Would You Change Your Hours?

[Lucy]

Sorry, I re-read this when I was done, and I tend to get way too wordy!!!

When this family started with me 9 years ago (9 yr old boy and 5 yr old girl), I was closed at 5:00. I told mom that in the interview, and she said she didn't get off till 5:00. But I liked them and needed new clients, so I said it would be fine. So for 9 years, I've been open till 5:30. My other kids all leave between 4:15 and 5:00. (Well, the last one is always gone by 4:50/4:55, but scheduled as 5:00.)

Well, one day last week mom told me she would be needing to get the kids early that Friday for some reason, and she casually threw in, "DCD and I both get off an hour early on Friday anyway, so it'll work out fine." It has bugged me ever since, because I wasn't sure if she meant they were off early THAT Friday, or EVERY Friday. So all this week I thought about it, and I came up with a plan to call her work today (Friday) at 4:30 and ask for her - just to see if they said no, she leaves early on Fridays or something. Well, I got my answer when a recording came on that said their hours were M-Th till 5:00, and Fri till 4:00.

It has bugged me all evening. So EVERY Friday, she goes HOME for an hour, while I have her 2 kids - ONLY her 2 kids - for an extra 35 to 40 minutes longer than any of my other kids. And she KNOWS they're the last ones here! Ugh ... it has just stuck in my craw. (Just what is a craw, anyway?? )

So I'm thinking about telling her that starting Jan 1, I'm going to close on Fridays at 4:45. I'd like to say 4:30, because that's really when she'd be able to get here on Fridays, considering she normally comes at 5:30 --- but she would soon figure out that I have 2 other kids still here past that time. If she came at 4:45, she might just figure that the other mom runs perpetually late.

I'd likely have to lower her rate a little bit. Afterall, this would be 6 1/2 hours less care per month (considering it's 2 kids). And besides, I can't reduce someone's hours without giving them something in return.

If you're wondering why I don't just tell her 5:00, it's because this is a chatty mom. I do like her, and love her kids, but she shows up at 5:30 ON THE DOT, and we end up talking for 10 minutes. If I let her come at 5:00, it won't really allow me to be DONE with my day by 4:55 (when the other mom comes). So that's the thinking behind that.

OMG, I've talked enough. So what would you do??? Would you be tempted to change your hours for Fridays? Pro's and Con's? How would you tell her? Thanks!!

[TwinKristi]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure I would want her to think you have 2 other kids there always at her pickup time "late" when you're supposedly closing earlier. I think she may be irritated that they can always be late ya know? As far as reducing the price, did you increase the original price for them to stay til 5:30 daily? If so than I would reduce by a very minimal amount but considering for the last 9yrs they've had Fridays off early and done everything kid-free while you have them later than anyone else in your care (and on a Friday!!) I wouldn't deduct a dime from their fees. You did a favor for them and instead of saying "except Friday" they've taken advantage of your kindness for nine years. I would be upset personally. I would tell her you close AT 5pm on the dot. Not chit chat til 5:15 but doors closed at 5pm. Why would she get there at any later than 4:30pm if she's off at 4, ya know? I normally wouldn't care what mom does while I have their child. Go shopping, work, sight see... Whatever! But when you extend your hours especially to accommodate their needs and they take advantage I find it different. I wouldn't stay open late so a mom could get her nails done. She can do that during your normal business time if that's what they want.

[Lucy]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure I would want her to think you have 2 other kids there always at her pickup time "late" when you're supposedly closing earlier. I think she may be irritated that they can always be late ya know? I get what you're saying, but don't think it would be an issue with this mom. I can't explain her personality, but I've known her 9 years, and I wouldn't be too worried about this being an issue. I honestly don't think she'd give it a 2nd thought if she comes at 4:45 and the other mom shows up 5 min later. And really, if she does see a pattern and thinks that she'll just start showing up at 4:50 as well, that would still be fine. And another way of thinking of it is -- she can't really go home for 15 minutes and then come get the kids (well, she could, but it'd be silly), so she'd probably end up coming at 4:30 anyway. Then there'd be no speculation about the other kids still being here.

As far as reducing the price, did you increase the original price for them to stay til 5:30 daily? No, because they come the same NUMBER of hours as my other kids, it's just that she starts later and picks up later. But reducing Friday by 45 minutes would be a REDUCTION in hours. Not sure if I explained it well??

If so than I would reduce by a very minimal amount but considering for the last 9yrs they've had Fridays off early and done everything kid-free while you have them later than anyone else in your care (and on a Friday!!) I wouldn't deduct a dime from their fees. You did a favor for them and instead of saying "except Friday" they've taken advantage of your kindness for nine years. To be fair, I don't know when the Friday thing started. For all I know, it could've been within the past year. I'm not trying to defend her, just covering all the bases. But I do get what you're saying. That's why it has stuck in my craw LOL!

I would be upset personally. I would tell her you close AT 5pm on the dot. Not chit chat til 5:15 but doors closed at 5pm. Why would she get there at any later than 4:30pm if she's off at 4, ya know? I normally wouldn't care what mom does while I have their child. Go shopping, work, sight see... Whatever! But when you extend your hours especially to accommodate their needs and they take advantage I find it different. I wouldn't stay open late so a mom could get her nails done. She can do that during your normal business time if that's what they want.

Thanks for your thoughts! Responses in red above.

[Laurel]

I think I would just say something like "I always thought you worked until 5:00 on Friday and you mentioned the other day that you got off earlier. In that case, aren't you now able to get here at my regular closing hour? I really haven't wanted to stay open later but did it to help you out. I can still do in on Mon. thru Thurs. but no longer on Fri. if you can get here earlier.

Laurel

[MyAngels]

I think I would just say something like "I always thought you worked until 5:00 on Friday and you mentioned the other day that you got off earlier. In that case, aren't you now able to get here at my regular closing hour? I really haven't wanted to stay open later but did it to help you out. I can still do in on Mon. thru Thurs. but no longer on Fri. if you can get here earlier.

Laurel

Chances are she hasn't even thought about it from your POV. Since you've known her for so long and she's overall a good client she'll most likely just begin picking up earlier and won't even think about any reduction in fees. Since you didn't increase their fees in the beginning for more hours then there is really no reason to decrease them now.

I'm thinking of my own long-term clients and how they would react and every one of them would happily begin picking up earlier in this situation and would not expect any reduction in fees.

[JoseyJo]

I think I would just say something like "I always thought you worked until 5:00 on Friday and you mentioned the other day that you got off earlier. In that case, aren't you now able to get here at my regular closing hour? I really haven't wanted to stay open later but did it to help you out. I can still do in on Mon. thru Thurs. but no longer on Fri. if you can get here earlier.

Laurel

I would do this- no reduction. She is taking advantage of you

[Ups_and-downs]

Like the others mentioned, I would not reduce the fee. I offer 9 hrs of care per family. If they go over that time or pick up after closing they still pay late fee even if it doesn't pass the 9 hrs. You were very generous for letting the pick up be later with no fee. Hope it all works out for you in your favor.

[Lucy]

Chances are she hasn't even thought about it from your POV. Since you've known her for so long and she's overall a good client she'll most likely just begin picking up earlier and won't even think about any reduction in fees. Since you didn't increase their fees in the beginning for more hours then there is really no reason to decrease them now.

I'm thinking of my own long-term clients and how they would react and every one of them would happily begin picking up earlier in this situation and would not expect any reduction in fees.

It wasn't more hours though. Same number of hours as everyone else. But I get what you're saying. Thanks!

[littlemissmuffet]

I don't look after children unless the parents are at work or in school, so I would have no problem saying "Sue, since you're done work at 4pm on Fridays, I expect you to be here by 4:30 to have the kids picked up - there's no reason for them to be here any later. This goes into effect immediately, and there will be no discount to your current fee." Parents these days are so self-absorbed - no consideration for their childcare providers or even their own children. Sad.

[julie]

It wasn't more hours though. Same number of hours as everyone else. But I get what you're saying. Thanks!

It still increases the hours in YOUR day, regardless of how many hours they attend, so no, I would not decrease their fees. That's why you had an original time of 5:00pm, right and they asked to pick up later than that? I would do what Laurel suggested.

[WImom]

Does she pay more than the other parents because you are open past 5pm for her? If she does than discount her, if not I wouldn't give her a discount. I wouldn't reduce your hours BUT I would send out a notice that you've changed to only offering care during working hours. Maybe mention to her about her comment and let her know she would need to pick up at 4:30 not 5:30 on Friday's.

[WImom]

I don't look after children unless the parents are at work or in school, so I would have no problem saying "Sue, since you're done work at 4pm on Fridays, I expect you to be here by 4:30 to have the kids picked up - there's no reason for them to be here any later. This goes into effect immediately, and there will be no discount to your current fee." Parents these days are so self-absorbed - no consideration for their childcare providers or even their own children. Sad.

[momofboys]

Sorry, I re-read this when I was done, and I tend to get way too wordy!!!

When this family started with me 9 years ago (9 yr old boy and 5 yr old girl), I was closed at 5:00. I told mom that in the interview, and she said she didn't get off till 5:00. But I liked them and needed new clients, so I said it would be fine. So for 9 years, I've been open till 5:30. My other kids all leave between 4:15 and 5:00. (Well, the last one is always gone by 4:50/4:55, but scheduled as 5:00.)

Well, one day last week mom told me she would be needing to get the kids early that Friday for some reason, and she casually threw in, "DCD and I both get off an hour early on Friday anyway, so it'll work out fine." It has bugged me ever since, because I wasn't sure if she meant they were off early THAT Friday, or EVERY Friday. So all this week I thought about it, and I came up with a plan to call her work today (Friday) at 4:30 and ask for her - just to see if they said no, she leaves early on Fridays or something. Well, I got my answer when a recording came on that said their hours were M-Th till 5:00, and Fri till 4:00.

It has bugged me all evening. So EVERY Friday, she goes HOME for an hour, while I have her 2 kids - ONLY her 2 kids - for an extra 35 to 40 minutes longer than any of my other kids. And she KNOWS they're the last ones here! Ugh ... it has just stuck in my craw. (Just what is a craw, anyway?? )

So I'm thinking about telling her that starting Jan 1, I'm going to close on Fridays at 4:45. I'd like to say 4:30, because that's really when she'd be able to get here on Fridays, considering she normally comes at 5:30 --- but she would soon figure out that I have 2 other kids still here past that time. If she came at 4:45, she might just figure that the other mom runs perpetually late.

I'd likely have to lower her rate a little bit. Afterall, this would be 6 1/2 hours less care per month (considering it's 2 kids). And besides, I can't reduce someone's hours without giving them something in return.

If you're wondering why I don't just tell her 5:00, it's because this is a chatty mom. I do like her, and love her kids, but she shows up at 5:30 ON THE DOT, and we end up talking for 10 minutes. If I let her come at 5:00, it won't really allow me to be DONE with my day by 4:55 (when the other mom comes). So that's the thinking behind that.

OMG, I've talked enough. So what would you do??? Would you be tempted to change your hours for Fridays? Pro's and Con's? How would you tell her? Thanks!!

I would actually change the hours sooner - why wait until January? I would make the new hours take effect as early as Nov 15th or something. It is none of her business is Suzy or Billy are there until 4:50 - I would change pick up on Fri to 4:30 for her.

[momofboys]

I think I would just say something like "I always thought you worked until 5:00 on Friday and you mentioned the other day that you got off earlier. In that case, aren't you now able to get here at my regular closing hour? I really haven't wanted to stay open later but did it to help you out. I can still do in on Mon. thru Thurs. but no longer on Fri. if you can get here earlier.

Laurel

[MCC]

In regards to lowering your rates...I would not. I just changed my hours from 7:30-5:30 to 7:15-5:15, not a single parent batted an eye, and no one asked about me lowering my rates.