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My kids have scarlet fever this week and are home from school. They are isolated and not allowed in the daycare area or to use the same washroom during work hours. I called all my DCF's on Monday night when the first of the two was diagnosed to inform them that my kids were sick. However, I decided to stay open since they're just laying around watching tv and there was really no reason why I couldn't work. All of my DCF's other than 2 have been here all week.
One of the families is the one that had a baby this weekend, they're home anyway and they didn't feel I needed the extra little person on my hands when she could just stay home with them. They kept her home for MY sake. <3 Love them.
The other family is keeping their two children home all the rest of this week because they're paranoid about germs. They've hired a babysitter to come to their home. Cool with me....their decision. I'm available.
the problem comes in where DCM from the above family last night called me to tell my they weren't coming the rest of the week and then asked if they were "going to be charged" since the kids couldn't come because of germs. I was totally caught off guard and doing other things so my instinct reply was, "No, of course not." She happily got off the phone.
Then I sat back and thought about it....I'm here....I'm working....she's CHOOSING not to bring her children....correct? My PH states, "For any day I cannot provide care due to sickness in my family or a personal emergency your are not required to pay." That's pretty clear isn't it? If I can't work, you don't pay me?
My question is....can I now change my mind and charge them this week? Or should I let it go and chalk this one up to a bad business decision? This ate me up all night and regardless of what I decide to do about this weeks changes I'm going to write a letter to families clarifying what will happen in the future if my children are sick. Basically because of this family I'm no longer going to inform DCF's when my children are sick. I will keep them isolated but will not be making phone calls anymore.
For further info this family was the only one to give me a hard time about getting rid of PT care and they have questioned my PH on two other occasions in the past month regarding charges and vacation time. The bottom line is they don't want to pay when their kids aren't here and I no longer allow that so they aren't happy. They've also been maxing out their hours each week because they now pay regardless if they attend even though mom only works part time. That's cool with me, I'm being paid. I feel a little sorry for the kids being used to "punish me" though. They were unable to find alternate care with the schedule they wanted so they (what I felt was) reluctantly stayed with me. I've also been friends with mom since high school.
One of the families is the one that had a baby this weekend, they're home anyway and they didn't feel I needed the extra little person on my hands when she could just stay home with them. They kept her home for MY sake. <3 Love them.
The other family is keeping their two children home all the rest of this week because they're paranoid about germs. They've hired a babysitter to come to their home. Cool with me....their decision. I'm available.
the problem comes in where DCM from the above family last night called me to tell my they weren't coming the rest of the week and then asked if they were "going to be charged" since the kids couldn't come because of germs. I was totally caught off guard and doing other things so my instinct reply was, "No, of course not." She happily got off the phone.
Then I sat back and thought about it....I'm here....I'm working....she's CHOOSING not to bring her children....correct? My PH states, "For any day I cannot provide care due to sickness in my family or a personal emergency your are not required to pay." That's pretty clear isn't it? If I can't work, you don't pay me?
My question is....can I now change my mind and charge them this week? Or should I let it go and chalk this one up to a bad business decision? This ate me up all night and regardless of what I decide to do about this weeks changes I'm going to write a letter to families clarifying what will happen in the future if my children are sick. Basically because of this family I'm no longer going to inform DCF's when my children are sick. I will keep them isolated but will not be making phone calls anymore.
For further info this family was the only one to give me a hard time about getting rid of PT care and they have questioned my PH on two other occasions in the past month regarding charges and vacation time. The bottom line is they don't want to pay when their kids aren't here and I no longer allow that so they aren't happy. They've also been maxing out their hours each week because they now pay regardless if they attend even though mom only works part time. That's cool with me, I'm being paid. I feel a little sorry for the kids being used to "punish me" though. They were unable to find alternate care with the schedule they wanted so they (what I felt was) reluctantly stayed with me. I've also been friends with mom since high school.
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