Very Variable Schedules

[AfterSchoolMom]

I seem to be a magnet for families with weird schedules!

The last family I interviewed only wanted two full days. Now I'm meeting with a family that wants to pay a full time rate for "the flexibility to bring them as needed". They say that there will be times when they only come for a half day, other times when they don't come at all....and maybe some full weeks. It seems like the strategy of having them tell me their schedule a week in advance probably won't work because it changes so much.

I dig the idea of getting paid a full time rate for part time care. However, my Spidey Senses are tingling here. I believe that either part time will become all day, every day (which, really, would be ideal since they'd be paying for full time) OR I'd be chained to my house since I'd never know when they were coming.

I need opinions here. Would you take this on? Who has experience with a variable schedule? Does it work?

[Sunchimes]

I have 3 now. One is a substitute, and so while she usually knows the night before, she is can be called until 9 am. Which means that I am on call too. I am available 6 days a week. I tried Sundays, but that's just too much.

It works ok for me. I have another mom who works in a convenience store. I'm suppose to have her baby full time, but I rarely do. Her dad picks her up for visitation or her mom has a weekday off. Her hours can change weekly, based on her boss's whims. Her week runs from Wednesday to Tuesday, and she doesn't get her schedule until Tuesday afternoon. So most weeks, I have her 3-4 days. She has been known to ask me to keep her on her day off while she studies or runs errands. I do it when she has a short week.

My 3rd mom works 12 hour shifts. So one week, I have her Mon, Tues, and Friday, and the next week, Wed and Thursday. She is actually my most stable family--I know exactly what days I will have her and what hours.

[Jenniferdawn]

I have a full time paid family that I watch maybe 50-60% of the time scheduled for. Honestly, I love it. The inconsistent schedule can be hard, but for me, the extra time without them pays off. But I do have a rule that they have to give me their work schedule as soon as they receive it and anything that varies from their work schedule they must give me 24 hour notice of the change or else I can't guarantee I will be available. I would say if you take them on, think long and hard what your rules will be and have a good conversation before starting to make sure they can abide by them, obviously writing them in the contract.

[mac60]

I would certainly take some one on a part time basis for a full time rate. But, they would have to give me a weeks notice in scheduling. I don't know of many jobs that the employee wouldn't at least have that week before schedule. If they were unable to provide it in advance for whatever reason, I would require 48 hours notice then. Regardless if they are there 20 hours or 40, pay would be the same and I wouldn't deviate from my normal business hours.

[MarinaVanessa]

Would you be comfortable with allowing them the flexibility if they gave you the week's schedule on Friday for the next week?

If you don't mind them doing that I would think that it would make it worth the while. That way you don't have to stay at home and wonder. Do you think they'll be willing to do that at least?

[daycare]

i require all parents that need part time varying schedules to email me no later than Friday to give me their schedule one week in advance. If they can't do that I can't work with them.

I would just plan for this child to be their full days and if they don't come or only attend half a day, well then you get a full day off with this child or half day....

[Solandia]

I have a variable schedule client, and a few long term drop in clients.

I do not have a set schedule for most of my current kids. That's fine with me. I usually know the Friday before for one family. And the others text me when needed, asking if I have room or not. Sometime a month ahead, sometimes that morning.

I do not stick around the house waiting for anyone. My daycare parents know that if they do not or can not provide me we exact times, they will have to track me down. Usually we are just at the park, but occasionally we will drive into town for storytime at the library or pick up my oldest from school as a surprise to her (so she doesn't have to wait 30min in the school lobby for the late bus).

This works very well for me & my daycare parents. It drives my dh completely bonkers, though.

[Meyou]

My variable client has to let me know her schedule by Thursday of the week before. They started coming a couple of days per week but they're here 50 hours per week now. Mom figured out life was much easier if the kids were here.

[morgan24]

I have done that type of schedule before. They gave me a schedule every two weeks on Fri. It worked out fine. Only I didn't get paid for a full time spot. I would do that again if they paid me for full time.

[JenNJ]

I don't mind it one bit. As long as they are paying for the slot, they are free to use it whenever needed. I find that parents who have schedules like this are the most respectful of my schedule and my time.

[nannyde]

As long as you have a cap to the number of hours within a schedule... meaning like a ten hour day that can't begin before seven or end after five.

Second deal is that they need to sleep during nap so they must be willing to go for a nap if they arrive later into the day.

third: mealtime will not be extended to accomodate a varrying schedule. If they do not arrive at the BEGINING of meals they will not have meals.

fourth: No playdates at your home during hours if parents have a ton of time off they can't come and spend the morning watching their childs playtime or hang out till five in the afternoon. Once they arrive they must scoot... once they arrive for departure they must scoot.

[cheerfuldom]

I have that same situation and am willing to do it provided I get some sort of schedule in advance. It does still change but I make sure the parents know that their child has to go with our schedule. We don't change anything to accommodate her specifically. She does whatever we are doing and thankfully, these parents are not overally demanding. I think it was good for them to see that most people out there would not provided what I do. At the very least, they have to text any changes in schedule and not just drop by. The only place we go is taking walks to the park and in our backyard but we don't stay chained inside the house because they may come at any old time. Just set some limits and it can work. Always get paid in advance of course.

[beachgrl]

I have a dcb whose parent has a varying schedule each week and they were doing drop in, dcm would give me schedule as soon as she knew it but would at least call over the wknd and let me know if she didn't know by fri. I just couldn't do the make one days pay one week or no pay if dcb didn't come and once in a while get three days pay..was just too little consistency wit them having the whole week avail. I thought they were going to switch to paying for a ft spot which they are doing for this week bc I sent home notice that I was only going to do ft or pt spots with pt being specific consistent days only, and ft for them the days could be whatever they needed since the schedule varies but would give them whole week flexibility. I don't mind them doing that bc I would know the days in advance ea week but I think I will be losing dcb after this week bc dcd didn't want to sign a contract, he felt like it was locking them in I guess bc I ask for notice if they terminate..ugh, didnt want to lose this dcb or the income but Idk what to do. They really want drop in but that's not working for me.

I thought of telling dcm he could stay at ft weekly rate until my spots were full so that I would have that income during that time but idk..idk if they would even do that at this point. So imwill be down to one ft kiddo right now until I can hopefully enroll a couple more soon.