Contracted Hours - Grace Period?

[Cat Herder]

My parents rate is based on total number of hours per day. A child here for 7 hours has a cheaper rate than a child here for 10 hours. The later the pick up time, the more expensive it gets. None of my clients pay the same rate because their needs vary. It's not fair to charge a family only needing 30 hours of care a week the same rate as a family needing 50 hours of care per week. One family gets penalized. KWIM?!

I love the concept but there are flaws in it.

That system works great if your goal is for the kids to be picked up earlier for any reason. happyface A friend of mine does it so kids have more awake time with their families. It makes her happy to see that and she is an angel on this earth.

Unfortunately, if your goal is to pay your bills on the few available slots you have, it works against you. You have to put faith in the fact that most will be willing to pay the higher rate to compensate for the ones who won't.

7 hours a day or 10 hours a day, both take up a space I can't charge someone else for. I simply can't risk it.

[cheerfuldom]

That must be difficult. I had an electronic door lock installed on my door as I work in the basement. Every parent has a code to use and the door automatically locks when the door is closed after three seconds. I got tired of being concerned the door wasn't locked when they left. Their codes only work during day home hours, so no one can come early or pick up late or they won't get in. It's pretty hard for someone to say they were on time to pick up if they are late, cause I have to let them in. :::::: I had that installed also because I was tired of parents coming to my house on stat holidays to drop off saying they forgot the holiday.

I just find the families that work with what I can provide. Its not the perfect set up for everyone but my families for the most part are like clock work, I know exactly when people are coming and going so there is rarely ever a surprise. I have the kids ready when they need to be ready. I dont allow drop offs after 9am so its not like I can do a free for all of coming and going each day. I know some providers are able to work with that type of schedule, no problem, but it doesnt work for me so I just find the families that work within my drop off and pick up time frames. Its definitely not perfect but nothing ever is.

I do like the idea of an entry code and will definitely consider that but I am assuming you can set it up so that the codes dont work all the time, yes? what if a parent let other people know their code to your house and that other person shows up during daycare hours? I know that is a trust issue with the parents but I seriously dont trust anyone so I would be paranoid about that. What if a parent comes to pick up and instead of heading downstairs, wanders thru the house?

[cheerfuldom]

I love the concept but there are flaws in it.

That system works great if your goal is for the kids to be picked up earlier for any reason. happyface A friend of mine does it so kids have more awake time with their families. It makes her happy to see that and she is an angel on this earth.

Unfortunately, if your goal is to pay your bills on the few available slots you have, it works against you. You have to put faith in the fact that most will be willing to pay the higher rate to compensate for the ones who won't.

7 hours a day or 10 hours a day, both take up a space I can't charge someone else for. I simply can't risk it.

my set up is like cat's but I also attract the full time families, which work for me best. I'd rather make more money at this point because one family leaving early each day doesnt make a difference to me, I still have several more that need care till 5 or 530. I would rather just take the kid for the full day and make more money. (sorry if that money talk makes me sound bad....) so for me, full time schedules work best and that is the type of family I attract. I know some people LOVE contracted hours and it usually makes their afternoons easier. I can see advantages to both ways but for my current families, if I went to contracted hours, I see it as only a disadvantage to me. I get paid full time because I am available for 50 hours a week...it is up to the parents whether they utilize all the time or not.

[clep]

How much do those things cost??

It was about 400 bucks installed by the locksmith.

[clep]

I just find the families that work with what I can provide. Its not the perfect set up for everyone but my families for the most part are like clock work, I know exactly when people are coming and going so there is rarely ever a surprise. I have the kids ready when they need to be ready. I dont allow drop offs after 9am so its not like I can do a free for all of coming and going each day. I know some providers are able to work with that type of schedule, no problem, but it doesnt work for me so I just find the families that work within my drop off and pick up time frames. Its definitely not perfect but nothing ever is.

I do like the idea of an entry code and will definitely consider that but I am assuming you can set it up so that the codes dont work all the time, yes? what if a parent let other people know their code to your house and that other person shows up during daycare hours? I know that is a trust issue with the parents but I seriously dont trust anyone so I would be paranoid about that. What if a parent comes to pick up and instead of heading downstairs, wanders thru the house?

I have had my electronic lock for four years now. I have never once had a parent give their door code to another person. What would be the purpose for them doing something like that? That is kind of paranoid. I can hear the door give the beeping that the door is opening and closing. I can hear their footsteps upstairs. I have never had a parent invade my privacy and wander around my house. I chose my parents well I believe. Even though some of them may be lacking in parenting skills, or can be selfish when bringing their children sick at times, they do have integrity and respect for my privacy.

[clep]

my set up is like cat's but I also attract the full time families, which work for me best. I'd rather make more money at this point because one family leaving early each day doesnt make a difference to me, I still have several more that need care till 5 or 530. I would rather just take the kid for the full day and make more money. (sorry if that money talk makes me sound bad....) so for me, full time schedules work best and that is the type of family I attract. I know some people LOVE contracted hours and it usually makes their afternoons easier. I can see advantages to both ways but for my current families, if I went to contracted hours, I see it as only a disadvantage to me. I get paid full time because I am available for 50 hours a week...it is up to the parents whether they utilize all the time or not.

Ditto to a tee.

[DBug]

I'm also one of the few who don't do contracted hours. I'm open 7am (no earlier, ever!) and I close at 5pm (strictly enforced by a $1/minute late fee with no grace period and no allowance for traffic or weather).

Most of my parents stick to their usual schedules all the time -- I don't have too many that are here open to close "just because". But I do like offering the option to parents of stopping at the store on the way home if they need to grab something without feeling like they have to be at my house at a specific time, and i think they appreciate it too.

If we're going out during the day, I leave a note if someone hasn't dropped off yet. If we're at the bus stop, they drop off there. Not a biggie to me.

I've never been able to schedule my own life to the exact minute (and I tend to be pretty schedule-oriented), and I don't expect my parents to be able to. Life happens, and I'm okay with that.

BUT, after 5pm, "life" costs you! ::