Closing Time Issue

[Leigh]

I'd tell them that after your regular closing time, you turn into a "babysitter", and those rates are much higher than your "daycare provider" rates. And then, make them so. Base your rates on where you would charge when the parents wanted a night out at a bar, because really, that's likely to happen-parents have a sitter later and decide to unwind before picking up kids (even if not at a bar, they squeeze in some "me" time).

[Annalee]

I'd tell them that after your regular closing time, you turn into a "babysitter", and those rates are much higher than your "daycare provider" rates. And then, make them so. Base your rates on where you would charge when the parents wanted a night out at a bar, because really, that's likely to happen-parents have a sitter later and decide to unwind before picking up kids (even if not at a bar, they squeeze in some "me" time).

and we as providers enable them to do that many times. Someone on this forum said once "quit griping and fix the problem".....I still have issues arise in daycare but I feel I am much better at dealing with them now that I was years ago.

[hope]

Dcd runs his own business and I'm pretty sure his hours just depend on what he gets done day to day so I'm not sure he can decide how long he works. Some days he just gets done with everything in the morning and then spends his day putzing around, other days, he works into the evening. I don't think he even knows day to day what hours he will be working that day. :confused: so I don't know if I could ask for a schedule. I'm pretty sure if I did, they would just say the latest time possible for each day. I'm guessing they are asking to pick up later so dcm will do all the pick ups and dcd won't have that responsibility. But it just ****s when I find out he wasn't working and here I am waiting for dcm to get out of work so she can pick up. Dcd and my dh are friends so it's not hard to figure out when dcd is working or not.

If dcd runs his own business then dcd can set his hours and can be the one who needs to change his schedule to accommodate. I would consider doing it for a huge fee. Maybe an extra $150 a week would be so worth it. Once you tell them the extra amount watch how fast they can figure out a way to pick up on time!

[Unregistered]

Personally I would not do it! A parent asked me if it was ok to be a few minutes late once in a while because on the days she worked she ended when I closed. I agreed because I knew she worked only 5 minutes away. Well the days she worked she ended up coming 5-10 minutes late and would even come late on the days she was not working. I ended up changing my closing time to an earlier time when all the other children get picked up. Never again will I agree to staying open late for one child.

[laundrymom]

If dcd runs his own business then dcd can set his hours and can be the one who needs to change his schedule to accommodate. I would consider doing it for a huge fee. Maybe an extra $150 a week would be so worth it. Once you tell them the extra amount watch how fast they can figure out a way to pick up on time!

I agree. $15-20 per day for staying late. At least. If you are willing, that is. I wouldn't be.

[daycare]

I agree with unregistered. I would definitely charge a higher rate, it's not your problem that they don't arrive until 10:30. Think of it this way, that last hour of the day, that hour your hate the most...you're making maybe a whopping $3 an hour depending on your rates. Most of my children leave by 3:30, some don't arrive until 10 am, some arrive at 7:30 but they pay the same rate. I have 2 clients that pick up after 3:30 and they pay $5 per hour for each child. Since there are 3 of them I make enough to make it worth my time.

agree with this.....Its not your problem that they choose to come that late.

BUT warning coming here >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT DO IT. I learned the hard way NEVER change your business for anyone. you will grow to resent this decision.

NOw, if you had several clients needing later care and future prospects seem to not enroll because you closed to early, then I might reconsider changing your services to meet the needs of your clientS......notice the S....

If you change your hours for this one family, now they may feel they are able to change more in the future. I am not saying all families are like this, but it usually starts like this.....Then something else and so on..

If you really must do it, here is what I would give them..

Open hour (time you open) to 3:30 $100.00 a week
Open to 4:00 $110.00 week
Open to 4:30 $ 120.00 week
and so on....

Again its not your problem that they choose not to drop off until that time. What you and they have to take into consideration is what time are you starting each day.

if you start at 6 and close at 6, that is 12 day...how much are you making each hour? Does it make sense to stay open for just one person???

I would not be willing to do this for on family......

[Rockgirl]

For what it's worth, I am not heartless, just wish I had realized sooner how to protect and take care of my own family by alleviating the issues I have control over.....like my daycare business. I have stated on this forum before how certain things in life like death, sickness, etc are not controllable, but I can control my work hours/pay/clients enrolled/etc.

I am with you! After being late to my own kids' games & performances several times, I changed things. My kids are grown now, but my plans are important....even if the plans are laying on the couch watching tv!

[Annalee]

I am with you! After being late to my own kids' games & performances several times, I changed things. My kids are grown now, but my plans are important....even if the plans are laying on the couch watching tv!

AMEN!::

[Unregistered]

If you want to work an extra hour, I would make it worth it...$20 extra each day or so? If not, then just say you cannot accomodate pick up after "this time".

[Unregistered]

Figure out your max pay per hour for all spots you can watch kids if you were completely full. Mine is $27 and that's what I would offer per hour after regular business hours.

I've done it before and I've done Saturdays.... NEVER AGAIN! It made me bitter

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

First, I'd say that you CAN charge more for late pick ups, and SHOULD!
I had a similar situation. Dad worked for military and DCM worked at 7:30 so needed to drop of at 7. I didn't open until 7:30. At first, they were only coming 2-3 days a week when DCD had to work. Then, when they had to pay a set weekly rate no matter how many days used they started coming every day even when DCD was off. The agreement was that DCM would bring at 7 when DCD was working, and DCD would bring later on his days off. I found out later that DCM was bringing at 7 on days when DCD was home, so he could sleep in. I didn't like knowing that I was getting up early for them just so that he could sleep in, so what I did was charge a lower set rate, and then an extra $5 a day for days drop off was early- trying to give monetary motivation for them to have DCD drop off during my regular hours when he was off.
So in your case, I'd tell them you are willing to work until 6 BUT you would have to have the days they need later care in writing by the Friday before and would charge for those days. I'd do $5 for 1/2 hour late and $10 for 1 hour late. Also specify no refunds or credits if they schedule you and don't end up needing the time. Also, if you don't want to work late on Fridays (I don't blame you) let them know you are only available for later pick up M-Th. You have every right to do so, they are the ones asking you to work late for them so don't feel bad!

I didn't read all the responses, but I agree with this. It wouldn't matter to me one bit how late they dropped off - I still have to start my work hours much earlier with the other kids so they are asking a lot for late pick-ups. Also, IME, if you ask them to come right after work in hopes of being off earlier every so often, DCFs will start lying to you about being at work. All of a sudden, they will NEVER be off earlier than the scheduled pick-up time again.

I would recommend setting a fee that makes it worth it to you to work that extra time EVERY DAY, and then if they come early one day, well, YEAH!

[Unregistered]

I read the study below before I opened my daycare. I decided when I wrote my handbook to include a lengthy and guilt trippy section about late pick ups. I don't charge any late pick up fees, but I do mention this is because my time with my family is "worth more than I could charge and putting a dollar amount on it gives the wrong impression." It's overboard, for sure, but I have never had a single late pick up. What I do have is families scrambling out the door by 6 and telling their children it's "Time for X to spend time with her family! Let's hurry!!"

If you don't have time to read the article, the gist is that a 'late fee' gives families the feeling that they are compensating you for your time, NOT being penalized for violating your terms (they tell themselves it's 'worth it' for you). Turns out the incentive to be 'good' and stay in good graces is more powerful than the almighty dollar. If it truly is worth the money for you then don't sweat it, but don't charge a fee and think you're teaching them any lessons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/books/chapters/0515-1st-levitt.html?_r=0

[laundrymom]

I read the article and disagree. They charged a small, undeterring amount. if you put a price on them high enough, it will deter them.
I've done it. Not in another country, but here in central Indiana.
You go tacking on a $20 fee each time they are a minute late... They start showing up on time.

I read the study below before I opened my daycare. I decided when I wrote my handbook to include a lengthy and guilt trippy section about late pick ups. I don't charge any late pick up fees, but I do mention this is because my time with my family is "worth more than I could charge and putting a dollar amount on it gives the wrong impression." It's overboard, for sure, but I have never had a single late pick up. What I do have is families scrambling out the door by 6 and telling their children it's "Time for X to spend time with her family! Let's hurry!!"

If you don't have time to read the article, the gist is that a 'late fee' gives families the feeling that they are compensating you for your time, NOT being penalized for violating your terms (they tell themselves it's 'worth it' for you). Turns out the incentive to be 'good' and stay in good graces is more powerful than the almighty dollar. If it truly is worth the money for you then don't sweat it, but don't charge a fee and think you're teaching them any lessons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/bo...vitt.html?_r=0

[Indoorvoice]

Well, dcm had others do the pickup this week so we never talked in person like I hoped. Instead she sent me an email yesterday saying they simply wouldn't be able to pick up at 5 ever and that she would "do her best" to get there by 5:30 each day. Oh geez. I drafted about 5 emails back to her, all of which I had to delete because they were so unprofessional. Totally letting my emotions get in the way here! I finally came up with one I liked this morning that told her I decided I could stay open late for her mon - Thurs, but I was still closing at 5 on Fridays, so they would have to make arrangements for that. And I added that she absolutely could not be late at all or I wouldn't be able to provide care anymore. I'm so nervous! These are friends of my husband's and I hate making the relationship rocky because I have to be firm, but I can't let them dictate when I will be done anymore! They are the only family that gives me any trouble. Please tell me it will all be ok! And yes, I learned my lesson! No more daycare for friends!!

Eta: I did consider all of your responses to simply not do it and to charge them extra. However they were my very first family and I didn't even have a contract back then. They were basically allowed to set their own hours because they were my only family for a while, so I felt like I needed to break the news to them in stages that they were no longer allowed to dictate their hours. I did tell them in the email that this arrangement only lasts until the fall, and then my rate for the late hours will go up. I have a contact now and will update it for them to reflect that. Thanks for all your help!!

[Rockgirl]

I know how you feel when it comes to not wanting to create an awkward situation with friends. However, if they really are friends, they will respect you and your policies.