Fair Amount Of Absences For Assistants/Employees Each Year

[amberrose3dg]

I have an amazing opportunity to open a center in my home. My residential property does have to be commercialized which isn't too much of a pain to do. And I'm in a great location. But difficulty in finding quality staff is part of what is holding me back.

I have had a heck of a time finding one quality person! Just one. No way do I want to worry about an entire staff.
1. Issues with background checks(one person had 10 cps investigations in the last 5 years).
2. lazy and unreliable.
3. flat out don't show up and only looking for free daycare.(then text you almost 3 weeks later and ask if they can still work for you) The free daycare was through the state to take the children to a different daycare. I suspect she only wanted that after I signed papers that I hired her she was too sick to start work that Monday.
4.Accept the job and then decide not to start to wait for something better.
5. Want to bring their kids to daycare for FREE when you do not have spots and can't offer free especially for an infant spot.(2 kids both in diapers and wants free daycare) Then continue to harass you and email you each time you run an ad. Then send threatening emails.

These are some of the issues I have ran into just over the summer and early fall trying to hire.
I have someone starting today, let's see how this goes. I am not holding my breath.
The assistant I had for 6 months only worked like 4 hours a day as that was all I needed last year. She was lazy and had to be reminded of things constantly.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I don't think a doc note is necessary, but I would want to know what they are sick with because, just like kids, I don't want them bringing a highly contagious illness into my home. I think doing 10 days per year (5 sick days, 5 prearranged abscences) would be fair and hopefully you can plan those absent days well in advance.

I think it is hard to have an assistant when your ratios depend on it. If you can keep your sisters, mom, and maybe even 2 more back ups, then you should hopefully be covered. If absences become an issue, just address it right away. A rational person will completely understand why it is so important to show up to work. You will be able to see the difference between those who understand that and those who just dont care.

I serve tables at night and it is mostly 20 something's. They are all wonderful workers, but being late and trying to get out of their shifts is very common. They all need money, but then give up their next shift:: but there is always something more fun to do than work, like going partying. And they are "sick" a lot. Some are legitimately sick and look like death, but many are just being lazy or have self induced "sickness" from the night before. they are really fun though and great workers when they actually work!happyface

[Unregistered]

Do you really want someone who is actually sick and doesn't want to be there coming in to work? No only will she be exposing the kids who will in turn be getting sick then, her work probably won't be up to par that day. What is your plan if she goes over 3 days? Firing? not getting paid? 3 days doesn't sound like a lot to me but I now get 8 sick days a year plus 4 weeks paid vacation. I generally use a lot of my sick days for my own kids who get sick or appointments that can't be made in the evenings or weekends. So when I get sick I go into work and expose everyone else to my illnesses.

[hwichlaz]

I understand what you're saying. However, it's just me and her. There is no one to call in to come in if one of us is out. I can occasionally get someone (a family member of mine to cover for advanced notice absences), etc but I can't, at the drop of a hat get someone to come in and cover for her when she's absent. I'm a licensed home that can have 12 kiddos when I have two people here. She recently said she really needed to go full time if possible. I explained to her that I can enroll more kids so she can have full time but that it's full time and that I need to know when she'll take off as much in advance as possible. Not I come in when I'm feeling like it or I can take off at the drop of a hat. We have made a commitment to these families and I just feel like I should be able to remain open if at all possible.
I have always ran my daycare like a center based program. I do not close unless it is absolutely necessary. I have to be really sick (fever or stomach virus) to even think about closing and even then I scramble like crazy to find a back up sub (my sisters and mom can back up sometimes for me). I have probably closed no more than 5 times In the past 8 years for illness and bad weather. I believe at least twice was for bad weather. Unfortunately I understand that's not the way everyone does things. And that some employees have a hard time with attendance and so I feel like having a policy in place would maybe deter them from calling in with a bad headache or stomach cramps because it's pms. That's what I'm running into a lot.
Most of it's my fault because I'm too nice and don't say do anything about it. If I have a policy I feel like I would be more willing to terminate or write someone up for possible termination...Hey you've had 5 absences this year so far and our policy is that that many absences are grounds for termination, Etc just to cover my butt.
Everyone sees this issue so differently too. An above poster mentioned we don't go to the doctor etc, but then again some daycares in my area say if you're sick enough to miss work you're sick enough to go to the doctor.

What's required in your state? Does she actually have to be helping you, or just present? I have someone come when I'm sick. She doesn't have to have all of the same training as me, because I'm still on site...I'm just hiding in my room with a box of kleenex and a bucket. Can you handle the group on your own if she just comes over and sleeps in another room because she's sick?

Probably not doable, just thinking out loud from the perspective of someone that used to use her spouse as back up.

[amberrose3dg]

How many lie about being sick though? That is why a doctors note is helpful.
I had someone do that. First day to start and was super sick. Went to the doctor and all but didn't have any paperwork or proof. Sorry but i'm skeptical when people call out on a regular basis.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

How many lie about being sick though? That is why a doctors note is helpful.
I had someone do that. First day to start and was super sick. Went to the doctor and all but didn't have any paperwork or proof. Sorry but i'm skeptical when people call out on a regular basis.

I would be weary of someone who calls off a lot and probably suggest a doc trip at that point, but I get sick and don't go to the doc every time because it's a waste of time and money. And everyone's level of handling sickness is so different. I can be sick with fever and a respiratory illness and work through it with meds, but like last week, my whole family got some kind of stomach bug, and it was 24 hours of vomiting and diahrea and there is no way I could work through that! :: of course, there are some who think the sniffles is reason enough to call in, so I think just sitting down and having a clear talk about expectations will help a lot and hopefully, they have a stong immune system!

[Blackcat31]

How many lie about being sick though? That is why a doctors note is helpful.
I had someone do that. First day to start and was super sick. Went to the doctor and all but didn't have any paperwork or proof. Sorry but i'm skeptical when people call out on a regular basis.

I agree with this as I've found over the years that one person's definition of "sick" is not the same as another's.

[amberrose3dg]

My SIL used to call off for period cramps. I was like

[small_steps]

What's required in your state? Does she actually have to be helping you, or just present? I have someone come when I'm sick. She doesn't have to have all of the same training as me, because I'm still on site...I'm just hiding in my room with a box of kleenex and a bucket. Can you handle the group on your own if she just comes over and sleeps in another room because she's sick?

Probably not doable, just thinking out loud from the perspective of someone that used to use her spouse as back up.

That's an idea if I get desperate. It just says they have to be present. My main issue is I don't think it's legit sickness. I think it's just not having the "want to" to come to work. Legit sick yes please stay home. But staying up late and having a head ache the next morning because you didn't get enough sleep. Those are the things that irk me. And that's what I think a lot of this is.
And it's normal. She isn't the first one like this.

[small_steps]

I would be weary of someone who calls off a lot and probably suggest a doc trip at that point, but I get sick and don't go to the doc every time because it's a waste of time and money. And everyone's level of handling sickness is so different. I can be sick with fever and a respiratory illness and work through it with meds, but like last week, my whole family got some kind of stomach bug, and it was 24 hours of vomiting and diahrea and there is no way I could work through that! :: of course, there are some who think the sniffles is reason enough to call in, so I think just sitting down and having a clear talk about expectations will help a lot and hopefully, they have a stong immune system!

Yes I think a good firm talk is in order. Even my daycare parent suggested that she needs some vitamins or something because be her immune system must be bad for her to get sick as much as she does. So I do know that I'm not the only one who thinks she calls in more than normal, .

[small_steps]

How many lie about being sick though? That is why a doctors note is helpful.
I had someone do that. First day to start and was super sick. Went to the doctor and all but didn't have any paperwork or proof. Sorry but i'm skeptical when people call out on a regular basis.

This is my thought process also. When an employee who never or rarely calls in is sick I really believe them usually but a day or two (sometimes more) a month is pretty excessive to me and if you're that sick you really should get a doctor to check you out and see if there's something else going on in my opinion.

[Hunni Bee]

My SIL used to call off for period cramps. I was like

I had undiagnosed fibroids until I was 25 (still have them, but childbirth took the pain away thank God) and I would pass out, throw up and hallucinate from the pain. I didn't feel comfortable calling in, and went to work anyway and spent lots of time in the bathroom crying :dislike:. So I kinda get that one.