Provider Does Not Allow Make Up Days

[daycaremum]

This exactly

[daycaremum]

switching

Nevermind making up days, I usually don't even allow a parent to tell me a child won't be here on a SCHEDULED day and then change their mind and bring the child. It has nothing to do with ratio, it has everything to do with what my pans for the day are.

How do you know for certain that your DCP would have space? How do you know one of her own child's friends wasn't coming over for a play date? How do you know that a casual drop-in wasn't coming that day?

How do you know your DCP was even going to have any kids that day? Maybe nobody was scheduled to come that day and she planned to enjoy a day off!

How do you know your DCP wasn't planning on being closed that day for an appointment or some other reason? I only inform parents that are scheduled for a particular day that I am closing... not parents that I'm not expecting for the day.

Maybe the day you asked for your child to come is your DCP's "easy" day and she wanted to keep it that way (I for one don't blame her). Maybe your child is often difficult for your DCP and she wanted the break?

Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter - she said no, and you should respect that, no whine about it.

Your child fell ill, that's not your DCP's problem - it's part of being a parent. The holiday, also not your DCP's problem... full-timers can't make up holidays, why should part-timers be allowed to? :confused:

Finally, you make it sound like you DESERVE this favor because you pay for sick days and holiday days and DCP's vacation days (which is the norm where I live)... but you agreed to that in your interview/contract - so you're not getting any awards from me!

This exactly. Your provider does not have to explain to you why she said no. You just need to deal with it. You asked for something that is not part of your original agreement, it is up to your provider whether she wants to do it or not. I myself allow switching days as long as it works for me

[MarinaVanessa]

You made a point doing the statement that she said that by accepting him, she would go over her limits.

I believe that what she said was that by accepting him she would not be going over her limit.

[saved4always]

When I did in-home childcare, I would let a parent come on a different day like that as long as it would not put me over the legal ratio and as long as I had other children attending on that day. If it was a day that I had no other children, I would most likely not have given up my day of being child-free. I am a bit selfish that way.

[JennyBear]

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.

Absolutely agree with this!

[gobarno]

It is a business.

The question is, when you missed work, would you be offended if your employer asked if they really had to pay you for all of the days? The provider still has bills to pay. And unfortunately when you get too close (friendship) with your provider, someone gets taken advantage of. I have clients who I have developed a friendship with but M-F 7-5, it is a business. If you became friends with your hairdresser, would you ask for a free color?

[biglou]

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.

agree with daycare diva on this issue. this is a constant problem for providers caring for kids on part time basis. Part timers are scheduled into the calendar so the provider can maximize open seats on a daily basis.
To avoid the issue, providers must clearly explain the policy on switching days, holidays, and sick days to avoid the parent from trying to switch on this occasions. Have all you part time parents sign a doc acknowledging they understand you rules on this matter when they sign their contract. So you can kill the matter when they bring it up in the future. Or else, get out of the part time business and work like hell to fill the seats with full time only and flat rate charge. Then there is no issue! They come when you are open as they already have their seat waiting for them.

big Lou

[Countrygal]

I'm coming in late on this, but...

I am in the camp that I would allow the dcp to switch days with a whole bunch of buts and ifs...

There is so much info that is unknown here. Do they do this often? Want to switch days, that is? Did they give notice, at least by drop off time? Did they keep dcprovider well informed of the situation?

If all of the above was done, then I would probably allow them to switch, but like some of the people said, I would be sure to let them know that it is NOT my policy and is a one-time deal only. And I think I'd add that because they were so good at keeping me informed and notifying me, I was willing to work with them.