Wwyd

[hope]

This week is spring break for most schools here. I mostly watch teachers kids so it worked out where all families gave me their schedule for this week and I had Tuesday and Friday off bc no one needed care. I made appointments for Tuesday and plans for friday. All the families are still required to pay for the full week even though they choose to only come a few days. My contract states that they if they chose not to come and they don't pay if I close (except for pre determined paid holidays).
Problem is....One mom came to me today and asked if I can watch her child Tuesday now even though she already told me she didn't need care that day. I don't want to work bc I made a doctors appointment. Do I still make her pay? I feel it is so unfair of her yo pull this now. She said she didn't need care and now it puts me in an awkward situation.

[Blackcat31]

"I'm sorry DCM, I asked for schedules in advance so I could plan accordingly. I am not able to accommodate your request for this change."

Leave it at that. Don't explain why you can't, just that you can't. SHE gave you her schedule...SHE didn't plan accordingly so not YOUR issue.

As for payment.... I charge weekly and don't offer refunds.

I guess I can't say what your contract says so the payment part is on you to figure out (according to what your contract says)

[hope]

To add......I normally hire my sub for the day when I have appointments or errands so the parents are not used to me taking a day. Problem is that subs are expensive!!!! I don't want to pay one and I also feel bad asking one on short notice. If I tell this mom I can't take her child Tuesday she may suggest I pay a sub. My subs get $15 an hour so that would be a costly day for me.

[TwinKristi]

I would let her know it's too short of notice to change the day. Let her know she originally said she wouldn't be there so you made an appointment for that day to avoid closing or hiring a sub. It worked out perfect! It's too late to cancel the appt or hire a sub. Her fault, not yours!

[Blackcat31]

To add......I normally hire my sub for the day when I have appointments or errands so the parents are not used to me taking a day. Problem is that subs are expensive!!!! I don't want to pay one and I also feel bad asking one on short notice. If I tell this mom I can't take her child Tuesday she may suggest I pay a sub. My subs get $15 an hour so that would be a costly day for me.

Just keep sticking with the fact that you already asked for ADVANCE notice of their schedules for this week. She already gave you one.

Asking to alter it is not always possible.

Explain to her that altering your week is hard and not always something you can do which is why you ask for the schedule in advance.

Expecting your provider to accommodate your last minute change is not respecting the very reason an advance schedule is required.

I wouldn't lie and say your sub isn't available and I would tell her about the sub being expensive...just continue to say that you already made plans according to the schedule SHE already submitted to you and that you can't accommodate her request for change.

[Leigh]

To add......I normally hire my sub for the day when I have appointments or errands so the parents are not used to me taking a day. Problem is that subs are expensive!!!! I don't want to pay one and I also feel bad asking one on short notice. If I tell this mom I can't take her child Tuesday she may suggest I pay a sub. My subs get $15 an hour so that would be a costly day for me.

I would offer the sub to MOM at the rate of $15/hour. "DCM, I am unavailable on that day because I planned my week based on the schedule you gave me. If you have a true need for care, I can offer you my substitute. She is available at $15/hour. If you'd like to hire her for the day, my daycare space is available for you, if not, you'll need to call your backup childcare".

[Laurel]

I would offer the sub to MOM at the rate of $15/hour. "DCM, I am unavailable on that day because I planned my week based on the schedule you gave me. If you have a true need for care, I can offer you my substitute. She is available at $15/hour. If you'd like to hire her for the day, my daycare space is available for you, if not, you'll need to call your backup childcare".

That is a pretty good idea if OP is willing to have a child at her house on her day off. I would LOVE to hear the mom's response or see the look on her face if OP does this.

Laurel

[Blackcat31]

I would offer the sub to MOM at the rate of $15/hour. "DCM, I am unavailable on that day because I planned my week based on the schedule you gave me. If you have a true need for care, I can offer you my substitute. She is available at $15/hour. If you'd like to hire her for the day, my daycare space is available for you, if not, you'll need to call your backup childcare".

But that would kind of be giving in to DCM's request for a change to a schedule SHE submitted.

I get that things come up last minute and all but I don't understand why the provider has to "fix it" or accommodate a family when that happens.

I would NOT want someone in my space providing care on a day that I originally had not planned on being available for. (I don't even provide care in my home but Id still be worried about what's going on..kwim?)

Plus what if something happens? Is it going to appear on OP's license history? Will she have to turn it into her insurance? etc...

TOO much liability just to provide care on a day that the daycare is scheduled to be closed.

I'd let DCM figure out HER issue.

[Leigh]

But that would kind of be giving in to DCM's request for a change to a schedule SHE submitted.

I get that things come up last minute and all but I don't understand why the provider has to "fix it" or accommodate a family when that happens.

I would NOT want someone in my space providing care on a day that I originally had not planned on being available for. (I don't even provide care in my home but Id still be worried about what's going on..kwim?)

Plus what if something happens? Is it going to appear on OP's license history? Will she have to turn it into her insurance? etc...

TOO much liability just to provide care on a day that the daycare is scheduled to be closed.

I'd let DCM figure out HER issue.

I agree with you. I would be SHOCKED if DCM accepted the $15/hr offer. I was being passive-aggressive there

[hope]

I think dcm would be really mad if I suggested for her to pay the sub. I don't even know if I could get a sub at this late notice. I do expect her to tell me that she paid for the week so I need to provide care or a sub.
I think I will tell her as some of you suggest that I asked for her schedule and it is too late to make any changes and I will not give a refund. If she is upset then so be it. I give plenty of extras for all my families. I don't appreciate her putting me in this situation. I'll let you all know how it goes!

[TaylorTots]

*hug* There is always something for a parent to be upset about, whether it's telling them NO because they didn't plan accordingly.

[taylorw1210]

I think dcm would be really mad if I suggested for her to pay the sub. I don't even know if I could get a sub at this late notice. I do expect her to tell me that she paid for the week so I need to provide care or a sub.
I think I will tell her as some of you suggest that I asked for her schedule and it is too late to make any changes and I will not give a refund. If she is upset then so be it. I give plenty of extras for all my families. I don't appreciate her putting me in this situation. I'll let you all know how it goes!

I had to tell a DCM "no" today to a schedule change. I have 2 families out on vacation this week and tomorrow happens to be a very slow day - only 3 kiddos. I hired my assistant to come in for the day and told her there would only be 3 kids. DCM asked if she could switch her days so her kids could come tomorrow, and I had to tell her "no" which I don't do often so she was quite taken aback. I switch her days for her often so she wasn't expecting that. Oh well! I still get my day off.

Enjoy your day tomorrow and don't worry about what she's going to think/feel. You asked for the schedule in advance - and now you're unable to accommodate the change. End of story!

[Unregistered]

What ended up happening? I hope you kept your day off and DCM didn't try to cause drama.

[butterfly]

seems like the simplest solution is to refund that day's rate for her and tell her no. That's what I would do anyways, then I wouldn't have any reason at all to feel guilt for charging that day and not providing care - even though it's really dcm's fault for going back on her submitted schedule.

[Crazy8]

I like BC's response! I hate when that happens because I feel like they are still paying for it and they are contracted for that day normally. My contract isn't normally "schedule based" so I don't feel it really covers those very occassional instances but now when I ask for schedules for that type of thing (usually ask thru FB) I have started to say that once schedules are given I will be making plans around them and may not be able to accomodate changes. I feel that covers me a little bit.