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One of my part time families pays for 3 days a week but gave me a schedule of all the days they would use care through October and sometimes they only have 2 days that they want care. However, it's been happening more frequently that they will just show up for all 3 days anyway even when it's not on the schedule they gave me. I have no problem with them using the care they pay for, but do you make them go by the schedule they give you or do you just always keep those 3 days available for them? This is the 4th time now where I thought I had no daycare kids coming today and would do something with my own kids and they come knocking on my door. I let them in because technically they paid for it and it is theirs and they are a very good family otherwise. Should I make them adhere to the schedule they give me or should I make them communicate better about what days they need or do I just plan on being open on the days they reserved whether their schedule says they're coming or not?
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I would absolutely make them go by the schedule they gave you. Obviously you made other plans and no amount of money is worth being trapped at my house and cancelling my day with my children. I use to be the same as you but it got old fast. Maybe they can send you a text the night before making sure it’s still ok but to just show up is rude. -
I have PT/Drop-in stick to set days, no changing weekly. You have a rotating schedule you must sign FT regardless. I have limited spaces and I plan my OFF time around schedules. I also tell clients they don't show with in 30 minutes of time they set, I they have to find other care for the day if I closed or went out because they didn't let me know they would be lateComment
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"do you make them go by the schedule they give you or do you just always keep those 3 days available for them?"
I would be available for the days they contracted and paid for. I also would not allow them to switch days during the week.
When I offered part-time slots I only had two options; M+W+F or T+TH. It was splitting up one slot. Anything else takes up a full-time slot at part-time rates. :dislike:
Now they pay one rate and are welcome to attend as often or as little as they like. No schedules required.- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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Why not have a quick conversation?
"Family, I've noticed that after you send me your schedule in advance, you have changed your plans and showed up on days you told me you didn't need care. I'm going to ask that going forward, please adhere to the schedule you've given me so that I can plan out meals and activities with enough supplies as well as plan my own schedule. Thanks so much."Comment
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They obviously want the care they have paid for and feel like they can drop the kids off whenever. I would ask them if they want 3 days of care each week because that means we will need to revisit the contract. Explain that you offer a flexible schedule but charge for 3 days for THEIR convenience. It is a convenience charge. If they want 3 days rotating days they will need to pay more. Explain how ratios work and how you need to know when kids are here so you can take on more kids in the future.Comment
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They do pay for 3 set days a week regardless and they're very good about it so that's where my problem is. I get that they want to use what they pay for and even encourage it, but she's giving me her own schedule saying that many of the weeks she only wants 2 of her days and then ends up coming on her 3rd day anyway AFTER she told me she wasn't going to use it without telling me. So I think I have a paid day off, but she decides to come without telling me if that makes sense. She always pays for 3 days whether she only comes 1 day or 3 and she knows those are set days and doesn't try to come on days she doesn't have reserved. BUT I'm trying to decide if I should keep allowing her to tell me she only wants 2 days and then show up for her 3rd without notice or if since she's paying for 3 days regardless, if I can say "sorry, you told me you weren't coming today so I took the day off." it doesn't seem right to not let her stay if she paid for it, but it keeps ruining my days off because I don't think anyone is coming and they just show up! I don't know if it's right for me to just let her decide if she wants to use 2 or 3 days on a whim. Do I need to be available for her paid days even if I think she's not coming?Comment
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Part Time Care
This may be too "black and white", but I see only two choices as I too have trouble with the concept of being paid for days I am not providing care (I do not charge for sick days-either on their end or mine-- and allow change in schedule up to a week in advance for which families do not have to pay for care they will not receive).
1. Plan to stay home on the days for which they have paid.
2. Have them pay in advance only for the days they will use (so on the weeks they only use two days they would only pay for two days).
Just my two cents
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Here's how I do it...
If they want PT care they tell me which 2 or 3 days they need. It can be any combination just as long as they don't change the days. They pick the days and stick to them.
If their schedule will change week to week then I charge for FT because they are taking up a FT spot since I won't be able to find a family to take the random days they won't use due to their schedules changing each week. In this case, even if they pay for FT they need to give me a schedule of days that they will be using. Some providers ask for 2 weeks in advance, I only ask for 1 week in advance. After that any changes have to be brought up a minimum of 24 hours in advance and I have to approve them. They don't just show up whenever they want. If they do and the day is not on their scheduled day then they pay for the extra fee or they're turned away at the door. They can avoid paying extra simply by letting me know in advance if they need an extra day.Comment
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I would explain to her that if she tells you that she isn't coming one day, that if they were the only family scheduled, you have made other plans based on having no kids. I don't allow changes after Friday 6pm for the upcoming week... I have only 3 babes and I know for a fact 2 of 3 won't be here Tuesday already (closed Monday & 2 of 3 are paying at pick up tonight as well).Comment
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I’d say that I only prep meals for the kids that are scheduled to come. That you need 48 hours notice of change of plans so you can prepare.Comment
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I have all part-timers and offer a per day rate instead of weekly on purpose, specifically so I can have days off here and there to spend time with my own young boys. I had the same sort of problem; now families must tell me their schedule by Sunday or they don't get care.
Had to enforce it this week, actually, DCM asked me for Monday, Tuesday, Friday and on Tuesday morning wanted to change it all around and do completely different (and more) days, because she had appointments she "forgot about." After I promised my 3 year old I would take him to the zoo today. Nope, nope, nope.
Even if you are like me and don't need a schedule very far in advance, pick a time limit for schedule adjustments, like 48 hours or before the work week starts. It is just plain crazy-making to have kids randomly appear at your door whenever. If parents don't like it, they can go find a center and/or pay full-time rates somewhere else.Comment
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I don't ask or receive a schedule from my PT families, I reserve their days for them. However I had one family that would tell me in advance when the child would not be coming.
If they had shown up, I would of had a shocked look on my face and reminded them that I was not expecting them and depending on what was going on, would make a difference if they stayed. I would also have a discussion on not just showing up when they said they would not be coming, the next time they needed to text to make sure I was still available. (So yes it's their day but the forfeit on demand care when they say they are not coming)
My first family I did drop in for, never sent payment or confirm the time the needed care for or that they would be coming. So I figured they changed their mind. Around noon, I left to go shopping. She calls 15 minutes later asking were I was at. I then had to explain why I left, (no payment or confirmation, no care) .
So you could do something similar, and leave half hour before you expect them, this would open up the conversation and put a physical reminder on not just showing up but confirming care.Comment
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