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Have any of you run into this problem? I FINALLY get a phone call and it's for a dad who has his son every other week. Not sure how to do this cause I NEED money but I know if I say he has to pay every week regardless then they will look elsewhere. I had a friend run into this same problem and had a very hard time finding care for their child. I'd like to help out.
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Well if you really need the money and you have that many spots open then I would just take him and charge two weeks a month it is better than nothing and if you have multiple spots open you can still care for others if you get some calls for full time. And I would also do a two month trial just to make sure the child isn't a total handful since he is going back and forth all the time. Or you could tell him you will so it for now but if you get a call for a full time kid you will have to terminate that way if he is a sour apple you would have an easy out. -
Give him a set monthly rate. 4 x Full-Time Rate due the 1st of each month.
Tell him they can attend as often or as little as they like.
3 D's:
Don't point out that he will be paying for time he wont use.
Don't assume he will walk.
Don't start out making exceptions or you will be posting about it here very soon....
- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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I would charge him 1.5 times your weekly rate, explaining that you are charging him more for the flexibility. You end up getting regular rate for when he's there and half rate for when he's not. You could offer drop in rate for that time to someone else.Comment
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I like laundrymom's suggestion--1.5 times your usual rate for the weeks he's there.Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!Comment
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He's most likely looking for a low weekly rate for only the weeks he needs.
You can offer him a slot for full time pay and he will keep searching.
You can offer him a slot for 1.5X the weekly rate and he will keep searching.
You can offer him a slot for a regular rate for just the weeks he is there and he will keep searching.
If you offer him a low weekly rate where he just pays for the weeks he is there with no contractual obligation otherwise AND allow him to flip the schedule at his whim... you might strike a deal.
He can find hundreds of day cares that will offer him full slot pay and he can come as he needs. I doubt that he's looking for ANY version of that at all.Comment
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Iwoulnt tell him that. I'd just say your rate will be ( mine would be $180, my normal rate is $120- 120+60) that way he just thinks its the rate. Id say, well normally don't offer care for such a flexible schedule but for a higher rate I will. That way I'm not completely out of income when he's not here but you aren't having to pay full rate for when he isn't here" then I'd try to find someone who had a similar schedule. To fit your opening. And do the same for them.Comment
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I think I will offer a 2 month trial. I will stress my concern of him flipping back and forth cause I've dealt with this before in my classroom and it is very hard on the child. I don't want to get stuck with a terror!Comment
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Definitely 1.5x your regular rate with flexibility and no contract so you can term when you do get a full timer.Comment
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I have a dcb who comes every other week. He started when he was 16 months old. It was hard for him to obey the rules for a while because I know he went to a different dc the other week.
I only want 4 dcks so his schedule fit well with what I was looking for. When he is here it can be a little stressful but I always know that the following week I will get a little break.
Also, I only charged for every other week. But they have to pay on their week no matter what. Since I am not at full capacity I have FT spots that I could fill if I wanted. Anyone under 12 months I would never do this schedule for though.Comment
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catherder nailed it and laundry moms idea is what i was going to suggest. they are not likely to find something elsewhere that will suit their needs. and if they do, it won't last.
i also like to explain to parents when they want part/casual that it's very hard on the child to adjust and fit in with the others. everytime they come it's starting fresh. it helps to point out to parents what they don't think of themselves. even when my full timers are gone over the weekend, especially a long weekend, it's a little rough the first day. my dcp's are great though, and try keep the schedule the same for naps etc.
i would definitely let them know that should a full timer come along, they will have to option to bump up, or go. and 1.5 times the rate is perfect because you will not be losing too much money.
this parent must understand that their schedule is hard, and most places, at least reputable places, won't want to deal with it.Comment
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Nah
Unless there is some funky economic thing going on in their area I will say that he will easily find someone to just take what he pays for the days and offer him cheap.
It might just last a few months but that will be okay too. He may need four or five workers to do it over the course of a year but it will allow him to not pay full time or a higher weekly rate.
It would take him just a few calls here and he would find someone to do it for a couple of hundred a month.Comment
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Yeah I had a "friend" wanting every other too. I had to break it off, told her I can't do it. Because not only was it awkward to work for a friend, it was a loss of cash if I needed to fill the ft spot. I felt bad, but I figure she'll find someone. She can have me as drop in if I have space though.Comment
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