Late pick ups

[littlemissmuffet]

I am not flexible with pickups. I charge $1/minute (no grace period) outside of contracted times and $5/minute after 5pm.

If an hourly-paid parent is late for work due to an accident, weather, or another situation out of their control they are not paid for the portion of time they missed from work... so why should a provider NOT be paid for extra portions of time due to the same situations?

[Memc2001]

I do not charge for late pick ups but it is in my contract that I CAN. I really don't have much of a problem with late pick ups so it's never been much of an issue. I tell my parents that I have plans that evening and need them to be on time. It's my home so it's my rules. I can imagine if I was a center you would have to worry about payroll, etc.
I don't have a problem with those who do charge, but I don't as long as the parents are texting or calling to let me know where they are.

[Shell]

There's a reason so many providers charge late fees or even terminate for late pickups. If a provider doesn't start out with some sort of late pick up penalty, all it takes is one inconsiderate family to make you start one. If you are flexible, it won't take long for someone to "flexible" their way into more and more of your personal time.

I have gotten stricter as the years have gone by. With some parents it really is, "you give an inch and they take a mile".

[Blackcat31]

Wow . You people are strict with your rules. Is this charge for not calling ahead ? If a parent is in traffic and there is an accident ahead of them, do they call you and you won't charge ? Or do they need to call someone else to pick up their child ? Plus, if they have to pay cash for the late fee, some may need to stop somewhere to get money, which adds more time to the late pick up. Sometimes there are circumstances that are no one's fault, they just happen. I get that everyone has a life outside of daycare, but I wonder if you aren't punishing the parents for things they cannot control. I work in a center, sometimes I get out later, parents drop off earlier, all kinds of different scenarios play out which many of the providers on here don`t seem to accept. ( as I gather from reading these forums.) Parents may try to take advantage of some situations, but in other areas, they are human. Kids get sick in the morning, people run late, moms forget diapers and checkbooks, dads may be grumpy, children break rules and have tantrums. Most of you seem to really love and care for the children, but some people are just so severe with their rules. Not really any of you who answered about the late fees, but som e of the other posts on others I have read. The point is, do some people really not l like what they are doing. Personally, I think that if you are caring for children, you need to be flexible and gentle. Some may be upset by what I wrote, but if you read some posts from another p e rains eyes,you can understand what I am alluding to.

I am flexible and gentle with the kids.

I don't require them to sign a contract, pay on time or give me a schedule.

Our day is based around the children's needs and interests, allowing lots of time to be creative, have fun and learn.

I do, however have rules for parents. I own and operate a business and like parent would like to be paid for ALL my working hours, overtime and unexpected things that come up.

Oh, and I'd like to be able to clock in and out as scheduled...like my daycare parents.