Hour And A Half Late

[nikia]

So I am pretty much at the end of my rope. I have one family that comes at 5:30am. Everyone else come between 7:30 and 8:00. My normal hours are from 6:30 to 5:30 pm. So anyway I took this family that comes earlier than I open. This morning I get up and wait and wait no one shows up. One hour after they were supposed to be here I get a call saying oh I'm sorry we are running late ill be there in a little bit. Well I am still waiting on this family. I'm just irritated that I open an hour early for this family and she can't get up on time for her job or me. I like my sleep and could have used the extra sleep today .
This is the same family I have to wait between 2 to 4 days to get paid every week. Maybe I should have called her after they were 30 mins. late but really where does it end if I have to be a wake up call for parents now.

[momma2girls]

Definately you will have to put an end to this!! It is totally ridiculous!!! Then also start adding late fees, if they are late with their payments!! Be Strong!!!!

[Lilbutterflie]

Well I hope you are charging them extra for opening an hour early to begin with. Then you can try to tell yourself that at least they are paying extra for a service they rarely use!! LOL
This bothers me to no end!! It's a complete lack of consideration, and that is one of my pet peeves!
You might want to think about a no show/no call policy with a fee if they don't show and don't call within 30 min of arrival time. That should nip it in the bud!!

[Abigail]

You might want to think about a no show/no call policy with a fee if they don't show and don't call within 30 min of arrival time. That should nip it in the bud!!

Do you have this? I would love to know how to word it! I guess I never thought about earlier drop offs that never show to tack on a fee. I always just think of late pick ups for a fee. I would love any wording advice.

[momma2girls]

Do you have this? I would love to know how to word it! I guess I never thought about earlier drop offs that never show to tack on a fee. I always just think of late pick ups for a fee. I would love any wording advice.

This is what I have written in my contract- Please inform me if your child/children will not be attending daycare for the day. If you are 1 hr. late, I assume you are not coming and will make plans then for the day without your child/children.

[Lilbutterflie]

Abigail, I don't have this in my contract yet but I am thinking of adding it! LOL. I imagine I would word it like this:
"No show/No call Policy
Our schedule here relies on everyone's drop-off and pick-up times. Please try to stick with your scheduled drop-off times. If you are going to be late for any reason, please call me to let me know. If I do not receive a phone call from you and you are more than one hour late, there will be a fee of $10 added to the next payment."

OR I am thinking of just putting in

"If I do not receive a phone call from you and you are more than one hour late, the child will not be accepted into daycare for the day and you will not be reimbursed for the missed day."

I think I like the latter, but a fee might just be more reasonable to the parents than not accepting the child into daycare. Hmmm...

[Abigail]

Abigail, I don't have this in my contract yet but I am thinking of adding it! LOL. I imagine I would word it like this:
"No show/No call Policy
Our schedule here relies on everyone's drop-off and pick-up times. Please try to stick with your scheduled drop-off times. If you are going to be late for any reason, please call me to let me know. If I do not receive a phone call from you and you are more than one hour late, there will be a fee of $10 added to the next payment."

OR I am thinking of just putting in

"If I do not receive a phone call from you and you are more than one hour late, the child will not be accepted into daycare for the day and you will not be reimbursed for the missed day."

I think I like the latter, but a fee might just be more reasonable to the parents than not accepting the child into daycare. Hmmm...

I guess I'm not as concerned about them being dropped off late. I get paid whether a child is here or not, but I should have something that says "it's common courtesy and expected of you to inform me within one hour of your contracted hours if your child will be arriving late. If I do not hear from you within one hour of your contracted hours I will call you out of concern. Your contracted hours need to be followed so our schedule can be followed. Sometimes we leave the house for walks, field trips, or activities and can not wait on someone who may not show." This way they can take it as calling me an hour ahead of time or an hour after...doesn't really matter. Nothing in the morning is ever exciting. LOL.

IDK, the other part of me feels like I need to be more specific and demanding, ha ha. What do schools do nowdays if your child doesn't show up. They expect a phone call right? I will not take any families who need care more than half hour earlier than any of my other families, I want a life too and sleep.

[marniewon]

I guess I'm not as concerned about them being dropped off late. I get paid whether a child is here or not, but I should have something that says "it's common courtesy and expected of you to inform me within one hour of your contracted hours if your child will be arriving late. If I do not hear from you within one hour of your contracted hours I will call you out of concern. Your contracted hours need to be followed so our schedule can be followed. Sometimes we leave the house for walks, field trips, or activities and can not wait on someone who may not show." This way they can take it as calling me an hour ahead of time or an hour after...doesn't really matter. Nothing in the morning is ever exciting. LOL.

IDK, the other part of me feels like I need to be more specific and demanding, ha ha. What do schools do nowdays if your child doesn't show up. They expect a phone call right? I will not take any families who need care more than half hour earlier than any of my other families, I want a life too and sleep.

If it's at all possible (and I know it's not with such EARLY drop-off times, but....) leave the house!! Go for a walk, go to the mall, go somewhere, where that family who is dropping off super late will have to find you. I'm pretty sure that if they have to track you down to drop their child off, they will probably not be late again.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I think a late drop off fee is in order in this situation. Maybe not if someone is expected during your "normal" hours of operation and you have other kids there anyway, but if you're getting up an extra hour early...definitely. If it isn't already in your contract you can do an addendum and have them sign it. If they won't, then tell them that you can no longer open just for them at 5:30, and go back to your regular time.

[Rachel]

Are they already paying you to open early? If they are, I agree it would be polite to call, but you are getting paid for your time anyway. If they are not paying extra for the early drop off, I would either start charging a regular fee for that service or tell them it's not worth your time and you are changing to 6:30 opening.

[nikia]

No I do not charge them extra for opening early but I think it is something I should do. Thank you for the ideas. I don't think that I can turn the children away I always feel like its not the childs fault that their parents are so rude but at the same time I am tired of being walked on. Thank you again for the ideas. I will be making some changes to my contract tonight.

[laundrymom]

direct from my contract

~ VERY IMPORTANT Please call or text if your child will not be attending for the day. If you do not show up or call within 1 hour of your contracted drop off time I will assume you are keeping them home or have made other arrangements for that days care. I consider it a gift of a paid day off from you and may make plans to be away for the day. It will not affect my vacation of personal days.