Provider Does Not Allow Make Up Days

[providerandmomof4]

[QUOTE=Cat Herder;272738]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.

I own a licensed home daycare and my policy is similar to the above post. I generally do not let clients switch days. I provide care for the times set forth in our contract. What parents sometimes don't understand is that I am open and caring for other children even if your child is sick. I do not give free days but I don't have parents pay for my days off or vacation. (I have only taken 1 sick day in the last three yrs). I cannot run a business unless I can expect payment, and parents do not have to worry that I will not be available for their scheduled slots--I always am!

[Unregistered]

Thanks everyone who replied to the thread. It was important to hear that sometimes providers are inflexible because of experiences they've had with parents who took advantage. That makes sense. She has been doing this a long time and I'm sure that she has had many negative experiences. I guess what I take issue with is some of the things raised by "lovemykidstoo". First, I was not suggesting that I should pay less that week. Second, her inflexibility has tarnished a bit our sense of good will. I do feel like working on a human level works both ways. We agreed to pay for her 2 weeks of vacation. I know people who would prefer to look for someone else before paying this. She had an open slot and could have accommodated my child. In fact, she is under ratio even on the days when all children attend. The crux of the issue is that there is nothing in our contract that dictates make up days either way. Therefore, I thought that she would do it out of courtesy because my child being there would not have changed anything for her. In fact, if she budgeted (in terms of lunch, and snacks, for example) that my child would be there four days and he was only there once, there was a surplus in her budget (if we were to look at this in purely transactional terms).

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

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.

Exactly this.

[itlw8]

You said she would be over limits if she took your child. So there is another child in that spot on the day you wanted

so she could tell that parent they had to stay home from work so you could come

she could have risked losing her license for being over limit.Do you want a provider that does not follow the regulations.

Or she could say I am sorry your child was sick on his day to come. Thank you for not spreading the germs. I will see you monday there is no room for your child on Fridays.

You contracted Monday - Thursday with paid holidays Sorry someone else has contracted for the day you did not want

Sorry I just reread and saw it would not put her over her legal limits but it may have changed the plans she can make with one less child. What is the solution? You contract for the full week instead of 4 days or you pay the drop in rate for the extra day so you can go get some work done.

[itlw8]

In fact, if she budgeted (in terms of lunch, and snacks, for example) that my child would be there four days and he was only there once, there was a surplus in her budget (if we were to look at this in purely transactional terms).

Sorry that extra food she fixed from her budget was eaten by the other children as seconds. And really if it was not would you really want your child eating leftovers for Tuesday and not what the others are eating because it was budgeted on Tuesday?

[SunshineMama]

I don't think the provider is obligated at all to switch days. Maybe the day you wanted to switch, she had alternate plans, or she had a hard week and needed the day to have a regular schedule. Maybe she has been taken advantage of in the past.

Don't take it personally, she runs a business. You are contracted for a certain day and spot, and if you don't use it that's not her problem. If she chooses to, that's another story, but you shouldn't feel upset by it at all.

I had someone want to switch days on me this week. From my POV, I didn't want an extra kid on a Friday bc they chose not to come on a Wednesday. Fridays are my "easy" days and I didn't want to switch and watch a child who is typically more difficult. I also didn't want to set the tone for being taken advantage of. Once you give an inch, most people take a mile and then come to expect it.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Sorry that extra food she fixed from her budget was eaten by the other children as seconds. And really if it was not would you really want your child eating leftovers for Tuesday and not what the others are eating because it was budgeted on Tuesday?

I thought that too I have already bought the food, it was already spent before you ever called off. You wouldn't want me to one day not feed your child because I didn't have enough thinking, well someone is sure to call off this week. In fact, I plan not only on your child eating but eating extra on some days and I am kind enough to be sure I always have more than enough. I prepare all of my meals. I don't use frozen dinners (how gross of a thought is that) so that, yes, I could leave your child's in the freezer for another day.

[Blackcat31]

If I were the provider in this situation, I would;

Gladly switch days IF: 1) it weren't something you regularly did/asked for or expected, 2) you were a great family with a good history of open communication, timely payments and following my policies and 3) I had the open space to accommodate your child without going over licensing capacities.

I would NOT do it if: 1) you frequently tried to bend, ignore or disregard my regular policies, 2) had a history of late payment and/or 3) simply EXPECTED me to accommodate without necessarily asking me.

I honestly understand that providers have rules and such because of past experiences with being burned but IMHO, each family should have it's own reputation based on their own behaviors and just as I wouldn't want to be viewed as "just like ALL child care providers" based on a family's bad experience with another provider, I don't want to view a family that way based on my past bad experiences with families.

Seems like much too much fuss about something that could have been dealt with easily and quickly with a little open communication between provider and family.

Plus, I don't think this is really a situation that could potentially "burn" the provider if the parents are generally a good daycare family. Sounds like it could have been an ideal way to build good business relations.

[lovemykidstoo]

If I were the provider in this situation, I would;

Gladly switch days IF: 1) it weren't something you regularly did/asked for or expected, 2) you were a great family with a good history of open communication, timely payments and following my policies and 3) I had the open space to accommodate your child without going over licensing capacities.

I would NOT do it if: 1) you frequently tried to bend, ignore or disregard my regular policies, 2) had a history of late payment and/or 3) simply EXPECTED me to accommodate without necessarily asking me.

I honestly understand that providers have rules and such because of past experiences with being burned but IMHO, each family should have it's own reputation based on their own behaviors and just as I wouldn't want to be viewed as "just like ALL child care providers" based on a family's bad experience with another provider, I don't want to view a family that way based on my past bad experiences with families.

Seems like much too much fuss about something that could have been dealt with easily and quickly with a little open communication between provider and family.

Plus, I don't think this is really a situation that could potentially "burn" the provider if the parents are generally a good daycare family. Sounds like it could have been an ideal way to build good business relations.

Exactly BC. I would have switched the day with no problem and I have done exactly that in nearly the exact situation many times before. No big deal.

[Cat Herder]

No big deal.

Maybe.... but after 12-20 years of arguing that point, with each parent believing they are the exception to the rule, it wears on your soul

Personally, I just charge a flat rate, per slot, come as you please. 50 hours or 1 hour, makes no difference to me.

It stopped all the discussions of times, dates and prices. happyface

[lovemykidstoo]

Maybe.... but after 12-20 years of arguing that point, with each parent believing they are the exception to the rule, it wears on your soul

Personally, I just charge a flat rate, per slot, come as you please. 50 hours or 1 hour, makes no difference to me.

It stopped all the discussions of times, dates and prices. happyface

I really don't think it's a big deal. Either you have room on the one day that they want to switch or ya don't. Pretty easy yes or no, shouldn't really need to haggle about it. It's not somethiing I would do every week for sure, but once in a blue moon no problem.

I'm interested in your concept though, what do you mean charge a flat rate, per slot come as you please concept? you have intrigued me

[Cat Herder]

I'm interested in your concept though, what do you mean charge a flat rate, per slot come as you please concept? you have intrigued me

I needed to simplify because I was expending more energy on adult issues than childcare issues (years ago) so I went to a fixed rate program.

I am open 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, with my calendar given a year in advance. I have 6 slots, set rates and a 3 year wait list.

It was the best choice I ever made. lovethis I like to enjoy my job.

[lovemykidstoo]

I needed to simplify because I was expending more energy on adult issues than childcare issues (years ago) so I went to a fixed rate program.

I am open 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, with my calendar given a year in advance. I have 6 slots, set rates and a 3 year wait list.

It was the best choice I ever made. lovethis I like to enjoy my job.

So you charge the same per day no matter how many hours they come correct? I'm assuming that everyone has the same schedule every week.

[Meeko]

Maybe.... but after 12-20 years of arguing that point, with each parent believing they are the exception to the rule, it wears on your soul

Personally, I just charge a flat rate, per slot, come as you please. 50 hours or 1 hour, makes no difference to me.

It stopped all the discussions of times, dates and prices. happyface

Same here!

[Meeko]

So you charge the same per day no matter how many hours they come correct? I'm assuming that everyone has the same schedule every week.

I charge a flat weekly rate. Parents can use any or all of the hours I'm open. They can use me from 6-6 M-F if they want. But they get no discount if they only use an hour an day on one week. They are paying for a SPOT in they day care.

Most people pay a set fee for their TV cable service. Try calling the company and saying "I didn't watch much TV this past month, so I want a discount on this months bill"

Same rate. Every week. No matter what. No counting hours/days etc. No haggling. No bargaining. No arguments. Set in stone.