Would You Charge a Fee?

[daycare]

I have a family that wants to go from FT to PT for only 4 months and then return to full time status after the 4 months pass. I posted about this family before.

I have not agreed to anything yet, just want to know if you ladies think that I should charge a holding fee for them while they are PT if then intend to be able to come back to full time status after the 4 months????

I am not crazy about this idea, but the family is going through some personal stuff right now and I am trying to work with them through it.


ideas? thoughts????

thanks so much.....

[Lil'DinoEggs]

How about keep them at a full time rate, but if you can fill the spots when they are not there, give them a credit?

[MarinaVanessa]

I guess it depends on a few things. Do you allow part-time? Does your contract say anything about clients changing their schedules and how much time they need to give you notice?

If I were in your shoes I would allow them to switch from FT to PT (I allow PT) as long as they gave me at least two weeks notice (it's in my contract) but they would have to decide one of two options.

1) They can switch to PT and get charged the PT rate but I would attempt to fill the gaps with another client and that means that they would potentially mean that they may not have their FT spot when they needed it again.

or

2) They can pay the PT rate plus a $25 per week holding fee so that they would get their spot back when they needed it. I would require ... in writing ... that they give me their PT start date as well as the date that they will return to FT and I would have them sign a new contract.

[Patches]

I guess it depends on a few things. Do you allow part-time? Does your contract say anything about clients changing their schedules and how much time they need to give you notice?

If I were in your shoes I would allow them to switch from FT to PT (I allow PT) as long as they gave me at least two weeks notice (it's in my contract) but they would have to decide one of two options.

1) They can switch to PT and get charged the PT rate but I would attempt to fill the gaps with another client and that means that they would potentially mean that they may not have their FT spot when they needed it again.

or

2) They can pay the PT rate plus a $25 per week holding fee so that they would get their spot back when they needed it. I would require ... in writing ... that they give me their PT start date as well as the date that they will return to FT and I would have them sign a new contract.

[daycare]

sorry for the late reply.....I have been really busy.

so this situation will be two kids that will go from two full time spots to sharing one full time spot.

1-MWF
2-T TH

I am not super happy about this idea, but they have been long term clients and are in a situation that they really can't do much about.

This would mean that I would need to hold one full time spot for 4 months

[Unregistered]

I have a paragraph in my parent/provider contract covering 'extended absences'. It covers any absence from 3 weeks or more in duration for situations like maternity leave, work layoff or an extended illness. I require a two week notice be given for requesting an extended absence. During that time, the family is required to pay me a minimum of 1/2 of their usual daycare fees to hold their child's spot. The child can, of course, attend my daycare for that amount of time. Days and times that the child attends are pre determined (this is not a drop off situation). If the family terminates during the extended absence period, they are required to give me a PAID 2 week notice at the FULL time rate, not at the reduced rate. If I decide to terminate, I am required to give a 2 week notice as well and they pay me at the reduced rate.

This has worked well for families that have one child in my care and then a 2nd one is born and a parent is staying home with them for a while.

Does that make sense?