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I get so annoyed with parent things and I just opened a few months ago so I've let some people get away with things. I have 1 family that had an existing contract but terminated full time care to bring their daughter to a larger center but still comes here 1 day a week. It's been 3 weeks and I still haven't received their contract. I've asked 2 times. I just sent another email saying sorry for nagging but I need the contract by tuesday. She used to be 1/2 day so now that she is full day I need her to define her max 9 hours as well as sign onto the new relationship. This dropping off whenever picking up whenever needs to be done. I do not have open hours. Also had a family when they enrolled not put the max 9 hours on their contract as they wanted to see what the babies wake up time was going to be consistently. It's been 3 months and I felt guilty asking since all has been going great and she helped me buy a gate for outside etc but I just also sent an email to her that I needed her to define our max 9 contracted hours.
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Yes! Feels great to be large & in charge🐝 -
Can I ask you why YOU are sorry that DCM can't follow and abide by simple instructions regarding HER child?
One of the keys to a successful business is to enforce your rules and policies with confidence (if you don't feel it, fake it... ) and never apologize to a parent for them. They read, understood and agreed to your rules/policies before they attended so they get it. Most just count on you being too "soft" to hold them to it.
Its YOUR business.
Be proud of it and all you've worked for and don't ever apologize for that.Comment
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This! It took me a few months to learn this and it took my husband helping me, and he still does but it is so important to be business like when dealing with parents. Imagine a CEO of a large company telling his client "ummm sorry but ummm can you pay me the money you owe me please" I am not trying to make fun of you believe me (I am guilty myself) but no real business person would do this. They'd say quite simply "You owe me x and it is to be paid by x or the contract will be terminated." Boom.
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I know but the mom became friends with my sister who I also do daycare for, so it's awkward. And our kids have play dates and are buddies at school. So it's complicated.This! It took me a few months to learn this and it took my husband helping me, and he still does but it is so important to be business like when dealing with parents. Imagine a CEO of a large company telling his client "ummm sorry but ummm can you pay me the money you owe me please" I am not trying to make fun of you believe me (I am guilty myself) but no real business person would do this. They'd say quite simply "You owe me x and it is to be paid by x or the contract will be terminated." Boom.Comment
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Its only complicated if you allow it to be.
Its child care.. There are going to be personal and close relationships. This business is about HUMAN interaction more than anything else.
You provide a service. Parents buy that service. There is no room inbetween that for exceptions because your sister is friends with one of your clients.
My DH golfs with our vet. We still pay for our veterinarian services the same way all of his other clients do. The only difference is that they chat golf during our appts and the vet says "See you Wednesday evening" when we leave.
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Mom asking for her contracted hours messaged me back... so if I put 815 what happens if I bring him at 8:00? I am like seriously. Are you just testing me or do you absolutely not understand what contracted hours means? I went with the latter and explained how they work. I am open X--- X but these are not "open hours" each family has a scheduled max of 9 hours per day. Please choose what works for you. If the hours stop working for you we can discuss a new contract w/ new scheduled hours. If you need an occasional exception and let me know in advance I can usually work with you.Comment
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Just continue explaining in any way she needs to hear it....
"If I work MORE hours I expect AND deserve MORE pay."
Just like any other job.
In regards to open-close hours my handbook says:
"I do not have standard operating hours.
I work on contracted hours and provide care on week days only.
Available hours are dependent on each individual family's needs.
Care will only be available for your family during your contracted times.
Care hours can not be contracted before 7:00 AM nor after 5:00 PM without prior approval. Additional fees will apply."Comment
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Yes I have this in mine too. I am just too nice and never want to upset anyone. If she responds with how she would like longer hours I will tell her ok but if she contracts for 10 hours per day that is another 5.00 per day and 11 hours would be an extra 10 dollars per day = 25 + more a week or 50 more a week.Just continue explaining in any way she needs to hear it....
"If I work MORE hours I expect AND deserve MORE pay."
Just like any other job.
In regards to open-close hours my handbook says:
"I do not have standard operating hours.
I work on contracted hours and provide care on week days only.
Available hours are dependent on each individual family's needs.
Care will only be available for your family during your contracted times.
Care hours can not be contracted before 7:00 AM nor after 5:00 PM without prior approval. Additional fees will apply."Comment
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If I've addressed something in my handbook and a parent asks about my rules/policies more than once...I always refer back to my handbook.
DCM: "So if I contract for 8:15 but show up at 8:00 what happens?"
Me: "What does your handbook say?"
DCM "I need to schedule additional hours. How does that work?"
Me "What does your handbook say about it?"
I sound like a broken record sometimes but seriously....it's like giving parents the answers to the test and they are still confused....
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I need to switch to contracted hours too. I have one family that brings baby early and then waits until 530 on the dot to pick her up. It's very annoying to me when I know the whole family is home and they are waiting until I close to get her. She's the first one here and the last one to leave. She knows that she should be leaving too. She whines for the last hour of the day. Every day.Comment
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Yes! I would not work open hours. That is too crazy. This family wasn't abusing it too bad but was coming whenever they wanted and sometimes around 9.5-10 hours. She'd always text when on her way which was helpful but the drop off time varied from 7:45-8:45 and pick up from 4:00-5:30.Comment
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