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I always tell parents at the interview that I work a long day and that I have things to do after I'm done with work just as they do I don't want the extra money I want them here because some will pay the late fee and don't care about the money they just want that extra free time sad but true
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Overtime Fees
Today of all days a Friday! One of my daycare parents gets stuck in traffic. Calls me about 20 mins before pick up time to tell me he is stuck in traffic and will be picking up 15 minutes late. My policy is: "Overtime fees" begin a minute after the 15 minute window is up. His contracted pick up time is 5:15pm so he has until 5:30pm to get here before fees begin at 5:31 which is $10 for those 15 minutes. Well 5:31 comes and goes, then 5:46, (another $10) then 5:53! Doorbell rings and it's not him its the mom at the door. Well good thing she came, but then she says Dad has the money and can he still come to pay me. Uh yes?!
Mom apologized about 3 times while here. I said yes the traffic is really bad I understand. I had to tell her that normally the fee is paid by closing, but that I will see him here when he arrives. Dad finally arrives at 6:15 and then almost shorts me $5! Good thing I went over the charges with him. No apology for being late from Dad.
Should I feel guilty for NOT feeling guilty to not give this guy a break and let the OT fees slide? I am thinking not because;
1) If dad or anyone had to stay and work longer at his/their job, he'd/they'd expect to get paid for it.
2) I am still considered working staying in "work" mode waiting for him to show up to pay me even later than I had to, to care for the child which was another 15 minutes after mom left.
Moral of the story is: if you work overtime, you should get paid for it!!!Comment
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Late fees are a penalty. They are supposed to be an incentive for parents to be on time. If the late fees are too low, then the parents won't mind paying them. My late pick up fee is $15 for every 15 minutes or part there of (so 1-15 min = $15, 16-30 min = $30, etc). I only have to enforce it occassionally because parents don't want to have to pay that fee. I am pretty lenient on when I charge it. I will normally let a few minutes here and there slide. Then when it gets to the point where I feel I am being taken advantage of I will send home a note that says they were late and how much the fee would have been. At the bottom I write a note stating the fee would be waived this time but will be enforced going forward. That is kind of like a written reminder. After that I charge.
I have one family that is taking advantage of it lately. Mom works at a hospital so she works a few 12 hour days each week. BUT dad is dropping off at 7am and picking up at 5:30 almost every day regardless of mom's schedule. I know for a fact that she was off the other day and she still didn't pick her child up until 5:28. Dad has to hurry to get here by 5:30. Lately he has been right at 5:30 or a minute or two later. I haven't said anything. Yesterday it was 5:36. They have a reminder in their box for Monday regarding my late fee, what time they picked up on Friday, and how much it would have cost them. Next time, they will be charged.Comment
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retired provider
I wanted children gone at closing time, not extra money. I discovered late fees just salve their conscience. I took them out of my contract.
I started a 1-2-3 you are out policy for my closing time. I had one DKM that was there at exactly closing IF on time. Late 5 minutes at least once a week. I wrote a polite but firm letter explaining how used I was feeling about her intruding into my family time. I stated firmly my position. If she was late three more times this year I would terminate. I mailed it to her so I wouldn't have to speak to her in front of her child. She called to apologise, and thanked me for doing it so privately.
She was great for several months. The next time she was late I sent her a COPY of the first letter with the three crossed out, and a TWO hand written above it. The only time she was ever late again was during a snow storm. I helped her raise that child for 2+. After her first child was in school, and no longer in my care, she had a "surprise". I helped raise that child also.Comment
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Never feel guilty about charging late fees! I don't have contracted hours, just days, so if a parent usually picks up at 4:30 and they show up at 5 instead, no problem. BUT, if they show up one minute after 6 pm (closing), I start charging $1 an hour. That's my family time, after working a 12 hour day, and I do charge it every single time. I have charged for parents being stuck in traffic, in snowstorms, and for being late because they were picking up dinner on the way home. Honestly, I love the kids, but I need my family time and my house back, and that's what my family deserves too.
I don't offer a grace period and I don't think the OP should either. Esp. if the mom isn't at work! And really, if parents are at work, they should have some ability to watch/listen for the weather or other issues that might slow them down and be able to make other arrangements. For example, if they're stuck in traffic and they can call me, they can also call an emergency back-up to come pick up their child.
JMO, and I'm working in an area where if a family left, I'd have no problem filling their spot, but to me, family time is just as important as work time, and I'm the only one who can enforce that with my business, kwim?Comment
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director
I don't have any problem. I have the schedule of the parent and it is automatically 50.00 if you are ten minutes late. It must be paid before your child return to DC. I must say I have parents at least twenty minutes early. Communication is key. I am very tough if the parent haven't call me to prepare me of their late pickup.Comment
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