2 Week Notice Because of Late Fee!!!!!!! R U KIDDING ME!!!

[jen]

That's really rough imo. Stuff happens. I'll stick with late fees and save the reporting the parents for abandonment when I believe they may have actually abandoned their children. Over 30 minutes is inconsiderate and may be very inconvenient for us, but late fees and termination do the job just fine.

Now I had a father drop his sons off once in the afternoon and say I'll be back tonight after a business dinner. He didn't come back until a day and a half later. He was one of my first jobs, so I didn't know what to do and just sat there and worried, but knowing what I know now I would've started with a call to the police/hospitals to try to figure out what happened to him and then yes reported him if I could not find him. 30 minutes to an hour late though? No way. Rude yes. Abandonment no.

And letting them know you could report them for abandonment isn't likely to build a good rapport either. And if they decide to return the favor? Have you ever had SS called on you without a legitimate reason? These are NOT people you should be reporting to lightly. They can make a family's life a living hell, not just the parents but the children as well. Not all of them are good people. Speaking from experience there. I back up my own policies without leaning on threatening to call the "authorities" on them.

I completely hear what you are saying and I can't say I would be likely to contact the authorities either...however, when my son went to a center they had the same policy. $1 per minute up to 60 minutes, then they called the sheriff.

[Former Teacher]

I completely hear what you are saying and I can't say I would be likely to contact the authorities either...however, when my son went to a center they had the same policy. $1 per minute up to 60 minutes, then they called the sheriff.

Yes that's how it was for us. Depending on the parent though. Like that parent that I just spoke of, I would have waited longer than the 30 mins because he had a problem with lateness. However any other parent yes I would have done the same..meaning calling the police.

[Unregistered]

It may seem tough, but I have run into this problem a lot (late - but I have never reported before) with many families. Plus, the parent I called on was extremely late. The children only got picked up 2.5 hrs later because I DEMANDED that the older siblings come immediately. Who knows when the parents would have shown up if I hadn't demanded that the teenage siblings come immediately?! Plus, the parents didn't contact me until 3.5 hours after the scheduled pick up time. It was soooo long that I actually thought I may have to keep the children overnight, which I do not offer.

Plus, after talking with CPS and DHS, they gave me the impression that I had waited too long to report it and should have reported it sooner. So, I am not putting my license in jeopardy for not reporting it if it happens again (with someone else, because this family finally terminated a month after this).

Again I come back to - mandated reporter. As I have been trained, it is my obligation to report "suspected" abuse or neglect, not to determine whether there is actual abuse or neglect.

Also, I was worried that harm may have come to the parents, so calling the authorities was my way of getting them involved to see if the parents were ok and start making plans on what to do with the children if the parents were not ok.

And, I wasn't saying that the person whose client was 30 minutes late should have called the authorities, but she could remind the parents that there is a point when the authorities do need to be called and that a late fee is definitely the lesser of two evils.

[HeatherB]

If you seroiusly want to try to keep them.. I would compromise a little on the fee BUT address that it will NOT be compromised again.

I also love what MISSNIKKI said!