****s When They Wanna Change Hours...

[MamaBear]

I have a new DCG start today and shes only temporary and part time. Shes 3yrs old and just coming 2 days a week till September. Her mom works nights and only wants to bring her here while she sleeps during the day. At the tour yesterday she said she'd bring her @ 8:30am-2:30pm. That sounded great to me so I signed them up.

THEN this morning she comes to drop off and tells me "I'll be back about 4"... HUH??? I think I even said "huh?" outloud She said "is that okay?" and I said "ummm yeah I guess so". I felt bad sounding a little 'off' about it, but I just got caught off guard.

I hate when new families come tour and say great hours (short hours - ), but then they change the hours after the start to longer day. I just charge a flat daily rate, so maybe she just felt like "what the heck - I'll keep her here all day". Darn.

[cheerfuldom]

yeah thats exactly what she was thinking. You are going to be there all day anyway so why not send kid all day. If I agreed to a certain time than I would hold them to that but I guess it depends on how much you need the spot filled. Temporary and part time has NEVER worked out for me.

[Lilbutterflie]

Well on one hand it sounds like she's paying your full daily rate, so you can be assured that you are being compensated for the extra hours.

However, it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I know the parent is at home having leisure time on a consistent basis while their child is in your care.

It kind of makes you want to charge by the hour to deter this type of thing, right? But then it usually means the parent will choose to use little hours and then your pay then decreases. Grrr.

[MamaBear]

I dont think its gonna last...

I dont know why I even agreed to do this part time temporary deal. They never work for me either. The mom totally caught me off guard yesterday afternoon when she called me and it was just this last minute urgent need she had and me being a ****er at times, said okay.

She toured 20 minutes later and it was done deal that she would come just today and tomorrow and then next month for just 2 weeks... then possibly 2 days a week PT from then on. I'm really regretting it now though because I'm going to have a hard time finding another part timer to fill the gaps. I havent done part timers in a couple years because of just that. How the heck did I fall for it again?! Argh.

Now this morning I get a call from a really nice family with a full time toddler that would be perfect for my needs and I have this temporary one kinda messing up my spaces... :confused: Any advice on how I can get out of it?

[cheerfuldom]

Take the full timer interviewer and let the part timer go if that other kid works out. I am assuming you have a policy stating that you can terminate at any time for any reason right?

[melissa ann]

My handbook says that only full-time spots are guaranteed and if someone needs full-time, notice will be given to the part-timer with parents having option to pay the full-time spot if they want to stay.

[MamaBear]

Thats a great idea...

I like that...I should add that to my policy. That way the little "temps" cant mess up permanents. I like it. Thanks

[MamaBear]

Take the full timer interviewer and let the part timer go if that other kid works out. I am assuming you have a policy stating that you can terminate at any time for any reason right?

Yes, I say that in my policy. Thats a great idea. Thanks

[PeanutsGalore]

If she changed the rules after the fact, she's already give you the way out...you didn't agree to keep her all day, just until 2:30. Drop her. It' s a business, and this is a temporary gig that is just going to cause you more problems than any benefits it will bring.

[momofboys]

It doesn't matter if you have other kids later. . . you don't have to agree to it. When she mentioned picking up at 4:00 I would have definitely said, "We agreed to 2:30. . . if that will not be your normal pick-up time we need to re-do our contract & adjust your payment or our current contract is voided". . . it is not too late. I would not let this mom do this or she will think she can pick up everyday at 4:00. Good luck!

[QualiTcare]

did she just start a new night shift job? my guess is that she didn't realize how much time and sleep she'd REALLY need when she told you these great hours.

[wdmmom]

If she has contracted hours, tell her those are the hours her child/ren are permitted to be here.

If she needs additional hours, they are charged at a rate of $5.00 per hour. I'd tell her if she needs additional hours, you need to change her contract AND her rate.

Once you tie money into what they are doing, they stop doing it!

I tell my part timers that if their schedule fluctuates, I need the schedule on Friday for the upcoming week. If it's set, it is what it is. Hours can not be changed or traded for another day.

For example. DCM provides schedule on Friday for the following week. M, W, F 9am to 5pm. DCG is sick on Monday and wants to trade M for T. NO. You pay regardless of attendance. I was expected to work Monday so I'm paid for it. Tuesday is not a day that DCG was scheduled. Now if they want to pay the additional $35 a day for Tuesdays care, sure.

[QualiTcare]

If she has contracted hours, tell her those are the hours her child/ren are permitted to be here.

If she needs additional hours, they are charged at a rate of $5.00 per hour. I'd tell her if she needs additional hours, you need to change her contract AND her rate.

Once you tie money into what they are doing, they stop doing it!

I tell my part timers that if their schedule fluctuates, I need the schedule on Friday for the upcoming week. If it's set, it is what it is. Hours can not be changed or traded for another day.

For example. DCM provides schedule on Friday for the following week. M, W, F 9am to 5pm. DCG is sick on Monday and wants to trade M for T. NO. You pay regardless of attendance. I was expected to work Monday so I'm paid for it. Tuesday is not a day that DCG was scheduled. Now if they want to pay the additional $35 a day for Tuesdays care, sure.

i agree. i think nannyde has a great payment plan that's set up so parents only use the time they need bc they're paying for any extra time.

i don't think that it would work at this point in this particular situation because the parent already knows that a flat daily rate exists and that all the other parents pay a flat daily rate. so suddenly enforcing this rule on one parent after the fact wouldn't work - but it's something to consider changing for the future.

[MarinaVanessa]

Every time I think my policies are pretty good I read Nannyde's posts on her policies and I go "Oh thats better" . What we need is a peek at her contract and handbook. ::::::

[squareone]

Every time I think my policies are pretty good I read Nannyde's posts on her policies and I go "Oh thats better" . What we need is a peek at her contract and handbook. ::::::

You're in luck. I believe she has her policies right on her website.