, and having to call someone to come help me. So, I finally just started texting her at the beginning of the day (that's the ONLY way she'd communicate), and telling her that we had it covered and she could do something else that day. Eventually, she admitted she had gotten a job at a bar and was sleeping all day, so she didn't need this job anyway. The SECOND lady was a replacement for the first, and as my dad says, "she woke up to a new world every day." She never, ever, ever was here on time. She was scheduled to work 3 days a week, and called in at least one day EVERY WEEK, sometimes ten minutes AFTER she was supposed to be here and I'd been trying to call her. Eventually, she really was sick, but I was so tired of her calling in that I told her she either needed to come in or I'd write her last check. That was easy enough. Now I have employees that are so dependable I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night wondering whether or not they'll be on time or not. One has been here 9 years, and one worked here for 12 years, quit and took another job, and is now back for the good. It helps to not hire friends, but sometimes that's the only thing you CAN do, if you really need the help immediately. I agree with paying her hourly, because then if she does want to call in sick, you CAN take those hours off her check. I also think she either needs to pay you for her kids or take them somewhere else. This is your business, and if those two are counting as two in your care, you ARE, like you said, losing money. Good luck with this, I know it's hard, but I know you can do it!!

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

That's the hard part that you are friends..because bringing up professional issues can turn sour real fast.

With her being so undependable can hurt your business...especially calling off the day before..you can lose clients easily that way. Parents expect a registered daycare to be dependable because they can lose pay or have to use a vacation day that they didn't want to use.

I would definitely make up a contract as fast as you can putting a cap on the number of sick days used. I work even if I'm sick because I cannot afford NOT to...that's where she has an advantage..she knows she will still get paid so why should she tough it out? That's why you need to give her some boundaries.

I know you got wrapped into already having her and she's your son's friend's mom, so now it's hard to change the rules....but if you don't, this will keep happening and you will lose business. Plus I would be so frustrated with giving her 2 free spots and free food!!! PLUS she has garuntee salery no matter what! Can I come work for you? LOL.

[momofboys]

Thank you Laundry. That is a very professional way to put it. I like your wording. As for your question. I don't have an official contract. I am a home daycare and she is a friend of mine and her son and my son are best friends so we more or less had a verbal contract. That was my fault. I am too trusting and have a hard time figuring out who my true friends are. I have since done one for her to sign or for my next assistant to sign, whichever way it works out.

I need to get more of backbone and not worry about upsetting people. I worry about others problems too much. For example, her money issues with not being able to pay mortgage. I need to let her worry about that instead of giving her a break on childcare. I'm too caring of a person that it's a fault!

Thanks again!

You are a very kind friend & your friend should be grateful for you letting her kids come for free. Does she realize that her two kids in essence restrict your ability to earn extra wages since they take up spots? I would put laundry's tips/letters to use (by the way GREAT letter!!!) & maybe if you are feeling generous give her a slightly higher discount (maybe 25-30% off both kids?). You could just deduct her tuition from her pay, would that work or does she not make enough to pay for the kids? I don't know but I can understand how it is a tricky situation. Have you ever had a heart-to-heart with her about how her being there has limited you? A true friend would understand.

[gbcc]

You are a very kind friend & your friend should be grateful for you letting her kids come for free. Does she realize that her two kids in essence restrict your ability to earn extra wages since they take up spots? I would put laundry's tips/letters to use (by the way GREAT letter!!!) & maybe if you are feeling generous give her a slightly higher discount (maybe 25-30% off both kids?). You could just deduct her tuition from her pay, would that work or does she not make enough to pay for the kids? I don't know but I can understand how it is a tricky situation. Have you ever had a heart-to-heart with her about how her being there has limited you? A true friend would understand.

Yes I tried being very honest and open with her. I told her that I didn't know what I was going to do come summer. I explained I could not afford to pay her $320 per week, loose $260 on her children's spots. Even half rate thats still $130 I am loosing from her children and not worth her working really. Her response was literally "Oh". Thats it. No trying to remedy the situation, advice nothing. Then we came to the conclusion of salary. She gets paid more during the school year but less in the summer so that it will equal out. With her calling in all the time though, I am getting screwed. I was about to tell her to find somewhere for her children to go or pay half rate and then she came to work crying that they were months behind on their mortgage and I didn't want to ad to that stress! This would still be hard even if she wasn't a friend because I like to help people way too much!

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

Yes I tried being very honest and open with her. I told her that I didn't know what I was going to do come summer. I explained I could not afford to pay her $320 per week, loose $260 on her children's spots. Even half rate thats still $130 I am loosing from her children and not worth her working really. Her response was literally "Oh". Thats it. No trying to remedy the situation, advice nothing. Then we came to the conclusion of salary. She gets paid more during the school year but less in the summer so that it will equal out. With her calling in all the time though, I am getting screwed. I was about to tell her to find somewhere for her children to go or pay half rate and then she came to work crying that they were months behind on their mortgage and I didn't want to ad to that stress! This would still be hard even if she wasn't a friend because I like to help people way too much!

How many hours a day is she there? She gets that long 11-3:30 break...shoot I only get $305/week from my 3 families and I work 5:30a.m.-5-5:30 pm. PLUS I have to pay for food/toilet paper/activities/and all that extra stuff. I have 2 spots still unfilled but I don't want to fill them, I have my hands full with the ones I have now. They are all good, but I have 4 of my own and it's a lot to keep up with.

[gbcc]

How many hours a day is she there? She gets that long 11-3:30 break...shoot I only get $305/week from my 3 families and I work 5:30a.m.-5-5:30 pm. PLUS I have to pay for food/toilet paper/activities/and all that extra stuff. I have 2 spots still unfilled but I don't want to fill them, I have my hands full with the ones I have now. They are all good, but I have 4 of my own and it's a lot to keep up with.

She gets paid $8 per hour. Yes she gets the break. Now she works 5 hours per day and come summer she will work 8 per day. We compromised on $240 per wk. year round.

[nannyde]

She gets paid $8 per hour. Yes she gets the break. Now she works 5 hours per day and come summer she will work 8 per day. We compromised on $240 per wk. year round.

She is very highly paid. That's a LOT of money for a part time employee who gets two free slots in care. Figure her kids at 3-4 dollars an hour per kid and that takes her salary to 14-16 dollars an hour. That's VERY highly paid for the job of staff assistant.

You are better to start over. If she can make the same 240 a week for five hours a day then she will just leave for the summer when it is the same money for 8 hours a day.

[gbcc]

She is very highly paid. That's a LOT of money for a part time employee who gets two free slots in care. Figure her kids at 3-4 dollars an hour per kid and that takes her salary to 14-16 dollars an hour. That's VERY highly paid for the job of staff assistant.

You are better to start over. If she can make the same 240 a week for five hours a day then she will just leave for the summer when it is the same money for 8 hours a day.

Good point. I gotta get my head on this and figure it all out and give her the options. I have 3 interviews set up for tomorrow. She will also be out sick tomorrow. All have daycare for thier kids!! Wish me luck!

[Former Teacher]

I would let her know that effective May 1 you are discontinuing her salaried position. That you will be going to hourly wages for her and any future employees. I would offer her whatever per hour her salary would come out to if she worked a full week. That way she cant say you are cutting her pay. This way if she misses, you arent still paying her. You are also not offering the benefit of free childcare to employees anymore, a 20% discount on full time preschoolers and a 10% discount on schoolagers. That you took a long hard look at finances and this is the best outcome for your business. You wanted to let her know far enough in advance to find care for her kids if she didnt want to pay for them at your facility , also to give her the opportunity to find other employment if needed. Let her know you value her as an employee and hope she continues to work for you. But if she needs to leave, you understand.
I think this would put the ball in her court as to if she was going to quit or not.

Agreed! ::

[misol]

I'm sure that you know that you already know this but you have to prepared to lose her friendship. Since she has been taking advantage of you, I wouldn't consider her much of a friend anyway.