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A family I've written about before needs me to change my hours to stay open a half hour later than my closing time for their work schedules. This is a full hour after all my other kids leave. We are going to have the a discussion about it at pick up tonight. I've decided that I can accommodate the later pick up time. The problem is that their schedules are not consistent and I often find out at pick up that mom or dad has not been working and they pick up late anyway, usually on a Friday when I want to be DONE. Is it unprofessional to tell them that I'm only willing to stay open late if they are working? I generally don't care what parents do while their children are here, but to stay open that much later for just one child when they aren't working is not Ok with me. I would prefer when they aren't working, that they pick up by 5 like everyone else is expected to. I can't really charge them extra for this because they don't drop off til 10:30 so she will only be here for about 7 hours. Is there any good way to say this or should I just **** it up and expect to work late everyday since that is the time that will be in their contract?
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I would ONLY do it at a higher rate AND ONLY when they are working. -
Make them an individual contract stating they may use the extra time for this amount xxxxx, BUT clarify, they may only use the extra time when working and you need a schedule each week for their work hours. If they do not comply, then state consequences for this as well! Good luck!
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I had a parent ask me to do this last year. Absolutely not!! Not even for an extra half hour....I have kids at 630AM, I am not watching another until 6PM...and to mention the fact that all my other kids are gone by 430 at the latest. No amount of money is worth that extra time with my family. And this parent is also a late picker upper, even on Fridays, and even when they are off ugh!!!Comment
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You sure can charge them extra. You are changing your business hours for them.
I personally wouldn't do it bit if I did, I would charge extra and only allow it when they are actually working.Comment
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I've done this, and it gets old real fast!
My advice is make it enough $ to justify losing your personal time. In the past, I've charged say $5 more, and wound up bitter. It needs to be at least $10, maybe even more.
How will you enforce the "only if you are working" scenario? Won't they just lie and tell you they are working?Comment
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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!
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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.Comment
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Personally, I wouldn't do it for any amount of money. I am on the clock for 10 hours a day already. No way am I going to make my day longer. If they value you and your DC, then they can find a way to make your closing time work. (I have had families in the past that had a family member or friend set up to be the pick up person.)
But, if you are going to do it, then charge them for the extra - A LOT extra. Make it worth your time. Or else you are going to find yourself continually upset about working late and wondering if the parents are really at work or just abusing your kindness.
I always look at it this way: the DCPs together pay my salary. If you are working for that hour for only one family, they need to pay your full salary for that hour.
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It's kind of suspicious that BOTH parents are now having to work later....
However, IF you are going to allow it, don't do it for free. Add a fee and not a small one. I charge $3 for every 15 minute (or portion thereof) block of time beyond my closing time or before my open time AND its dependent upon having to work ONLY.
If found out the parent was not actually working, I'd be upset and would no longer be willing to allow the later pick up or earlier drop off.Comment
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Personally, I wouldn't do it for any amount of money. I am on the clock for 10 hours a day already. No way am I going to make my day longer. If they value you and your DC, then they can find a way to make your closing time work. (I have had families in the past that had a family member or friend set up to be the pick up person.)
But, if you are going to do it, then charge them for the extra - A LOT extra. Make it worth your time. Or else you are going to find yourself continually upset about working late and wondering if the parents are really at work or just abusing your kindness.
I always look at it this way: the DCPs together pay my salary. If you are working for that hour for only one family, they need to pay your full salary for that hour.
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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.Make them an individual contract stating they may use the extra time for this amount xxxxx, BUT clarify, they may only use the extra time when working and you need a schedule each week for their work hours. If they do not comply, then state consequences for this as well! Good luck!Comment
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Honestly, if I knew they were already prone to coming at pick up time even when not working, I would either expect to work late every day or not do it.
One thing I might try - tell them you can do it every day BUT Friday, that you need them pick up an hour earlier on Fridays.
ETA - I would also most definitely charge for this - my fee is $20/week for a late pick up.Comment
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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.
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