DCP Losses Her Job

[nannyde]

I had a great family who I had their almost 3 year old since birth and mom is due anyday now and the baby was to start in February ( i even have a family I found to only take spot until February, so I wouldnt have to get rid of anyone). Dad lost job, they lost the house they were supposed to move into, and already had their stuff in a storage locker and were living with an aunt for 2 weeks while they closed on house.

I didnt charge them a 2 week notice and told them I would hold spot for a month. Dad STILL has not found anything, and with baby coming soon, mom will be off, so they wont need care even if dad found a job soon. (its been 2 months) I just filled their spot and feel bad. However, cant live off of feelings.

Yes this is a perfect story of why it is the PARENTS responsibility to HAVE in reserves the money needed to fullfill the contractual agreement with the provider.

It's not personal. Even when everybody loves each other and wants it to work... often it doesn't. The provider needs the notice time pay. It's not in the contract for only those situations where it is in everyones benefit. It's in the contract to PROTECT the business and the ability to care for ALL the kids INCLUDING the providers own family.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

We had a parent lose her job a few weeks ago. She doesn't need care, of course, since she's not working, but we all really hated for her daughter to miss preschool (she's going to Kindergarten in the fall, and is already 5, so if she had to wait another year, she'd be a lot older than the other children in her class. The public schools around here require the children to pass a kindergarten entrance test, showing that they know what the school wants them to know before starting). So we decided to change our policy around (just for her) and allow her to come 5 days/week for half a day, at half rate (for preschool). The mom is still looking for a job, but this way, we know she'll be bringing her daughter back to us as soon as she finds one. And besides that, spots are really really hard to fill right now, so losing half her rate is better than losing all of it. AND her daughter won't be missing any preschool, and will still be caught up with the rest of the preschoolers going into Kindergarten this year. So if you trust and like having this family there, I'd agree with some of the others who said to offer a discounted rate during the times she is looking for a job or going to an interview.

[blueclouds29]

UPDATE:
DCM called last night. She's going to be working with her sister on Fridays till she finds a job. I'll be watching him every friday till he goes back to full time. At least he has the spot, she's paying me, and she's looking for a job. Spots are really hard to fill, although the money break is bad for us, we'll take it rather then losing money for months trying to fill the spot.

[2ndFamilyDC]

I have not had this situation in about 20 years. But when I did I really liked this family so gave them free care til they got back on their feet. Then I added an extra $15 to their weekly fee to make up the weeks that they got for free. It all worked out in the end and we all won.

[wdmmom]

I've had this happen to one of my families. They dropped down to part time status while the actively seeked new employment. DCG came 2-3 days per week for 15-20 hours. DCM didn't want to give up the spot completely.

When she did find a new job, she found new care closer to her work because the hours she worked and the hours I am open didn't mesh. She gave me her full notice and we parted ways.

I knew from the start that if she wanted to cancel, I would have allowed her to terminate her contract with 2 weeks notice rather than the 4 weeks I require.

I suggest you talk to mom and find out what she wants to do. She has a contractual obligation to provide you with notice and pay out her contract.

There are a lot of variables here...

She's laid off...did they say if she'll get called back? Is she eligible for unemployment? Is she going to start looking for another job or wait to see if she'll get called back? Was she only a temporary employee?

There are a lot of places hiring right now...even if it's only seasonal. She needs to decide what she wants to do and you need to decide if you want to pursue the termination notice, let them go, work with them, drop them down to part time, or start advertising to fill the spot.