Seriously?!

[Unregistered]

I posted the other day about DCM who promised to only be part time during the summer but ended up staying part time the whole year...well today she decided to question my vacation policy, i am fuming!
My vacation policy is that if a family takes a week long vacation, they get a 50% discount on tuition. But this discount does not apply during weeks with a holiday, because my holidays are paid and if everyone decided to take a weeks vacation during a holiday with the discount...it would seriously affect my income. She told me the policy was strange that shes never heard that, so i had to explain to her what i said above. She understood but then told me its only half off so i wouldnt be losing all my income......are you seriously questioning my financial situation?! Do you not understand all the money I have to put into the daycare every month?! How would you like it if you only got half your paycheck?!
I told her im a single mom, I have bills and responsibilities. I should not have had to say that though! I also told her I dont take any paid vacation or sick time..that most providers do & dont give discounts. So instead I have a 2 week max on the discount and dont allow discounts on holidays. Is that too much to ask?!

Does anybody else do discounts for vacations and do you have a max on how many times it can be used in a year? Since i take 2 weeks unpaid, I say they can only take 2 weeks with the discount.

Ultimately I need to get rid of this family. Nobody should be questioning my policy. I could have ridiculous rules but as long as you sign it, you agreed to it.

[Blackcat31]

I posted the other day about DCM who promised to only be part time during the summer but ended up staying part time the whole year...well today she decided to question my vacation policy, i am fuming!
My vacation policy is that if a family takes a week long vacation, they get a 50% discount on tuition. But this discount does not apply during weeks with a holiday, because my holidays are paid and if everyone decided to take a weeks vacation during a holiday with the discount...it would seriously affect my income. She told me the policy was strange that shes never heard that, so i had to explain to her what i said above. She understood but then told me its only half off so i wouldnt be losing all my income......are you seriously questioning my financial situation?! Do you not understand all the money I have to put into the daycare every month?! How would you like it if you only got half your paycheck?!
I told her im a single mom, I have bills and responsibilities. I should not have had to say that though! I also told her I dont take any paid vacation or sick time..that most providers do & dont give discounts. So instead I have a 2 week max on the discount and dont allow discounts on holidays. Is that too much to ask?!

Does anybody else do discounts for vacations and do you have a max on how many times it can be used in a year? Since i take 2 weeks unpaid, I say they can only take 2 weeks with the discount.

Ultimately I need to get rid of this family. Nobody should be questioning my policy. I could have ridiculous rules but as long as you sign it, you agreed to it.

My families pay me their same flat rate REGARDLESS of absences or time used 52 weeks a year.

NO credits, discounts or free anything.

As for getting rid of that family? I'd go with:

Dear DCF

This is written notice of termination of our child care services agreement. The last day I am available to provide care is June XX, 2017.

I have included the number to the local Child Care Resource & Referral offices to assist you in finding care that better meets your needs.

Sincerely,

Provider

If parent asks for a reason say: "At this time I do not feel my program is a good fit for your needs"

Rinse and repeat. Do NOT elaborate as that is just asking for a showdown...

NEVER, ever ever justify your policies or your rates and never try to convince a parent of why they HAVE to do something they already signed on agreeing to do.

It's one thing to have this conversation BEFORE enrolling and signing on the dotted line but if they've already signed on and agreed, they have given up their right to negotiate after the fact.

[Snowmom]

I posted the other day about DCM who promised to only be part time during the summer but ended up staying part time the whole year...well today she decided to question my vacation policy, i am fuming!
My vacation policy is that if a family takes a week long vacation, they get a 50% discount on tuition. But this discount does not apply during weeks with a holiday, because my holidays are paid and if everyone decided to take a weeks vacation during a holiday with the discount...it would seriously affect my income. She told me the policy was strange that shes never heard that, so i had to explain to her what i said above. She understood but then told me its only half off so i wouldnt be losing all my income......are you seriously questioning my financial situation?! Do you not understand all the money I have to put into the daycare every month?! How would you like it if you only got half your paycheck?!
I told her im a single mom, I have bills and responsibilities. I should not have had to say that though! I also told her I dont take any paid vacation or sick time..that most providers do & dont give discounts. So instead I have a 2 week max on the discount and dont allow discounts on holidays. Is that too much to ask?!

Does anybody else do discounts for vacations and do you have a max on how many times it can be used in a year? Since i take 2 weeks unpaid, I say they can only take 2 weeks with the discount.

Ultimately I need to get rid of this family. Nobody should be questioning my policy. I could have ridiculous rules but as long as you sign it, you agreed to it.

^ That's really what it comes down to. Just reiterate what your policy is and say it's non-negotiable. If they fight you more, reply with "if my policies and procedures no longer work for your family, then you are free to put in your notice to terminate the contract".

You did great with sticking to your contract, nice backbone!

Everyone has different policies when it comes to time off.
I don't give away any free days and I don't charge for my time off either. But, I do bump up my prices to accommodate for my time off.

[Ariana]

The only problem I see with this policy is you explaining it. She signed your contract so she likes it or leaves. I would have said "yes that is the policy outlined in the contract" end of story. As soon as you begin explaining it, it opens it up for a negotiation and it isn't a negotiation. When we waffle on our business boundaries we start to feel taken advantage of which is why we end up feeling angry. I no longer explain my policies, except to clarify or restate them.

Also we both know no matter how lenient we are, how much we give, parents don't care. Stop questioning yourself, your boundaries and your policy. Enforce them and let the chips fall as they may.

[laundrymom]

I allow one week free per year but it must be taken all at once and have two weeks written notice.
That's it.
I get two weeks unpaid vacation per year.
Five paid absence days.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day. Labor Day. Fourth of July. And child care provider appreciation day off paid.

[Unregistered]

Im mad at myself for telling her Im a single mom. Even though it was probably obvious, I dont want that pity party. You are all right, I shouldnt have explained and justified my rule. When she told me it was strange, I should have just smiled . I hate being challenged and I get really defensive.

[Ariana]

Im mad at myself for telling her Im a single mom. Even though it was probably obvious, I dont want that pity party. You are all right, I shouldnt have explained and justified my rule. When she told me it was strange, I should have just smiled . I hate being challenged and I get really defensive.

We have all done it! Just last week I started justifying a kids temperature. As soon as I started doing it I thought "WTF am I doing"!!! If the parent doesn't believe me then that is their problem not mine.

Just say the mantra "thats the rule, like it or lump it" in your head

[Jupadia]

When I first started I did what equals to 2 weeks of care, now I do 1 week.
That way if they were pt at 3 days per week they get 3 days free. Or if full time they get 5 days. I do let family's break it up but then they don't get the weeks discount if full time (example: 200 per week or 45 per day). Parents have to let me know a full two weeks before ghe week they want a holiday in or they don't get it free. I take up to 3 weeks per year vacation unpaid bit do get paid for stats if they fall on regular day of care. (Or paid for day in lieu of).

[daycare]

Dont beat yourself up...we all learn from our mistakes. We have all been there. A strong backbone and learning to really enforce policies takes time, patience and practice.

I am thankful for my past crazy families. they taught me a lot...

[bklsmum]

I allow families up to 5 days unpaid a year with 30 days notice. I am allowed 10 days unpaid with 30 days notice if possible and sick days do not count. Sick days for me are also unpaid. Parents still pay for their child's sick days. I also take 11 paid holidays off and 4 paid half days. Next year my paid holidays will number 14 full and 4 half days.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I posted the other day about DCM who promised to only be part time during the summer but ended up staying part time the whole year...well today she decided to question my vacation policy, i am fuming!
My vacation policy is that if a family takes a week long vacation, they get a 50% discount on tuition. But this discount does not apply during weeks with a holiday, because my holidays are paid and if everyone decided to take a weeks vacation during a holiday with the discount...it would seriously affect my income. She told me the policy was strange that shes never heard that, so i had to explain to her what i said above. She understood but then told me its only half off so i wouldnt be losing all my income......are you seriously questioning my financial situation?! Do you not understand all the money I have to put into the daycare every month?! How would you like it if you only got half your paycheck?!
I told her im a single mom, I have bills and responsibilities. I should not have had to say that though! I also told her I dont take any paid vacation or sick time..that most providers do & dont give discounts. So instead I have a 2 week max on the discount and dont allow discounts on holidays. Is that too much to ask?!

Does anybody else do discounts for vacations and do you have a max on how many times it can be used in a year? Since i take 2 weeks unpaid, I say they can only take 2 weeks with the discount.

Ultimately I need to get rid of this family. Nobody should be questioning my policy. I could have ridiculous rules but as long as you sign it, you agreed to it.

Since YOU do not take any paid vacations you really need to charge year round minus the days you don't wish to charge for (whether they take a vacation or not).

You taking 2 weeks unpaid and them taking 2 weeks at a 50% discount (meaning 1 of their weeks is unpaid) equals 3 weeks per year you are not being paid by your clients. You could easily charge for the vacation closures. Or, at least close paid for 1 of the weeks. Get rid of the 50% off and then you're only out 1 week of income per family.

[Josiegirl]

They pay 52 weeks a year here, for enrollment not attendance. BUT it took me years and years to get to that point. Plus a child care business class that told us providers SHOULD get paid for the contracted enrollment.
Unexpected time off, whether was because of my needs or my dcfs needs, was nickel and diming me to death. Also, I never took vacations when I clearly should have been because I desperately needed them.

If you can find a replacement, I'd give them notice if her objections to your policies continue happening.

[daycarediva]

They pay 52 weeks a year here, for enrollment not attendance. BUT it took me years and years to get to that point. Plus a child care business class that told us providers SHOULD get paid for the contracted enrollment.
Unexpected time off, whether was because of my needs or my dcfs needs, was nickel and diming me to death. Also, I never took vacations when I clearly should have been because I desperately needed them.

If you can find a replacement, I'd give them notice if her objections to your policies continue happening.

YES!

I would hand them an updated contract, "You know dcm, after some thought I realize that policy was worded strangely. I have updated my policies to be more concise and remove confusion."

PAYMENT ALL 52 WEEKS OF THE YEAR.


::

[Annalee]

YES!

I would hand them an updated contract, "You know dcm, after some thought I realize that policy was worded strangely. I have updated my policies to be more concise and remove confusion."

PAYMENT ALL 52 WEEKS OF THE YEAR.


::

AMEN, AMEN and AMEN!

[Unregistered]

YES!

I would hand them an updated contract, "You know dcm, after some thought I realize that policy was worded strangely. I have updated my policies to be more concise and remove confusion."

PAYMENT ALL 52 WEEKS OF THE YEAR.


::

Lol I give new contracts every year and decided im going to get rid of the discount and add paid vacation for myself. The discount i did give clearly is not being appreciated so ill just get rid of it all together