How Long Should I Wait?

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

DCM still hasnt found a new job. She is payed up until Wednesday, the last day the kids will be here for the month.

If she hasnt found a new job by the first of July, what am I supposed to do?

I need to have an income coming in, and that wont happen if they are not here.

I know she will not pay to hold a spot for both kids.

Im losing another dck on thursday (teacher's kid) and another one possibly soon.

Do I wait until July?

[Willow]

You have to follow what your policy stipulates.

Again, you cannot terminate on a mere assumption of what she may or may not do.


If you are worried about it simply ask her.

[Crazy8]

what has she said about it?? you need to communicate with her, she needs to know that you will not hold a spot without payment. If she didn't give 2 weeks notice she needs to do that and PAY YOU for those 2 weeks whether she has a job or not (if I remember correctly this is what your contract states).

I know it ****s to lose a client but you need that notice to advertise, etc. I would probably just start advertising and interviewing now and just not take on the new client until she's officially given her notice.

[Lilbutterflie]

Your question is vague. How long should you wait to do what??

To talk with DCM? Answer: IMMEDIATELY! You should have already reminded her that she needs to provide two weeks paid notice per your contract. You should let her know that her last paid day is this Wed and ask what she plans to do. Communication is KEY!

To terminate and try to fill the spot? It would not be good business practice to do that until you have notice.

[Blackcat31]

What are your policies about termination and or extended absences?

If she is paid up through a certain date, then that is her space since she has already paid for it but after that if she doesn't pay to save space, I would think she has no right to the space and you can fill it as you see fit.

I guess what you decide to do is up to you but it needs to be according to whatever your handbook or policies state.

[Mom&Provider]

Talk to her. Find out what her plans are and if she isn't sure I'd bring it up that you cannot hold a spot for free and you'll unfortunately need to find another family.

Give her a chance to get things in order, but if she seems unsure, let her know you need the income and don't want to have to let her go...but...

It's all you can do!

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

What I mean is, come the first of July if she does not have a job yet, am I supposed to miss out on income waiting for her to find a job?

I highly doubt that she will pay me to hold her kid's spots.

Do I not have a right then, to fill her spots?

What if she keeps me hanging for over a month?

I need to know right away. She keeps telling me she has know idea what will be happening.

[Lilbutterflie]

What I mean is, come the first of July if she does not have a job yet, am I supposed to miss out on income waiting for her to find a job?

I highly doubt that she will pay me to hold her kid's spots.

Do I not have a right then, to fill her spots?

What if she keeps me hanging for over a month?

I need to know right away. She keeps telling me she has know idea what will be happening.

Try to communicate with her as much as possible. Let her know that you cannot hold spots for her unless she pays, which is due Thursday. Let her know if she does not pay, you will have to try to fill the spots. If she continues to leave you hanging and doesn't pay, you no longer have an obligation to hold her spots because she is in breech of contract for not paying.

[Blackcat31]

What I mean is, come the first of July if she does not have a job yet, am I supposed to miss out on income waiting for her to find a job?

I highly doubt that she will pay me to hold her kid's spots.

Do I not have a right then, to fill her spots?

What if she keeps me hanging for over a month?

I need to know right away. She keeps telling me she has know idea what will be happening.

What does your contract/handbook say about absences and extended leaves? Do you normally charge? Do you just let families take as much time off as they want and you simply hold their spot?

I think if you stated what your normal policies are on this, you would get a lot more advice on what to do.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I dont have a policy on extended absences.

[Blackcat31]

I dont have a policy on extended absences.

Well in that case, I think you should simply tell mom that you are able to hold her space for X (or none) amount of days and then you are unfortuantely going to have to fill her spaces.

Let her know that you completely understand if she cannot afford to pay to hold her space but on the same note, you cannot afford to save her spaces without payment. Say something like;

Dear DCM

I fully understand the financial situation you are in due to your employment situation, however being a business myself, I want you to know that although I would love to simply hold your daycare space for you, I am financially unable to do so without payment.

Please let me know if you will be paying to hold your space or not, so that I may begin advertising to fill them. If circumstances should change and you find suitable employment or are able to pay for the spaces, please let me know by July 1, 2012, as I would love to continue providing services to you and your family.

Sincerely

Daycare Provider

I am sure that if she cannot afford to pay for the space, she will surely understand that you cannot afford to hold them.

[Countrygal]

I have a two week notice policy, and it goes both ways. I would ask for two weeks notice, paid. Tell her you cannot hold the position longer than that, but that if you still have openings when she finds a job you'd be glad to reinstate her or put her on a waiting list.

If she cannot pay, then you have no obligation to hold the spot. But for me, I'd feel bad not giving them the chance. So I'd offer to hold it for two weeks paid ahead.

I had a daycare family who stayed (two children) for 6 1/2 months even though one parent was out of work. Also, if she is state subsidized, she may be able to get subsidy even while looking for work or going to school. So I wouldn't be too quick to term. I'd give her a couple of weeks to get her life in order. She's probably had a pretty big blow by losing her job. But I don't know the particulars of the situation like you do. You need to do what seems best for both the parent, for you and for the children!

Hope it all works out for the best!

[Crazy8]

I dont have a policy on extended absences.

but you have a termination policy, no??? I am not sure how your contract with her works, does she pay the first of the month for the entire month? Do you require that of all your clients?? Plain and simple, if she can't pay, she can't stay. If you require 2 weeks notice she should have either given you that already OR she needs to pay for the next 2 weeks whether she comes or not. If she does not want to give notice then she needs to pay. See the trend here.... she pays or she terms - there is no waiting. You don't have an extended absences policy because you don't do extended absences.

[youretooloud]

She could be out of work for months or longer. Most of my parents who have looked for work, looked for almost a year.

If you can fill the spot, you should. It's not all about her. It would be WONDERFUL to keep the spot for her, but if you are limited to how many you can take, you can't be expected to hold a spot. She can't afford to pay you while she's not working. She MUST take care of her family, and that doesn't mean paying for childcare if she doesn't need it. You MUST take care of yours, and that doesn't mean holding a spot indefinitely.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I understand what you all are saying.

She didn't lose her job, she quit it. No warning or anything.

I do have a 2 week termination policy.

I guess I will wait until July 1, and if nothing has changed then I will
Tell her that she either needs to pay for me to hold her spots or I will fill them.

Its hard when I have my hubby breathing down my neck about this.

We lose an income, we can't pay our bills. And he is not very happy about this.