Point of Grace Preschool in Waukee

[nannyde]

http://www.kcci.com/video/28955439/detail.html

Day Care Demands Workers Sign Strict Agreement

[mac60]

Wow, just wow. I don't understand how they can get away with this. Fine line for sure.

We have a local company that when they put help wanted ads in the paper, they added, "only non tobacco users will be considered". After talking to a couple people I know in HR, I was told that they can not do that.....the same company has an ad in the paper again, and it says "We are waiving our non tobacco use rule, tobacco users are welcome to apply". Funny, I think something must of happened for them to change this.

Isn't it against the law to even ask some of these things......while they are not necessarily asking them, they are making the employees sign an agreement that they are not gay, attend church, don't cuss, etc. Seems a little eccentric to me. The school better watch it, they may not have any enrollment after all of this.

[Cat Herder]

I guess I side with the Church.

Anyone who knows me knows that is very ironic as I am not a fan of organized religion and Mega Churches make my blood boil......

IMHO, If I was going to apply for a job at a Church those are characteristics I would already KNOW they were going to expect.

It is a private business. ....errr, umm, Religious House of Worship.

If they want you to wear a monkey suit, and you are their employee...well, wear the dang monkey suit.

[Kaddidle Care]

I think it's just a way of cleaning house for the new employer. I wonder if the previous owner hired anyone that walked through the door. Perhaps they interviewed past clients and found out that Worker Janey has the worst reputation in town and Worker Mary is at the local bar every night and has to be driven home by police. Who knows?

What people do at home or behind closed doors is none of an employer's business. Now if they are doing something that affects their ability to care for children, that's another story. I have no problem with an employer running a backround check or doing drug testing.

I personally would not sign that contract. It's almost cult-like and it is certainly discriminatory. "Their house, their rules" - I wonder if they will have enough Staff to open in September.

[daysofelijah]

It's a church preschool it's their right to hire who they want. Every Christian school I have gone to and church school I have worked at has a Christian lifestyle statement you must sign in order to attend/work there. I don't think it's anything new.

I worked as an elementary teacher at a private Baptist school before I got married, part of their requirement was that I attend their church. When I got married dh wanted me to attend his church. They let me go at the end of the year because I wasn't attending their church anymore. Yes, I felt bad and frustrated about it, but it was all within their right to do so.

[mac60]

They are taking away a freedom, that I thought was a right living here in the states.

[Kaddidle Care]

It's a church preschool it's their right to hire who they want. Every Christian school I have gone to and church school I have worked at has a Christian lifestyle statement you must sign in order to attend/work there. I don't think it's anything new.

I worked as an elementary teacher at a private Baptist school before I got married, part of their requirement was that I attend their church. When I got married dh wanted me to attend his church. They let me go at the end of the year because I wasn't attending their church anymore. Yes, I felt bad and frustrated about it, but it was all within their right to do so.

I work for a Christian School and we are not required to sign any such thing. While some of us attend the Church, others do not. I don't even know if they are all Christians - it's not my business. I think we have a great staff IMHO. I would trust each and every one with my own child.

I will say that working there 5 days a week AND attending Church and church functions, there are days that I feel like I live there. Where's my cot?

[daysofelijah]

They are taking away a freedom, that I thought was a right living here in the states.

No they're not. No one is forcing anyone to work there. If you don't agree with their requirements you can choose not to work for them.

[nannyde]

What I want to know is do they require these Christian Evangelical standards for their clients too?

Are they going to make sure that the Christian staff they hire aren't exposed to clients who are drinkers, smokers, having children out of wedlock, and not going to church? Are they going to make sure that none of the children they provide care for are being raised in a homosexual family, have parents who use profanity, or view PorXgraphy?

If they are setting it up so they don't PAY anyone who is not "godly" then they should stand behind it and not RECEIVE money from anyone who isn't too.

This is going to be a niche market that's going to cost them some serious money. They better have something besides client tuition to pay for these christian workers. When they realize they are few and far between.... when they realize that it's not just what the employee SAYS at hiring but actually what they DO IRL away from work... they are going to have a TON of staff time fettering out who is and isn't living according to their contract. When the staff who ARE doing as they want realize they are a rare commodity they are going to want money for it. They are also going to be paying some serious unemployment percentages. In Iowa it can be as much as eight percent of the TOTAL payroll (IIRC). It's going to be tough to win unemployment claims with a contract like this.

That's my prediction.

[Springdaze]

I guess its easy for me to agree with the church, although I did live with my husband before we got married I also have applied for jobs in Christian schools and have had to write pretty detailed answers to questions about my lifestyle. I wouldnt want to work in a place that was that strict if I didnt agree to follow the rules.

[Springdaze]

oh, but it does stink that they are changing it and people are losing their jobs. Its different if you know going into it, but to have the job already is not good

[Meeko]

While it is sad that some workers will lose their jobs...it is the right of the owner to run their business any way they see fit. That's how we do it, right? WE make the rules and policies of our own day care. These people are doing the same.

[Cat Herder]

When the staff who ARE doing as they want realize they are a rare commodity they are going to want money for it.

....at that time, like every other business in the U.S, the employer will lower the standards.

[Country Kids]

What I want to know is do they require these Christian Evangelical standards for their clients too?

Are they going to make sure that the Christian staff they hire aren't exposed to clients who are drinkers, smokers, having children out of wedlock, and not going to church? Are they going to make sure that none of the children they provide care for are being raised in a homosexual family, have parents who use profanity, or view PorXgraphy?

If they are setting it up so they don't PAY anyone who is not "godly" then they should stand behind it and not RECEIVE money from anyone who isn't too.

This is going to be a niche market that's going to cost them some serious money. They better have something besides client tuition to pay for these christian workers. When they realize they are few and far between.... when they realize that it's not just what the employee SAYS at hiring but actually what they DO IRL away from work... they are going to have a TON of staff time fettering out who is and isn't living according to their contract. When the staff who ARE doing as they want realize they are a rare commodity they are going to want money for it. They are also going to be paying some serious unemployment percentages. In Iowa it can be as much as eight percent of the TOTAL payroll (IIRC). It's going to be tough to win unemployment claims with a contract like this.

That's my prediction.

I myself run a Christian Preschool in my home and I don't expect to have all Christians for clients. What I do tell at my interviews are that yes, I do run a Christian program, there will be praying, singing, listening to a Christian radio station. We do celebrate birthdays and other holidays! Also, we do support our soldiers and go to the parades to do so. I do have a lady that comes in and tells Bible stories and sing songs with the children. One week in the summer I used to have a mini vacation Bible school where a group would come in and tell stories, do crafts, sing, etc.

I let them know what I do for my preschool because in the past I have had clients of certain religions that want me to change to suit their specific beliefs.

[CheekyChick]

What I want to know is do they require these Christian Evangelical standards for their clients too?

Are they going to make sure that the Christian staff they hire aren't exposed to clients who are drinkers, smokers, having children out of wedlock, and not going to church? Are they going to make sure that none of the children they provide care for are being raised in a homosexual family, have parents who use profanity, or view PorXgraphy?

If they are setting it up so they don't PAY anyone who is not "godly" then they should stand behind it and not RECEIVE money from anyone who isn't too.

This is going to be a niche market that's going to cost them some serious money. They better have something besides client tuition to pay for these christian workers. When they realize they are few and far between.... when they realize that it's not just what the employee SAYS at hiring but actually what they DO IRL away from work... they are going to have a TON of staff time fettering out who is and isn't living according to their contract. When the staff who ARE doing as they want realize they are a rare commodity they are going to want money for it. They are also going to be paying some serious unemployment percentages. In Iowa it can be as much as eight percent of the TOTAL payroll (IIRC). It's going to be tough to win unemployment claims with a contract like this.

That's my prediction.

I have no idea about this school, but at my daughters' Christian school, the staff, parents, AND children had to be Christian. They wouldn't enroll non-Christians just for the tuition. They even required a yearly letter from our pastor and/or pastoral staff - stating we attended church on a regular basis.