Not Giving Proper Notice

[daycare]

just wanted to give you some ideas on how to collect deposits easier from families.

I require a two week deposit equal to the number of days of care you get. I give the option of paying it all up front or the option of paying it over a small period of time.

example, I will tack on an additional $25.00 a week until it is paid in full.

If I have siblings, I require a full one month deposit....It's much harder to deal with two children leaving.

[beachgrl]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[DaisyMamma]

just wanted to give you some ideas on how to collect deposits easier from families.

I require a two week deposit equal to the number of days of care you get. I give the option of paying it all up front or the option of paying it over a small period of time.

example, I will tack on an additional $25.00 a week until it is paid in full.

If I have siblings, I require a full one month deposit....It's much harder to deal with two children leaving.

Good ideas. I do allow for deposits to be split up as well. I like the idea of one month for siblings.

[DaisyMamma]

Thanks for the suggestions!

How did it go?

[Unregistered]

What makes you all so special?

You guys are heartless jerks wanting to make the rules advantage you either way, you can quit without notice but don't a parent dare to do that to you! I am a mom having this "notice" being shoved down my throat at the moment. My provider wants a month notice, but I just lost my job during a merger! Did I get a month notice?? Nope so why should you all think you should get a month notice of losing your charge?? Life is hard, crap happens so why feel the need to punish parents when they aren't able to give proper notice??? I'm being told I owe $1,400! How am I supposed to pay that without a job, but as long as you all get paid screw the families. Oh and the $25 fee on top of the charges? That's just an extra layer of being a complete jerk.

[MunchkinWrangler]

You guys are heartless jerks wanting to make the rules advantage you either way, you can quit without notice but don't a parent dare to do that to you! I am a mom having this "notice" being shoved down my throat at the moment. My provider wants a month notice, but I just lost my job during a merger! Did I get a month notice?? Nope so why should you all think you should get a month notice of losing your charge?? Life is hard, crap happens so why feel the need to punish parents when they aren't able to give proper notice??? I'm being told I owe $1,400! How am I supposed to pay that without a job, but as long as you all get paid screw the families. Oh and the $25 fee on top of the charges? That's just an extra layer of being a complete jerk.

The rules are the same for everybody.....that's why! I can terminate immediately based on the fact that this is my home and there are certain situations that might call for an immediate termination i.e. crazy people, violent behavior, etc.

So what would make you feel so special and above the rules of the contract that you agreed to and signed? Just a fair question.

[JackandJill]

You guys are heartless jerks wanting to make the rules advantage you either way, you can quit without notice but don't a parent dare to do that to you! I am a mom having this "notice" being shoved down my throat at the moment. My provider wants a month notice, but I just lost my job during a merger! Did I get a month notice?? Nope so why should you all think you should get a month notice of losing your charge?? Life is hard, crap happens so why feel the need to punish parents when they aren't able to give proper notice??? I'm being told I owe $1,400! How am I supposed to pay that without a job, but as long as you all get paid screw the families. Oh and the $25 fee on top of the charges? That's just an extra layer of being a complete jerk.

This is a really old thread. I'm sorry you lost your job, and it must be really stressful, but did you sign a contract?

Losing income is a crappy position to be put in, so why would you put the person who provided care for you children in the same position?

[Snowmom]

You guys are heartless jerks wanting to make the rules advantage you either way, you can quit without notice but don't a parent dare to do that to you! I am a mom having this "notice" being shoved down my throat at the moment. My provider wants a month notice, but I just lost my job during a merger! Did I get a month notice?? Nope so why should you all think you should get a month notice of losing your charge?? Life is hard, crap happens so why feel the need to punish parents when they aren't able to give proper notice??? I'm being told I owe $1,400! How am I supposed to pay that without a job, but as long as you all get paid screw the families. Oh and the $25 fee on top of the charges? That's just an extra layer of being a complete jerk.

Re: the bolded... well, you said it yourself. "Life is hard, crap happens".
I don't think a single one of us views a "notice to terminate" as a punishment to the parents (as you say). It's simply good business practice. Your landlord does it, some utility companies do it, health clubs do it... I could go on and on.

As childcare providers, we provide a service for a fee. We are a business. Calling us "heartless" for looking out for that business (by creating and upholding a contract) is rather ridiculous in my opinion. Your personal problems are just that: yours. Your financial hardships are not mine. I have my own bills and I surely won't voluntarily take a loss just to benefit someone else's family.

I wish you luck, I truly do. I hope you find a new job that treats their employees better than the one who just terminated you. I hope you choose one that offers severance packages, paid leave, accrued vacation and everything else that makes an employer valuable- they're out there. When & if you do and need childcare again, I hope you thoroughly read & understand your contract before agreeing to the terms instead of blaming the provider for not complying to what you think she should do.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Re: the bolded... well, you said it yourself. "Life is hard, crap happens".
I don't think a single one of us views a "notice to terminate" as a punishment to the parents (as you say). It's simply good business practice. Your landlord does it, some utility companies do it, health clubs do it... I could go on and on.

As childcare providers, we provide a service for a fee. We are a business. Calling us "heartless" for looking out for that business (by creating and upholding a contract) is rather ridiculous in my opinion. Your personal problems are just that: yours. Your financial hardships are not mine. I have my own bills and I surely won't voluntarily take a loss just to benefit someone else's family.

I wish you luck, I truly do. I hope you find a new job that treats their employees better than the one who just terminated you. I hope you choose one that offers severance packages, paid leave, accrued vacation and everything else that makes an employer valuable- they're out there. When & if you do and need childcare again, I hope you thoroughly read & understand your contract before agreeing to the terms instead of blaming the provider for not complying to what you think she should do.

Yes.

No one asks for their agreed to (yes, agreed to, since it's in the contract parents sign) notice period as a punishment. What an odd concept. It's simply what was agreed to prior to enrollment.

[Thriftylady]

Wow, old thread.

But my parents sign a contract where they agree to give two weeks notice. I also have a clause where I can terminate at any time, but this is my income and I don't want to do that. The only way most of us would is if we, the children, or our business in danger. We do this as a job, we need our paycheck also.

I charge a deposit for one of those two weeks when care starts along with all payments being due Friday prior to the next week of care. If I am given a two week notice, that deposit is applied to the final week of care. If I am not given a two week notice, it isn't and you still owe for the two week notice period.

No, I am not "out to get" parents. But we as providers spend money on these kids, often times well before the week of care. I have already purchased craft supplies up to and including Halloween. I may get or loose some kids by then and whoever is here will use those supplies. But it is money I have had to spend. Doing daycare isn't just sitting at home making money, we spend a fortune and have to recoup that or we wouldn't be in business.

[NillaWafers]

I can't say much besides what others have said - but I just wanted to remark that a good provider will give notice if they are able. The exceptions being crazy parents, violent kids, or any reason I wouldn't want you showing up at my house past the immediate termination notice.

If you've been a parent who abides by the contract (and reads it) you should get a notice, not immediate termination.

[Josiegirl]

I'm sure just barely losing your job AND being told you still owe your provider $1400 to boot, well it's got to be about as much as a mom can take. I'm sorry you're going through all of this. I hope, in your case, maybe your dcprovider can work with you somehow. But please don't take your unfortunate experience out on the providers here; you don't know any of us. Myself, I've tried to work with my dcfs in the past; I'm sure others here figure me for a sap. I admit I haven't much of a backbone when it comes to running the business side of child care. But after having lost quite a bit of money by being nice to a dcf this past winter, I've learned that my finances and my life matter also.
Tell me, do you still have to pay a mortgage or any other loans, your electric bill, cell phone bill, and all of those? Or will they take a look at your dilemma and let you not pay them? You can still use your provider until your notice runs out, to look for other work. Unless of course you called her what you called us here.
Oh and not everyone requires a month's notice for leaving. My policies state 2 weeks. So yes, reading, understanding and abiding by your signed contract does come into play.

[trix23]

So If a parent does not abide by the contract and has violated it multiple times, paid late, etc, does that warrant immediate termination in your opinion.