Family Saying No To Picking Up On An Early Closing Day

[finsup]

Ok so I'm a new provider and have always been paid hourly in past jobs so if I wanted to get off work an hour early, I had to use vacation time.

If you guys close early, do you use vacation?

I do contracted hours, with scheduled drop off and pick up times. If I family is scheduled to pick up on Friday at 4:30PM, wouldn't it be bad business to close early (say 4pm) that day and NOT use my own vacation time?

Jw

I don't have hourly rates so I do tend to use discretion when I close early. I don't charge any time I close for the day. If it's an early day that requires me to be closed before 12:30, I tell parents if they choose to use their back up for that day (the whole day), they can do so and won't be charged. I like the extra day off But if it's a closure past 12:30 (really it would be a 3-4:00 closure because of nap time) I still charge as it's mostly the whole day. Leaving an hour early? Nah...not discounting for that. Especially when I rarely close early. This is the first time all year, and the first one that wasn't on my vacation schedule they get in January. If I was doing it frequently and unexpectedly, I would definitely say that would be a bad idea for a business.

[Snowmom]

Ok so I'm a new provider and have always been paid hourly in past jobs so if I wanted to get off work an hour early, I had to use vacation time.

If you guys close early, do you use vacation?

I do contracted hours, with scheduled drop off and pick up times. If I family is scheduled to pick up on Friday at 4:30PM, wouldn't it be bad business to close early (say 4pm) that day and NOT use my own vacation time?

Jw

If you did it all the time, yes.
Closing a half hour-hour early randomly throughout the year, no.

In my opinion, it's just part of the give and take of in home daycare.
People choose us over center care because of the cost & the family atmosphere: meaning WE have families and have family needs that go hand in hand with that family feel.
If they want more of a guarantee of less closures with a center, they can pay the higher premium (nearly twice the weekly price) for it. However, even some centers have professional days (or holiday parties for employees) and close early too- without refunds.

[LittleScholars]

Ok so I'm a new provider and have always been paid hourly in past jobs so if I wanted to get off work an hour early, I had to use vacation time.

If you guys close early, do you use vacation?

I do contracted hours, with scheduled drop off and pick up times. If I family is scheduled to pick up on Friday at 4:30PM, wouldn't it be bad business to close early (say 4pm) that day and NOT use my own vacation time?

Jw

I don't use vacation time, but I do pro-rate. I don't have hourly rates, but I base it on contracted times. I don't refund if parents come late or pick up early. I think I felt inclined to create this policy because I was pregnant last year and needed to open late or close early for appointments I couldn't get covered. It would have felt excessive to not.

With that being said, if all families are scheduled to leave at 4:30 on a given day (I close at 5:00), I don't mind telling families that they MUST arrive on time because I have something scheduled. I've had families not respect that, and it resulted in changing their contracted time and having a conversation about termination if it continued. This is my give and take.

[sahm1225]

Thinking about you and hope everything goes well tomorrow and Dcf picks up at 4pm!

[finsup]

Thinking about you and hope everything goes well tomorrow and Dcf picks up at 4pm!

Thanks! I really hope everything works out this afternoon. Dcm has had about 4 different plans as to who is picking up but assures me he will be picked up by 4.
Typing up a late fee and termination notice if it doesn't happen just in case though. But yeah, really hoping for just a smooth 4:00 pick up!

[Blackcat31]

Thanks! I really hope everything works out this afternoon. Dcm has had about 4 different plans as to who is picking up but assures me he will be picked up by 4.
Typing up a late fee and termination notice if it doesn't happen just in case though. But yeah, really hoping for just a smooth 4:00 pick up!

Is DCM aware that a term may be brewing if child isn't picked up at 4:00?

[finsup]

Is DCM aware that a term may be brewing if child isn't picked up at 4:00?

She knows late pick ups can result in fees or termination depending on the situation. I doubt she will think it applies to her though The term won't be immediate, I will give them two weeks if it comes to that.

[CityGarden]

Fingers crossed this all goes smoothly!!!!

[DaveA]

Hope it all goes smoothly. I'm cynical enough to think "Bet she picks up at 405 just so "she can show you"

[Annalee]

Hope it all goes smoothly. I'm cynical enough to think "Bet she picks up at 405 just so "she can show you"

I hope she picks up on time but I can see her being a few minutes late too!

[KayB]

Hope it all goes smoothly. I'm cynical enough to think "Bet she picks up at 405 just so "she can show you"

This is my thinking as well
But am hoping I am wrong and this afternoon will go smoothly for you and that there will be no tension between y'all going forward!

[finsup]

Hope it all goes smoothly. I'm cynical enough to think "Bet she picks up at 405 just so "she can show you"

It honestly wouldn't surprise me at all

[daycarediva]

It honestly wouldn't surprise me at all

If she did I hope you charge her a late fee!

Hope it went well!

[finsup]

All was good! Pick up was at 3:58 happyface Now hopefully this was a good "learning experience" and I won't have to deal with this again!

[childcaremom]

I'm late to this party..... and I'm jaded because I've closed....

I would have just termed. I wouldn't have wanted to sit and worry about them coming on time. I would not be happy dealing with clients who think that they run my business.

But it worked out. And you had a plan. So all is well. ::