What do you charge

[martymonty]

For you that are off but paid between xmas and new years, what do you charge for those children that would normally be in school but are with you after school, pd days, march break etc.
It's always been my rule that I am paid what I would be paid if there were there that particular week, for example during xmas if they are normally there 4 days I am paid 4 days at full rate.
I have a dcp that her last child just started school in Sept. so this is the first actual time that has come up where I am off but paid and she has only paid me her after school rate for this week. I am not sure if I should mention this to her or let it slide.
Thoughts from anyone as to handle this situation.
She obviously thinks she only has to pay her after school normal rate for this time.
Thanks and hope everyone has a wonderful xmas and a great new year!:)

[bright sparks]

I think they should just pay their normal daily rate. If the child is with you only before and after school on any given day then how do you justify charging them a full day rate? If since going to school in Sept his normal day with you is just after school then that's all they should pay you for. They pay the same as what they would if they were actually there for care that day and if he was there then it would be after school right? Obviously school is out so he would be there a full day if he came to you for the full two week school break but I think its a bit unreasonable to expect a full days pay for the stat when he is not a full time kid. It's not like they are choosing to take time off and you are still working. It's a stat and you are entitled to be paid but I think it's only fair to charge them the after school rate for the Xmas and new year stats.

[5 Little Monkeys]

To clarify, you have this child before and after school during the school year but on breaks you would have him all day correct? However, she is taking him out on holidays?

[martymonty]

Yes they are here every day after school during the school year and on pd. days, march break, several days during the xmas break etc. They should have been here this coming Monday and Tuesday for sure, but the grandma is taking them, so I'm figuring at least for those two days she should be paying as my contract states I am paid when previously booked if someone else ends up taking them.

[mickyc]

In my contract I charge all kids (full or part time) full rate on stats. When I had children before and after school I only charged them for the full days that they used. If they were away for the whole Christmas break they didn't pay but if they were supposed to come on a particular day they were charged for it. If they ended up changing the schedule last minute too bad they were still charged for it as they had already paid me.

In your case if it is agreed that the child is supposed to be with you on their Christmas break full-time then she should be paying full rate for the week. Make sure it is clearly stated in your contract though before you bring it up to mom. If you just let it be though be prepared for it to happen again because she will think it is ok and how things work

[Secondtimearound]

I charge regular rate plus a drop in fee per day they use . My monthly rate never changes but if it is a pro day and they want to use my Dayhome I charge a daily fee. I feel I'm not changing the routine , they are , so they pay for the extra . For me it's not changing from full to part time , I look at it as a new arrangement .

[martymonty]

I did end up messaging her and telling her that my rules state that I am paid the daily rate for the time they were "supposed" to be here on Monday, and that just because the grandmother has offered to take them, pay is still to be received. I explained that I am not in the position to lose money because someone has offered to take her children. It's always been in my rates and rules and that's what angers me sometimes, they know and yet they still try to get away with it.
I think I may redo my daycare package that I send home with my daycare parents to more clearly state some things so that they cannot question me.

[mickyc]

I just changed my contract for the new year. I have been running into issues of parents not giving much notice if their child will be away and also with some parents never taking any time off because they are paying me. I have decided to offer a fee reduction of $5 a day for children when they are away but only if I am given 1 months notice. I am really hoping that this will be an incentive to keep their child home when they have a day off, to give me notice of days off in advance and hopefully just to take more time off which gives me a break.

Maybe that is something you can think of doing. That way parents will think they are getting a bit of a deal but will keep the child at home if possible (or get grandma more often) but you will still get paid majority of your wage.

I am really hoping it works!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I charge for any days that they are supposed to be here. If they tell me before payment is due that their child will be out for any reason, they receive a $10/day discount, I call this a holiday fee. I find that it really helps!!

For example, I am off for almost 2 weeks over the holidays because parents are off and are keeping their children home. I have 0 kids for 8 days and only 1 for 2 days. I am technically not closed and all parents are paying their holiday fee. In the end, I only loose $300 total :)(might be less as one mom may bring her 2 kids the 2 days I have 1 child already) I am happy with the paid days off and am willing to take that decrease in pay. If that is an option for you, I would consider looking into it!

[Secondtimearound]

Can I ask how she responded ? I am learning I suck when I have to explain my policy to a parent . I
Either tend to be very straight forward but maybe not friendly enough ? Or too nice and then frustrate myself !!! Ugh sorry to go off the topic !!!

[martymonty]

she did respond that she did not know that she was to pay me if I was booked and the kids ended up at their grandparents place, which I know she knew as this has always been my policy. She said she thought she just had to pay me their after school fee so I told her it this way.....you are getting paid, but their grandparents offered to take them.....equals me not getting paid.....don't think so. I am in my own business to make a paycheque not to lose money because someone else has offered to take your kids. well more or less like that, softened it a bit so it didn't sound harsh. As a whole this family pays me each and every time what they owed me, think this is why it bothered me so much this time. Like they were hoping I would not say anything.

[Secondtimearound]

See my problem is I would be pi$$ed !! And being Italian I have a hard time hiding it !! I try !!! I really do , but it makes me feel like they do not appreciate my care and I unravel !! From there !!
I really love working with children but have zero talent for dealing with people who try to change the rules !!!!

[playfelt]

It's hard not to want to treat the parents just like we do with the kids. We don't tolerate them pretending they didn't know the rules and trying to get away with something and we certainly shouldn't have to tolerate it from the parents.

Parents read the contract but stuff doesn't stick out to them till the situation comes up and they realize how it will effect them. For things like Christmas or summer I like to put in writing ahead of time what the rules are in the sense that middle of Nov I sent out a page for parents to list the days their child would be in care and those they would be off and what the pay requirements were. I also put in there a deadline for booking days/making changes of Dec 10 so that I could make my own Christmas plans. I put a chart up at the door and filled in names - then the changes start as some parents are home but were bringing the kid anyways but change their mind if it turns out they will be the only one in care that day, etc.

[Secondtimearound]

That's a good idea !!!! I wish I would of done that !!