Update On "Late" Mom

[Leanna]

So a few weeks ago I posted about my new baby's mom who works down the street. She doesn't get out of work until 5 and I close at 5. We agreed that she could be a few minutes late. Well I realized that when I thought of a few minutes I thought of five minutes and she clearly thinks ten. So I have clarified that her pick-up is by 5:05 and anything after that is subject to the regular dollar-a-minute fee.

Well fast forward to today. Mom was not at work and didn't pick-up until 5:12. Her comments clearly showed that she thought 5:05 was the "norm." Is it rude to clarify that the 5:05 pick-up time ONLY applies when she is coming from work? I am VERY flexible and accommodating by nature but I feel as though if I don't clarify this now it will get out of hand. Thoughts?

[Laurel]

So a few weeks ago I posted about my new baby's mom who works down the street. She doesn't get out of work until 5 and I close at 5. We agreed that she could be a few minutes late. Well I realized that when I thought of a few minutes I thought of five minutes and she clearly thinks ten. So I have clarified that her pick-up is by 5:05 and anything after that is subject to the regular dollar-a-minute fee.

Well fast forward to today. Mom was not at work and didn't pick-up until 5:12. Her comments clearly showed that she thought 5:05 was the "norm." Is it rude to clarify that the 5:05 pick-up time ONLY applies when she is coming from work? I am VERY flexible and accommodating by nature but I feel as though if I don't clarify this now it will get out of hand. Thoughts?

If you wouldn't mind her coming by 5:15 charge her an extra charge weekly to stay open until 5:15. I charge $150 per week till 5:30 and $160 a week till 6:00.

If you don't want to then just charge her the late fee. Sometimes raising her rates for 'overtime' does the trick.

Laurel

[Sunshine75]

late mom

Absolutely-clarification and communication are key in working with parents. You could explain that you close at five but are allowing her child to be picked up five minutes past closing time because she works so close and in fact on days when she is not working you expect your five o clock close time to be honored and anytime after five on days she is not working she will be charged. That's my two cents but always hold to your agreement and don't feel bad about being to the point. Some people just don't get it otherwise.

[Blackcat31]

Absolutely-clarification and communication are key in working with parents. You could explain that you close at five but are allowing her child to be picked up five minutes past closing time because she works so close and in fact on days when she is not working you expect your five o clock close time to be honored and anytime after five on days she is not working she will be charged. That's my two cents but always hold to your agreement and don't feel bad about being to the point. Some people just don't get it otherwise.

I agree.

5:00 or BEFORE on non-working days and make VERY clear the addition 5 minutes you are allowing her are ONLY for those days in which she works.

Clearly if you give her an inch she will take a mile.

[mom2many]

I agree.

5:00 or BEFORE on non-working days and make VERY clear the addition 5 minutes you are allowing her are ONLY for those days in which she works.

Clearly if you give her an inch she will take a mile.

Totally agree with this!

[mrsnj]

I had this issue. Mom and dad both work in the city. Fridays and summer she sometimes hits shore traffic. Dad however had no issues getting to me on his pick up days. So I offered a 5 min grace period for her and then late fees applied after that. Next thing I know I had late pick ups from her when she was home. Then late pick ups from him!!! Then she switched jobs and now works local and still showed up late. Then 5 min turned to ten to 15 to..... Yea. You got the idea. I tried to be nice and that is what it got me. I put a stop to that real quick. And when the habit seemed too hard to understand and break I upped her fee. That was what worked. So I am telling you, put it in writing and make your rules black and white. Then they cannot say they didnt know

[JenNJ]

make a new contract.

Work days 5:05 pm. Non-work days BEFORE 5:00 pm. FEe for late is $1.00 per minute ANY DAY

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I charge $1.00 for every scheduled 10 minutes past my regular closing time. However, I only do it in 30 minute increments. If you schedule 5:30, you pay $3 per day. If you schedule 6:00, you pay $6 per day. But, that's because I am not very accommodating when it comes to being late LOL.

[Leanna]

Ok, so I sent home the following reminder/clarification on our September newsletter:
Please remember we close promptly at 5pm. Pick-ups occurring after 5pm (unless previously arranged) are subject to a dollar-per-minute late fee.

If you have pre-arranged a grace period for late pick-ups please note that these grace periods are subject to the following:
The grace period only applies when both parents are at work. All children are expected to be picked-up by 5pm on days when one or both parents are not working.
You must call or text to let me know you will be late. If I do not receive a call or text regular late fees will apply.
If 5:05 has been determined to be your regular pick-up time, the dollar a minute late fee will begin at 5:06.
All late fees are due with your regular weekly payment.

We'll see how it goes!

[cheerfuldom]

Ok, so I sent home the following reminder/clarification on our September newsletter:
Please remember we close promptly at 5pm. Pick-ups occurring after 5pm (unless previously arranged) are subject to a dollar-per-minute late fee.

If you have pre-arranged a grace period for late pick-ups please note that these grace periods are subject to the following:
The grace period only applies when both parents are at work. All children are expected to be picked-up by 5pm on days when one or both parents are not working.
You must call or text to let me know you will be late. If I do not receive a call or text regular late fees will apply.
If 5:05 has been determined to be your regular pick-up time, the dollar a minute late fee will begin at 5:06.
All late fees are due with your regular weekly payment.

We'll see how it goes!

I would still charge even if they call to let you know. They should be calling but that is not a reason to then not charge the fee. all thats going to happen now is that parents are going to notify they will be late, they will expect to not be charged because they notified you, and it may not curb any of the tardiness.

[Leanna]

I would still charge even if they call to let you know. They should be calling but that is not a reason to then not charge the fee. all thats going to happen now is that parents are going to notify they will be late, they will expect to not be charged because they notified you, and it may not curb any of the tardiness.

Gosh, maybe I should have posted here before I sent the note home. What I meant was that they have to call if they are going to be past their grace period regardless...not that the fees wouldn't apply. I can see how it could be read that way. Ugh. I hate dealing with the money/fee/policies aspect of this job. It is awkward and tedious.

[TheGoodLife]

Gosh, maybe I should have posted here before I sent the note home. What I meant was that they have to call if they are going to be past their grace period regardless...not that the fees wouldn't apply. I can see how it could be read that way. Ugh. I hate dealing with the money/fee/policies aspect of this job. It is awkward and tedious.

I also read it that you would not charge the late fee if they call you. If it gets to that, you could either tell them that the late fee will be incurred OR after a couple times inform them that they need to be there by the contracted time or you will need to change the hours on their contract for a higher weekly rate.

[Play Care]

Are all the parents doing this or just this particular mom? I say this because I've learned over the years to address things verbally with the guilty party and follow up in writing with just them - often when you send out a mass message the guilty party doesn't recognize themselves ("well, she told us we could be late so this must mean the other families...") and they continue with the bad behavior. Just my two cents

[Laurel]

Are all the parents doing this or just this particular mom? I say this because I've learned over the years to address things verbally with the guilty party and follow up in writing with just them - often when you send out a mass message the guilty party doesn't recognize themselves ("well, she told us we could be late so this must mean the other families...") and they continue with the bad behavior. Just my two cents

Laurel

[mrsnj]

That is so true! It's my better parents that come in asking if it was them and the one causing the issue never notices.