Your Opinions Please...

[Mister Sir Husband]

My wife having been a single mom for awhile before we were married, I am trying to come up with a payment plan that would be fair to some moms that I expect to have as clients... so here is what I am thinking..

The first week of enrolment will require a weeks deposit and a weeks payment.

Everyone pays me on time and in full my weekly rate for the first month.. even if your child isn't here a day or two.

After the first month everyone gets two "free days" from me. (a free day is a day that the parents can use whenever they want or need to.. if their child isn't in care for whatever reason I don't charge them for that day.)

Every month thereafter that I am paid on time and in full another free day is added to their account.

I will be requiring that I get paid for all holidays that I am closed, but when I go on vacation every summer, I don't expect payment. Free days cannot be deducted instead of payment for holidays .. and I don't feel right collecting money for 2 weeks in August while I sit next to the ocean working on my tan.

If I am sick and have to close, I don't require payment and parents wont lose a free day.

The idea of these free days is to help out parents if their child is sick and they cant send them. I would like to avoid the idea of "well I have to pay for the day anyway, so I am sending kids" Plus if the child is home sick, the parent may have to take the day off and to have to pay me anyways doesn't seem right. Free days also come in play if the parents go on vacation. Assuming they have been paying me on time the will have a small pile of them accumulated and can go away for a week or two and not have to worry about paying me. Perhaps use the money to do some extra fun stuff with the kids.

Now I am not sure if I want to either put a cap on how many free days parents can accumulate or maybe on how many they can use at a time. I can imagine a scenario where I have had a family for a few years and they announce that they are using their free days for a vacation... all 30 of them and therefore can go 6 weeks without losing their spot. Not that this is completely horrible because if they do have that many free days it means they have paid me on time for 2 1/2 years or so..

So anyways.. what do you all think? Good idea? Too complicated perhaps? Something I am missing that could burn me?

[Michael]

I didn't get a chance to read your post in detail. The weekends are slower here. Have you tried using our TAG search? If you search CONTRACT you can read a lot of conversations that will touch on some of your questions: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php

Also search DEPOSIT and DAYS OFF.

[Mister Sir Husband]

I didn't get a chance to read your post in detail. The weekends are slower here. Have you tried using our TAG search? If you search CONTRACT you can read a lot of conversations that will touch on some of your questions: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php

Also search DEPOSIT and DAYS OFF.

Cool, thanks Michael.. I will look into this..

[Unregistered]

My wife having been a single mom for awhile before we were married, I am trying to come up with a payment plan that would be fair to some moms that I expect to have as clients... so here is what I am thinking..

The first week of enrolment will require a weeks deposit and a weeks payment.

Everyone pays me on time and in full my weekly rate for the first month.. even if your child isn't here a day or two.

After the first month everyone gets two "free days" from me. (a free day is a day that the parents can use whenever they want or need to.. if their child isn't in care for whatever reason I don't charge them for that day.)

Every month thereafter that I am paid on time and in full another free day is added to their account.

I will be requiring that I get paid for all holidays that I am closed, but when I go on vacation every summer, I don't expect payment. Free days cannot be deducted instead of payment for holidays .. and I don't feel right collecting money for 2 weeks in August while I sit next to the ocean working on my tan.

If I am sick and have to close, I don't require payment and parents wont lose a free day.

The idea of these free days is to help out parents if their child is sick and they cant send them. I would like to avoid the idea of "well I have to pay for the day anyway, so I am sending kids" Plus if the child is home sick, the parent may have to take the day off and to have to pay me anyways doesn't seem right. Free days also come in play if the parents go on vacation. Assuming they have been paying me on time the will have a small pile of them accumulated and can go away for a week or two and not have to worry about paying me. Perhaps use the money to do some extra fun stuff with the kids.

Now I am not sure if I want to either put a cap on how many free days parents can accumulate or maybe on how many they can use at a time. I can imagine a scenario where I have had a family for a few years and they announce that they are using their free days for a vacation... all 30 of them and therefore can go 6 weeks without losing their spot. Not that this is completely horrible because if they do have that many free days it means they have paid me on time for 2 1/2 years or so..

So anyways.. what do you all think? Good idea? Too complicated perhaps? Something I am missing that could burn me?

I think that is a wonderful idea! I don't think it is too complicated. It is a great reward for the parents for paying you on time. I would put a cap on how many days they could use at one time. What ever you are comfortable with. If the free day was used for the child being sick, I would have them deduct payment on the next check. Just so you wouldn't have to give them money. If I wasn't hurting financially already I would add it to my contract too .

[MyAngels]

It almost sounds like you're rewarding them for doing something that they should be doing anyway (paying on time). I guess if I were going to do something like that I wouldn't tie it to on time payments. You'll find some people will figure you're okay with being paid late as long as they're willing to forgo the free days - these will most likely be the people who will send their child to care open to close every day anyway.

I definitely would cap the amount of days they can accumulate and possibly reset it at the end of the year (use it or lose it).

One thing I've found after 20 years is simpler policies are always easier to enforce and get compliance on.

[GabsKids]

I also think it is a great idea. I hear of so many employers offering vacation days to their employees that are accumulated. It seems actually, that is how most do it. That is what this reminds me of. I agree though there should be a cap on the number of days. I was thinking of suggesting they just start over with each year, but that may not work either.

For years, I didn't have my parents pay when there child was home sick or didn't come. My reasoning was the same as yours, if they don't have to pay they will more likely keep them home. I believe it did work to an extent, but occasionally I have had a family either bring their sick children anyway, or the opposite, the child was rarely at daycare a full week. Obviously not because they were sick, but if mom was sick, a sibling was sick, the list of reasons is a mile long. :confused: I honestly don't know how some of the parents are able to keep their jobs.

[Familycare71]

I think it SOUNDS great-
But as a PP said- generally simpler is better.
I used to give parents sick days and I had some- I felt like my current parents were relived when I did away with them. Now they pay no matter if they miss but out side of paid holidays when I close they don't-so much less to keep track of.
BUT like I said- it sounds like a great idea. As a PP also said I wouldn't tie it to anything but time.

[LK5kids]

I provide five free days, after they use the five free days they pay if their child is gone. This starts over on the anniversary of their start date for the next year. Some parents use up their free days quickly, some never use any.

[Mister Sir Husband]

I provide five free days, after they use the five free days they pay if their child is gone. This starts over on the anniversary of their start date for the next year. Some parents use up their free days quickly, some never use any.

I kinda like that .. give them a few right off and be done with it. Would be easier to keep track of on my end. My idea of one a month if they pay on time is more prolly stemmed from reading too many posts on here about parents not paying on time. Has me thinking ahead that I will have a problem with this, which I may not and won't know until I open and see. Of course I am going to have the obvious rule if you don't pay you can't come back, but something for those who do pay everytime without fail would be nice.

[JoseyJo]

I kinda like that .. give them a few right off and be done with it. Would be easier to keep track of on my end. My idea of one a month if they pay on time is more prolly stemmed from reading too many posts on here about parents not paying on time. Has me thinking ahead that I will have a problem with this, which I may not and won't know until I open and see. Of course I am going to have the obvious rule if you don't pay you can't come back, but something for those who do pay everytime without fail would be nice.

Seems like I am in the minority here- but I wouldn't give them any unpaid sick days. Most jobs provide PAID sick days so if they or their child is sick they are still getting paid from their job so they can still pay you.

I totally agree that simpler is better- such as "if you are absent when I am open you pay, if I take a day off you don't"

You DO have to be firm on your policies-

DONT allow late payments, require payments in advance of services - "If you don't pay you dont stay"

DONT allow a sick child to be dropped off (or if they get sick in care require p/u) - no excuses, if they have exclude-able symptoms they are excluded

DO be nicely firm about your contract, remind parents that this is your business and livelyhood, and you are responsible for keeping all of the children and yourself healthy.

Some parents will try to get over on you no matter what you do- you don't want those parents anyway!

[Unregistered]

This is very simple, no need to reward bad behaviour, No pay, No stay.

[Cradle2crayons]

Seems like I am in the minority here- but I wouldn't give them any unpaid sick days. Most jobs provide PAID sick days so if they or their child is sick they are still getting paid from their job so they can still pay you.

I totally agree that simpler is better- such as "if you are absent when I am open you pay, if I take a day off you don't"

You DO have to be firm on your policies-

DONT allow late payments, require payments in advance of services - "If you don't pay you dont stay"

DONT allow a sick child to be dropped off (or if they get sick in care require p/u) - no excuses, if they have exclude-able symptoms they are excluded

DO be nicely firm about your contract, remind parents that this is your business and livelyhood, and you are responsible for keeping all of the children and yourself healthy.

Some parents will try to get over on you no matter what you do- you don't want those parents anyway!

perfect

I don't reward behavior I EXPECT. I EXPECT parents to pay ON TIME. I do very few holidays because I know that my parents don't get paid sick or paid vacation days so I do try to be fair.

Since most of the families I deal with are single moms with very little family support, I do my best to be flexible.

BUT. This is my income.

If the rule at my daycare is no children aren't allowed to open the door, then I expect that rule to be followed 100% of the time. I don't reward them every time they don't open the door. Of course, I may give em verbal rewards but if its something I expect from all children, it's simply expected.

I admire you wanting to be supportive of single parents. And they appreciate it to. If I didn't need the income, I would be able to be more flexible.

[DEBBIES DAYCARE]

I was a single parent for many years and I appreciate when someone empathizes, but keep these things in mind....
Back when I was alone with the kids, I struggled as your wife did, but there wasn't as many resources as there are now. Today's single parent gets assistance with rent, heat, food, daycare cost, heck, they even get a cell phone. Some will complain its not enough. It probably still requires a lot of sacrifice. Just don't be too much of a hero for these people. Heroism is commendable, but it don't pay the rent. Especially if you have a business to run and a family of your own.
I'm not saying you shouldn't help. But rewarding for on time payments IMO is too much...or worded wrong maybe. They are SUPPOSED pay on time, like many are saying...why reward that? And investigate if single parents are getting paid at work if they are absent. Probably yes. I also wonder, if you reward your parents that pay, what do you do with the ones that don't?
Here's what I do for my hard working folks, single parents included.
I accept Care for Kids State assistance, not every one does.
I give their child quality care so they don't have to worry
I let my parents drop off their kids in pajamas and Ill get them dressed and fed.
I feed their children healthy meals, breakfast, lunch, snacks and milk included in tuition
I threaten to refuse care if you are late paying, in my contract...but if a parent who I trust, asks for a few days, I agree.
I open at 5am the day after Thanksgiving for the crazy shoppers and don't charge extra
I stay opened where some day cares close....new years eve, columbus, veterans, the friday after Thanksgiving.
I offer Saturday care for the working parent if they need it ( not free)

Just be careful...some see kindness as weakness, as the saying goes.
Oh and I think keeping track of all that is mind boggling to me.

[harperluu]

I guess I read this a little differently than rewarding for paying on time. I offer accumulated vacation time. I used to give 10 days right up front, but I've had several families start, take two weeks vacation and then give me notice a month later. A few years ago I added the accumulating vacation time to my policy. It all resets on Jan 1 each year. You use it or lose it. They only accumulate 10 days total for the year.

It was a way for me to resolve the problem I was having with people taking their vacation all at once and then leaving, or those starting late in the year and squeezing 10 days in right around Christmastime. All my clients pay on time, so it had nothing to do with that. I would just leave that part out or have it read "if your account is in good standing," something like that...

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

ok you're wanting to give a break to "single moms" generally all my single moms qualify for state assistance.
But, now you have someone who can easily write a check every month at the beginning of the month for the month. They take oh my vacations, drive really nice cars, their one yr old has an ipad of his own etc... They now get 5 days a month free of paying you. So they send jr to grandmas or take that day off etc and now your only getting paid for 3 weeks a month... are you going to resent that?
My assistance moms have a copay. At one point I didn't collect that. THen I quickly realized that they need that responsibility!! They need to pay for part of their care.
I have been doing this for 16 years. You may have compassion from time to time but don't go into this thinking you want to give everyone a break.
I do like the idea of "earning vacation time" for them. But, all my parents pay on time otherwise I wouldn't be watching them.