What do you do when a parent lies about an illness?

[Littledragon]

What do you do if a parent drops off their child and doesn't say anything about him having had a fever over the weekend, or having a cough and you don't notice any of it until after the parents had left. Obviously, the parents is called to pick up the child, but what are your consequences?

Last post today I promise lol I'm updating my policies

[Skysue]

I would loose it as Hand foot and mouth is going around every where right now and if you had to close they are putting you out of pocket!

[Lou]

I.can't.stand.parent s.who.do.this!!!!!!! !!!!!
I know a couple people like this and it drives me up the wall!! Like a little girl in my daughter's dance class, the mom (my friend) is often like: "I wasn't sure if we'd make it to dance today, ******** was throwing up last night, but she seemed alright this morning", or other idiots who are like "oh he has a fever but he's acting fine". PEOPLE!!! Ok, I'm off my rant, I promise but it really is one of my #1 pet peeves. These people are not doctors, you can't gamble with the health of other people around you because you didn't want to stay home with your sick child. If I found out that parents were keeping an illness from me, and sending the child in hopes that I wouldn't find out, I would terminate without question. It's incredibly disrespectful.

[Sandbox Sally]

My contract states that lying is grounds for immediate dismissal. Just sayin.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I agree - failure to keep open lines of communication around the health and well being of a child makes the client a LIABILITY and I make that clear in the interview, in my policies and during contract signing that failure to disclose fevers, illness, medications or changes in health can and will result in termination of contract - we are providing care and making choices in an emergency and we need ALL THE FACTS to do so!

I would give them a warning if you do not already have a clear policy on expectations around this and create a policy where termination is the risk they take of they do not inform provider !!!

[ladyjbug]

I can, and have immediately terminated someone over this. Knowingly dropping a child off who is sick, has been medicated, and not telling me puts me at risk, my family, my income and my other daycare families. No patience for it at all.

[Littledragon]

I've had mom tell me that baby had a fever during the weekend, as she picked him up. But this is also the same person who started here without telling me that she was pregnant. So, I guess I can't expect much else lol I was just updating my policies because I have two interviews this week (!!!!!!) and I wanted to update it with some experiences I've had thus far.
Thank you!

[playfelt]

It's really a sad statement about parents when we have to ammend our contracts for each new family based on something a previous family did but it always seems like that is what I have to do in the hopes of not getting taken advantage of with the next client - or at least until they find another loophole I need to close. I guess even microsoft is always finding loopholes and sending out fixes so even the big players have to do it too. Still just sad..... not to mention annoying.

[jec]

Don't ever worry about posting too many things ~ we are here to support each other.
It's not the parent's choice to pick up their little one or not, that is yours. I have it put in my contract that I reserve the right to determine if a child should go home or not.
If someone lies, it is causing risk to the health and well being of the other children in my care.
I would give them a warning written and make them aware that you know and not tolerating it and they will think twise before doing it again.

I have in my contract that I can only have children with cold like symtoms in the daycare.

[Momof4]

Jec is right Little dragon, keep venting, posting, we're here for you. A phone call and a stern verbal warning is my first step, then a warning letter, then probation, then termination. I'm not one to terminate because I believe once you put your foot down on MOST families they will take you seriously.

I HATE interviewing and transitioning new babies so I would rather train a family I already have in care. I've been through this a few times and they learn pretty fast that I don't put up with any crap and I'm not gullible. I can see the way a child is behaving if they are lethargic and laying around or feeling all out awful and a phone call to the parent asking them questions with my stern voice is a wake up call for them that they didn't pull any wool over my eyes.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I agree that training is key - I have never had an issue with anyone doing this to me - my clients are awesome of when in doubt calling me to ASK if they should stay home or not before getting here - I am generally flexible and empathetic in return on "trying" of they are fever free but just not themselves but no symptoms to see if they will cope in program and in return find that clients tend to keep their children home when REALLY needed without me pushing for it and often keep em home when I would have taken them ... had a client my first year who called her child in "bitchy" on quite a few occasions - aka teething and not herself but what was bitchy to her mother was most kids NORMAL cause the child was an angel normally and never cried or whined or misbehaved :)

[mom-in-alberta]

But can you really call a parent on "lying"? I don't think I would have the balls to, unless I had irrefutable evidence. What if the child really does come down with something while at daycare, and didn't seem sick the night before? Mom/dad may chalk the behaviour up to morning groggies?
I totally get what you are saying though..... "Oh, she threw up a few times last night, but seems ok so far." Whaaat? So the 45 min you have seen of her this morning, before she has a chance to digest her food even, tells you that she's "FINE"???? Grrrrrr.

[wolfpup]

My policy states "keep your child home if they are ill, they would rather be sick at home" and I ALWAYS either tell them at pick up or text if someone in my household is showing signs of an illness... then they decide if they want them here. However I will not allow them here if they are ill. I make that very clear in my interviews and parent handbook too.

[bright sparks]

I have it in my contract that it will result in immediate termination of contract without notice and without refund of deposit. I do not and should not have to give them a warning as they have signed a contract to acknowledge this policy and if they were not happy with this then it was something to be brought up upon signing the contract. Thats another reason why I have every clause in my contract initialled and I never email my contract. My contract is signed face to face and I read the contract aloud one policy at a time and ask if they understand before they initial each one. I clearly state to people that masking illnesses or bringing their child to daycare knowing they are ill or have been within the last 24 hours is not okay and I clearly and kindly explain why. I have terminated for this reason, and would do again in the future. The parent is an adult and it is not my job to give them chances and parent them when I have been clear from the start on what the policies are. I understand that people miss things in the small print but thats exactly why I am so thorough with going through my contract and at least twice a year in newsletters, especially cold and flu season, I remind people of these particular policies, so they dont have room for excuses. Before I added this condition to my contract I found that in my experience, the parents who do this kind of thing will generally do it again or will break other policies also and if you give them and inch, generally, they will take a mile.