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I'm curious to know if others have experienced this and how you have resolved it if at all. Our child attends family daycare four times a week. With the holiday this week, it was three days but then he was sick two days and could not attend. We paid our regular weekly tuition even though he attended one day out of four. This is fine. But then I asked the provider if i could bring him the day he usually is not in care, to partly make up for the days I missed work because I had to keep him at home. She said no because it wasn't his regular day. Accepting him for the make up day would not have made her go over her limits and I'm feeling disappointed that she could not be more flexible...especially since I really need that day to catch up on my work. Do any providers on this forum know if there are policies that dictate why she made the decision she did. My feeling is - especially since we have a good relationship - that she should have dealt with us on a more human level rather than a business / policy level. And of course, it stings to have to pay close to $300 for one day of care. Any thoughts? Any suggestions about how I may communicate about this with my provider.
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I would say it depends on what your contract says. I have parents that pay for a full week and only use 3 days most weeks. Their schedules vary so they need all days available. If your contracted for the 4 days and your provider has made that clear in your contract then that is what you contracted for. She may have had other plans. I homeschool my son so I do have some days that I purposely don't fill so that I can "catch up" with him on those days. Does she generally offer you the 5th day at a drop in rate?
Sick days for kids are part life. I know that I can not refund or give credit for sick days. I still planned on having your child. I can't suddenly fill your spot.
I don't know if you can broach this with your provider unless if you ask her if you needed her the fifth day, what would she charge you. But, I wouldn't expect her to switch days. Or you could pay her for the full week and have the fifth day at your disposal to use or not use. -
The only policies there would be regarding this issue is with your own provider. I have an in-home family daycare and I charge people for the position not on time used at my daycare as well. Having said that, in your situation if I had another day that was available, I would have let you pick up that day as a replacement for the holiday or the sick day. I think that if you tell your provider exactly what you wrote here, she might rethink her position. I don't see the harm in being a little flexible and compasionate to people's situation. Some people don't like to waiver off their policies though. Sometimes people are just plain too rigid and sometimes they're afraid to be flexible because there are people out there that take advantage of a providers generosity.Comment
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This should be something that you discussed at interview. I do not switch days for a family with regularly scheduled days. I have two PT families that pay for FT spots and two PT families that pay for 3 days, and add days as needed, IF they are available. I have three drop in kids who know my available days. If another kid is out sick, I have no way to replace them on short notice.
It isn't her fault that your son was sick. She was ready, willing and available to provide care that day. She should be paid. If she was to add an additional day, she should be paid for it.
You are paying for a spot. It is like a reservation on your provider's time & resources. If you don't use your reservation, you don't get to add a free day.
Also, even if the provider WANTS to give you a 'break' she has most likely been taken advantage of in the past and refuses to allow it to happen again. Even for families that I absolutely adore, I find it very important to NEVER blur lines or do favors and stick to the contract. It keeps our relationship professional and the expectations of each other set. I have done favors in the past. I gave a current daycare family three free days when their son was out sick and they were going through financial difficulties. Now EVERY TIME that dcb is out sick, they EXPECT it to be free.Comment
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I agree with PP. For me, I would not let you make up ALL the days, but if I was able to acommidate one of them, I'd probably do it.
I think sometimes some of us are afraid to bend at all because of the old "give em and inch..." People then tend to expect "special" each and every time.
When I make an exception, I tell people "I am making an exception. Please don't expect it every time" that usually works for me. I have in the past had people who would ask every single time...but I do know how to say NO too!
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My son goes to daycare 2 full days per week. He has had many sick days and no, we are not allowed to make up the day. We also pay for 3 weeks vacation and when the provider take days off for state required classes. She also closes on school closing, due to snow. We still pay, even if the weather clears up. We live in Massachusetts and have one of the highest childcare rates in the country. I don't mind paying though. We picked quality over anything else. We did view one daycare down the road who didn't take sick days and rarely closed. She also kept the tv on during the whole interview and left cigarettes out on her back deck. I am really easy going, but I figured if that was going on when I was there.... Who knows what went on when I wasn't. All in all, we probably pay for 6 weeks of unused childcare. It's all part of having a child...Comment
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check your contract and make sure you know what her policies are....and then dont be surprised or offended when she sticks to her contract. no matter how much we enjoy our daycare families or feel for their particular situations, daycare is still a business. we cant be swayed by every parent with a difficult situation or every parent that wants something different. its not personal. please also consider her side of things....if something happened where she was not able to work and it was outlined that she wouldnt be paid for that time (for instance, if she takes an unpaid holiday, had an emergency and had to close, had a medical crisis and had to take some time off), would you still pay her because you felt bad for her? i think not. you dont base payments in a business relationship off of personal situations....you base it off of the agreement that you made before beginning the business arrangement.Comment
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just thinking about this a little more...I thought about another perspective....
If you were at work, and you are getting certain salary/benefits etc, would you really be "ok" with your employer saying "so, hey, we don't need you for a few days...you don't mind if we have you take that time off unpaid, do you? You can work a little extra when we do need you to make up for it..."
It's not exactly the same...and I know there are employers who do that...but you woulddn't be like this.....happyface about it
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I would have allowed you to add the extra day for my drop in fee in addition to your regular fees but I wouldn't have allowed a switch. IMO I'm working regardless of your attendance and your tuition is based on a schedule we previously discussed. I've budgeted for that tuition and like your paycheck I depend on that tuition to support my family.Comment
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I've had similar situations, and I've always charged for the additional day. For example, one little girl used to come everyday buy Thursday, and her parents paid for 4 days/week. When she was sick on the Monday, they still paid for it, but asked if she could come on the Thursday too. I didn't have a reason not to (I was still within ratios, etc), so she came and they paid the daily rate on top of their regular rate that week.
It all depends on the contract. I'm with the others in that if you have a contract, you need to abide by it. What if your provider normally didn't charge for her own sick days but took one and expected you to pay for it, because she wanted to be treated like a person instead of like a business?
Next time, you could offer to pay her an hourly rate for the extra day on top of your regular amount. Maybe that would help?Comment
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Wow, I guess I'm the minority here in saying I would switch the day. The parent is willing to pay for the days even though he wasn't there. That's not the issue really. The provider is not asked to sacrifice money. I don't really see the harm in saying the child could come on Thursday instead of Monday. The provider is not doing any more work because the provider was already working Monday. I know that daycares are businesses, but I guess that some must have had really bad experiences with people because from what I can see in several posts is that people don't budge one bit. I must be really fortunate in that I have had a couple of issues, but nothing too bad. I find that a little compassion can go a long way. I would rather do someone a favor once in awhile when really it isn't hurting the provider at all financially. The parent might remember that when they hear of someone looking for a daycare. The parent might not be so quick to recommend the provider if they are too rigid. Don't get me wrong, like I said, if a provider has been burned before, then that is a reason why they wouldn't be so willing to budge a bit. Every case is different and maybe just asking the provider, hey have you had a problem doing this type of thing before and explain that you wouldn't take advantage of her.Comment
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I would accomodate the OP. Although I wouldn't be REQUIRED to, as per my policies, I have found over the years that being flexible reaps great rewards - wonderfully respectful and accomodating families (my families are NEVER upset or question me when I need to close early or take a day off and do LOTS of stuff for me) , I always run at capacity with a wait list - all word of mouth/referrals from current and previous clients, and my families show their appreciation for me on a daily basis.
OP, I agree with you. You have had a respectful relationship with your provdider and if she had space to accomodate your child so that you could work (READ: keep her job ) then. as a show of good will and appreciating YOU as a paying, appreciative client, I would have been more than happy to oblige. I wish your provider saw it that way too - sorry for you that she didn't.
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On a 4 day schedule, typically the other day belongs to someone else.
Switching is not possible because of ratios regulated by each state.
Tuition rates per child are generally based on the number of slots available and the total amount of the providers monthly bills.
The providers bills stays the same regardless of attendance, holidays, school closures, sick days or weather days.
Dealing on a "human level" needs to work in both directions.
To clarify the last statement: If you are the type of parent that pays the provider for her sick days without being asked then it is fair to expect her to give you another day for one missed occasionally. If you are the type who wants their "moneys worth" then I can see your provider not being willing to work with you. It really is very individual in each working relationship, IFKWIM? I have some clients I would move the world for, others I can't give an inch.- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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I am very flexible, and I would have allowed it. But, only the one day, not three days worth. (basically i'd make up the holiday only)
I've been taken advantage of so many times. The families I have gone out of my way for the most are the ones who want to make my job the hardest. So, it's not like we are really excited about doing it once. (for fear that the parents will want another break on tuition)
Honestly, if it weren't for the few parents who take advantage, I bet most providers would be a lot more willing to be flexible.Comment
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