Client's vacation

[craftymissbeth]

I know you've struggled to get enrollments, but I wouldn't have any spots open for this dcm when they come back. Why should she expect your income to be put on hold just because they've decided to take an extended vacation? I would consider it only if this was an awesome family who wasn't trying to find loopholes in my contract BUT I would make them pay at least 50%.

For this dcm, no way. She's put in her two weeks notice so she can go elsewhere.

:hug:

Apparently when I wrote this last night I was not feeling very forgiving ::

While I do still feel like this is such a rude way for the family to handle the situation, I do understand all sides of this. They need to save money any way they can and just like with any other business, customers are going to try to find the cheapest option they can. I get that.

I also TOTALLY understand having to keep families just because you need the money. Fortunately, you've said that this is otherwise a great family, so I'm sure something can be figured out. Maybe they just don't understand how difficult the loss of income will be for you. Maybe they don't understand that if they do this to their provider then there's a good chance that their provider may need to close up and work outside the home. I think parents just don't understand so we need to tell them.


Sorry you've been put in such a tough situation. :hug: I still wouldn't want them back, though.

[Play Care]

This right here is the reason I WOULD NOT let them re-enroll!

You don't want the word of mouth going around "Oh go to xxxx daycare. She gives in easily and you can take a break and re enroll when you want to so you don't have to abide by the contract"

Call her back and tell her after rethinking you've decided to follow your vacation policy, allowing it now instead of at 3 months (like the others suggested)

You bend one rule they will expect more, I guarantee it!

This is really one of those issues where there are many "right" answers.
I think we've all been at that place when starting out where we've done things to get/keep clients that we no longer do (later hours, unpaid time off, etc) just because she allows it this time doesn't mean it always has to be that way. I have NO problems telling a client "I used to do x,y, or z but found it didn't work out well so I no longer do it."

She has had two clients in a *year.* There does have to be some give and take *initally* to get those people in the door.
Then decide if you want to keep those older clients...

[NightOwl]

I know this may not help you now, but maybe in the future. Or maybe you will feel that you can call this family back; that's obviously up to you.

Years ago I interviewed a family who turned out to be one of my favorite families ever. I am friends with them now, many years later.
But at the interview they basically told me how they would attempt to circumvent one of my policies in a way that would hurt me financially.

I just honestly told them, not angrily, not emotionally, why I had that policy in place, and how it would do harm to me if they did what they proposed, and that if they had enrolled and then done this, it would have harmed our relationship and my trust in them irretrievably.

I think that many people who look at FCC for their child(ren) have an attraction to the relationships that we are able to develop. They understand it on some level, though they may not always understand the ways in which they can ruin the relationship.

By telling them "the real deal", I showed them how I operate - fair and honest and above-board, no surprises. They valued that and chose me as their child care provider because of our conversation. I trusted that they would not circumvent my policy, and they did not. I never regretted accepting them into my child care and now we are friends because we really do have the same values.

Signmeup, you've peaked my curiosity. What was the policy they pointed out that could harm you financially?

[daycare_jen]

This is really one of those issues where there are many "right" answers.
I think we've all been at that place when starting out where we've done things to get/keep clients that we no longer do (later hours, unpaid time off, etc) just because she allows it this time doesn't mean it always has to be that way. I have NO problems telling a client "I used to do x,y, or z but found it didn't work out well so I no longer do it."

She has had two clients in a *year.* There does have to be some give and take *initally* to get those people in the door.
Then decide if you want to keep those older clients...

I agree... I wouldn't shut the door to these clients completely, but I would work as hard as I could to get some new ones in. If their vacation time is over and there are still openings, welcome them back. There is nothing wrong with telling them some policies have changed at that time and I'd definitely consider raising the rate a bit.

Something similar happened to me when a dcm took a 7 week maternity leave. When she failed to inquire about the rate for the 3rd child until just before returning, I did take that opportunity to raise my rates a small amount. I hope it works out for you!

[Blackcat31]

Apparently when I wrote this last night I was not feeling very forgiving ::

While I do still feel like this is such a rude way for the family to handle the situation, I do understand all sides of this. They need to save money any way they can and just like with any other business, customers are going to try to find the cheapest option they can. I get that.

I also TOTALLY understand having to keep families just because you need the money. Fortunately, you've said that this is otherwise a great family, so I'm sure something can be figured out. Maybe they just don't understand how difficult the loss of income will be for you. Maybe they don't understand that if they do this to their provider then there's a good chance that their provider may need to close up and work outside the home. I think parents just don't understand so we need to tell them.


Sorry you've been put in such a tough situation. :hug: I still wouldn't want them back, though.

You are right Crafty.... THAT attitude right there (above bolded) plays a HUGE role in how I would personally handle this situation.

Other clients or not, just the attitude from mom about how she can work her way around policies would be enough for me to NOT want to work anything out with them.

I would rather starve than provide services to someone who does not value me or the services I offer.

[SignMeUp]

Wednesday, I can't remember specifically. Whatever it was, I'm sure I tweaked my policy after that to eliminate the loophole!
I have all part-timers, so it was probably something to do with that. Changing days or switching days to avoid paying for holidays, something like that.

[itlw8]

while they are gone re write your contract. IF you want to give them 2 weeks vacation fine but raise your rates to cover that amount and save it. If you are not going to charge when not there then raise the rates to make up for it... YOU need to be able to pay your bills. I assume you are doing childcare as a business and not a hobby so you need an income...

Is she a teacher so she can take off 6 weeks in the summer ?? Then plan for that and have a teachers contract . They do not pay in the summer BUT The pay a higher rate the rest of the year..

So nicely tell her This vacation is pretty much putting you out of business. Give me a call when you get back but I will be making changes to my rates and policies during that time.

[TaylorTots]

while they are gone re write your contract. IF you want to give them 2 weeks vacation fine but raise your rates to cover that amount and save it. If you are not going to charge when not there then raise the rates to make up for it... YOU need to be able to pay your bills. I assume you are doing childcare as a business and not a hobby so you need an income...

Is she a teacher so she can take off 6 weeks in the summer ?? Then plan for that and have a teachers contract . They do not pay in the summer BUT The pay a higher rate the rest of the year..

So nicely tell her This vacation is pretty much putting you out of business. Give me a call when you get back but I will be making changes to my rates and policies during that time.

[melilley]

Personally if I liked the family and they followed all of my policies, I would let them put in a two week notice and come back in the 6 weeks, but would tell them that I would be actively looking to fill the spots so they may or may not have a spot available when they return.
I only give one vacation a year to families and the rest they have to pay in full.