Do You Enforce...

[Provider_Manda]

All your rules ? I have in my contract and on my fb site that there is a 2 day minimum and if those 2 days are not met then there is $50.00 fee to insure your spot.

I have never onced inforced that, cause it was really never an issue. Till vacations took place. Now this week I have 2 dck who have been sick and made the rest of us sick. I had to closed down today due to my son having croup and being contagious.

So since they have been sick and I knew that they would not be here since ther were sick do I still charge them the $50 ? I am soft as can be and I feel like I just get walked over. But I am not sure what to do. I know ppl have it hard and stuff..I just don't have the heart to tell them they owe for days they wasn't here.

I tell my dcp as soon as they meet with me to have a backup incase of sickness since I have a toddler son and eveything. Well after the dcp's picked up all the kids yesterday after it was confirmed my son had croup after going to the dr. I told them all I would be closed today, to let him rest and to bleach everything down.

Last night at 9 I get a call very rudely saying "So you open or closed tomorrow" After they had already been told. I apolygized and told them closed and then they became even more disrespectful. I said "Sorry hun" and they came back with "Not as sorry as I am BYE" and hung up.

In my contract I have all that about backup care and such. I don't understand why people can't read it and go by it. I really need advice on how to run this as a business and not "babysitting" I have been pretty tore up over the coversation. Was I in the wrong for Closing ? Im not sure how to make this run any smoother, and it honestly makes me want to throw my hands in the air and tell them to go somewhere else. Someday's I think it would be easier to go get a job outside of the home then to put up with all of this :\

[Cat Herder]

I have never once inforced that, cause it was really never an issue. Till vacations took place.

I enforce every one of my rules. If it was not important enough to me to be enforced, I would not have made it into a rule.

Don't make rules you will not enforce.

Making exceptions to your rules is only an exception to YOU. It becomes the norm to them.

Later, whenever you need something and they don't comply, you resent all the exceptions you made for them.

Again, they don't know anything about the "exception" because it is the norm to them...and you are viewed as an overreacting drama queen when you get your feelings hurt. (remember half this issue was only in your head as far as they are concerned....:

It is a vicious cycle and only hurts you.

Have I learned this the hard way... Repeatedly.... Absolutely.

[Provider_Manda]

Im just not sure how to enforce..I don't do invoice/billing..They just know what they pay and pay it weekly..So what do I say, "Oh even though you wasn't here cause your kids was sick, you still owe $50 for the week " ?

I guess I just don't want to make anyone mad..But I need to get over that I guess..

[Blackcat31]

Yes, you still bill the $50. Whether a child was sick or not doesn't matter. The $50 is paying for the space whether used or not.

When parents ask, you say the money is due regardless. No long drawn out explanations needed. It was written in the contract they signed so it is due. period.

Policies carry no weight if they aren't enforced. For situations that warrant individual consideration, I state that in my PHB. Other situations stand REGARDLESS of the situation.

[Cat Herder]

I say "Tuition is not based on attendance." (because it is based on availability)lovethis It is also in the contract they signed before beginning care.

The simpler you keep it, the easier it is. happyface

[clep]

I only accept full time children and the parents have to pay for the month on the first of the month. If they don't bring them I don't really care.

I found part time and hourly a hassle. I also like full time for the social standpoint for the children.

[daycare]

Im just not sure how to enforce..I don't do invoice/billing..They just know what they pay and pay it weekly..So what do I say, "Oh even though you wasn't here cause your kids was sick, you still owe $50 for the week " ?

I guess I just don't want to make anyone mad..But I need to get over that I guess..

I was like you a few years back, not anymore..

back bone takes a while to earn and build up to.

If I were you, I would send out a letter to all DCP telling them that you have been very laxed on all of your policies, however, due to several different circumstances, you will be enforcing all PHB policies and rules. Attach another copy of it for them and let them know that NOTHING is going to slide anymore.

THEN and only then once you have control back of your group can you base it off of a case by case basis.

I would also be telling this DCM, per my policy, I do not normally let this go, but will this time. Next time there will be XYZ payment due.....

[Provider_Manda]

I only accept full time children and the parents have to pay for the month on the first of the month. If they don't bring them I don't really care.

I found part time and hourly a hassle. I also like full time for the social standpoint for the children.

How do you base pay for the month ? And I am starting to think that part-time is a hassle as well.

[Crazy8]

I say "Tuition is not based on attendance." lovethis It is also in the contract they signed before beging care.

The simpler you keep it, the easier it is. happyface

I follow the keeping it simple rule too. I don't have a 20 page handbook full of policies and rules. I have the important stuff in writing and that I enforce. I have other "ways I do things" that aren't actual written rules and those I may or may not bend on - always MY choice!

Payment is due in full here whether child attends or not. I will contract for 2,3,4 or 5 days a week but that amount is due regardless of attendance! Now if I closed for my own illness I do not charge them (or in my case I'd credit them the day the following week since they pay in advance).

[daycare]

How do you base pay for the month ? And I am starting to think that part-time is a hassle as well.

I do part time and I love it....I make more off of part time than full time

its how you set it up that matters as well as enforcing all of your PHB rules

[Provider_Manda]

Ok so stupid question...what is PHB rules ?

[Blackcat31]

Ok so stupid question...what is PHB rules ?

Policy Hand Book rules

No question is a stupid question.

[Provider_Manda]

Policy Hand Book rules

No question is a stupid question.

Ahh Haa makes perfect sense now Thank you Blackcat !

[Willow]

I said "Sorry hun" and they came back with "Not as sorry as I am BYE" and hung up.

FIRED.

Effective IMMEDIATELY.


I can't believe no one else jumped all over that yet. I would have sent the email right after I hung up the phone.



I wanted to eliminate the couple of part timers I had so I changed my policies to include a 20 hour per week minimum charge. Part timers left as anticipated and it's been a nice thing to have in place for my remaining full time families when they go on vacations and such. I had the hardest time the first time I had to actually bill it, but all of my parents understood the reasoning behind the charge and had agreed to it so didn't say anything about it.

I had envisioned the worst, but found I had tortured myself for nothing

I do still charge hourly because it makes sense and works for me.

I also only contract for care with parents who need my services (read, both need to work and will go or lose their jobs). I definitely prefer and so much as demand regular attendance because I believe the consistency is what's best for the children as individuals as well as for my group as a whole.

[Cat Herder]

FIRED.

Effective IMMEDIATELY.


I can't believe no one else jumped all over that yet. I would have sent the email right after I hung up the phone.

Sadly, snarky comments, while not face to face, are becoming more and more common. Granted, I am twice my clients ages, so I guess I just turn my ignorer on. It is simply an adult temper tantrum. ::

That kind of comment to my face would have been abruptly halted although I can't imagine it having happened in my presence.