Lateness.... termination?

[FunnyFarm]

so, in conjunction with my previous post re: "do you ever feel guilty" This same family is almost always late for drop off. I mean today it is 1hr late with no communication! I'm going to mention (per the contract) that I need some communication to let me know if you are going to be late. I have a schedule to follow. Have you ever termed a client for consistent lateness? What would you say in your term letter? Should I give a warning first? This is nuts and drives me crazy. I HATE being late! I'm currently interviewing to fill one spot- I may end up doing 2! It kills me though because the child is awesome. :( That's what I don't like. Getting rid of a good kid because the parents just don't respect me. :(
on a side note- Arrival today was 1hr and 15 min late. I did mention I need to know when you are late. I get told that Thursdays will always be late because work starts later. Thanks... now you tell me!:mad:
(Thanks for letting me vent):p

[Judy Trickett]

Just to be clear....does your contract state a no-later-than drop off time? For example, I have in my contract that you must be here by 9am.

If so, then yes, you have told them verbally a number of times. Now time for a written warning. If they continue to drop off late then interview for their spot and give them notice.

I think this is a blatant disrespect of your time. And it's also disrespectful of the other children in care who are sitting around waiting on one late child to start the day's activities.

[FunnyFarm]

Agreed Judy. My schedule is set up in such a way that I have a time period sectioned off for drop off, but I also have a signed contract with a specified drop off time so I don't have all showing up on my doorstep at the same time. With a verbal warning this morning I will see how it goes (I also want to see how my interviews go too) ;) It's the hard part of business- I like the people and their child, it's hard for me to separate business from my emotions. I'm learning as I go...

[mickyc]

Why are you waiting for them? Carry on with your morning. Unless you go away from your home I don't really see the issue with it. Drop off your child whenever. If it is after snack/art/outside time then sucks to be you - unfortunately your child missed out and I am not doing it again.

[momof5]

I'm in the same boat, but my problem is at pick up! This family asked me to change pick up to 5, instead of 4:30 claiming they were to rushed. Mom finishes work at 3:30-4:00. My other families pick up at 4:45. Well since I agreed to this. They have not showed up until after 5 every night! They go home and shower etc, and show up here after 5. Last night dad sat in my laneway on his phone until 5:15! I know they are now taking advantage of me, but how do I mention that pick up now must be at 4:45.Without being bitchy.I am now at my wits end with them doing this every single night. The traffic's heavy excuse has run out!

[Judy Trickett]

I'm in the same boat, but my problem is at pick up! This family asked me to change pick up to 5, instead of 4:30 claiming they were to rushed. Mom finishes work at 3:30-4:00. My other families pick up at 4:45. Well since I agreed to this. They have not showed up until after 5 every night! They go home and shower etc, and show up here after 5. Last night dad sat in my laneway on his phone until 5:15! I know they are now taking advantage of me, but how do I mention that pick up now must be at 4:45.Without being bitchy.I am now at my wits end with them doing this every single night. The traffic's heavy excuse has run out!

Who cares if you appear "bitch". Heck, THEY appear rude and disrespectful!

Just tell them. Tell them you changed it because they claimed it was a rush but a "rush" is NOT running home to change or prep dinner or sit in your driveway on their phone.

Why should YOU be unhappy so THEY can be happy?

[Judy Trickett]

I'm in the same boat, but my problem is at pick up! This family asked me to change pick up to 5, instead of 4:30 claiming they were to rushed. Mom finishes work at 3:30-4:00. My other families pick up at 4:45. Well since I agreed to this. They have not showed up until after 5 every night! They go home and shower etc, and show up here after 5. Last night dad sat in my laneway on his phone until 5:15! I know they are now taking advantage of me, but how do I mention that pick up now must be at 4:45.Without being bitchy.I am now at my wits end with them doing this every single night. The traffic's heavy excuse has run out!

Also, you did SPECIAL for this family. You increased the amount of allowable time in your care at no extra charge. You made an exception for them. You did SPECIAL. And the problem with SPECIAL is that it's only special to YOU. To them it's just "normal". So, every day that they go home and change and unnecessarily leave their kid in care longer than needed, while you are still forced to be working, they are NOT thinking they are inconveniencing you. Nope, because to them it's just NORMAL pick up time. This is why I won't do SPECIAL for anyone anymore. Because it is rarely remembered or thanked for. The only person who pays for SPECIAL is the provider.

[nschildcare]

I would take it back to the original pick up time of 4:30, late fees applicable after this time.

You did it as a favour, they took advantage of that. Therefore, they lose the privelege.

Sometimes daycare parents need as much training as their kids :rolleyes:

[AmandaKDT]

I had a family that originally wanted a 9 am drop off, then needed to change it to my opening time of 7:15. I said okay, then that time came and went the next day and they didn't show up until around 9 am. Turns out she didn't need the earlier time every day (she picked up shifts here and there at her job and sometimes works nights), but didn't seem to think that she needed to tell me this. :mad:

I only let her do this the one time, the next day I had her sign a new contract agreement saying that she had to notify me before 7 pm the night before, or she could not drop off earlier than 9 am. It never happened again...

I am very flexible and accommodating, as long as the parent communicates me and respects my policies.

[nschildcare]

As for OP, I have this family. They would arrive, well, whenever. I think the dad was late for work every day!

I just rolled with it even though it drove me crazy. I have all contracted times and plan our day around drop offs,e tc.

Fast forward a few months and I had a new dcg start that needed a morning nap. I never knew when the family was coming so delayed naps for them. Ridiculous, right?

So I explained to them how it was going to be from now on due to the needs of the group, which were changing, and that while I had been able to be flexible in the past, I could no longer accomodate their whenever arrivals. It was a rocky go at first but now they arrive at their scheduled time on the button. So it is possible.

I think if you want, you can fix it. But do it now and don't delay. It is much easier to enforce policies from the get go.

[bright sparks]

@momof5
I like nschildcare approach. Her post gives specific advice on how to take action in this instance and then obviously you need to work on preventing these kinds of issues from occurring again in the future.

You won't be being a bitch so don't concern yourself with that worry. Let them know quite clearly and to the point that upon their request to extend care hours for their convenience, you did so at no additional charge as a FAVOUR! Now they are taking advantage of this by going home to shower and change amongst other things prior to pick up which is not a necessity, requiring longer daycare hours and that pick up is even later than the agreed time. Let them know as a result of their actions, their pick up time is to be moved back to the original contracted pick up time of 4:30 and should late pick up after this time occur, a late pick up fee will be charged per minute and they run the risk of termination of contract. Personally, all though I know others probably wont agree, I would give them one chance of being late, just to prove to them you mean business when you remind them that care is suspended until late fees are paid, and hopefully that will turn things full circle and they will start respecting your rules again. Failing that, if it occurs again, give them written notice! Some people need to be worked with rather than the go to response to difficult situations being to always terminate. They are abusing your rules because you allow them to, so you need to get that in check. Now if it was behaviours that you had no control over then sure, you would be fighting a losing battle, but in this case I think it's worth one last ditch effort to salvage this relationship if you can.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Do you have a late fee? I have a late fee and a part in my contract that says if you are consistently late, I have the right to terminate. (nice little rhyme! lol) I don't want them thinking that as long as they pay the late fee it's okay to come whenver!

I ask the parents what time care is needed for and ask that they pick up within a reasonable time frame of their shift ending. However, I don't charge the late fee until I am closed for the day. All my parents pick up before I am closed. I don't mind the odd day they go home to shower or grocery shop as long as they let me know which they almost always do.

I also ask that they drop off before 930 or text me to let me know if they are going to be late. I have one family that drops off whenever they feel like getting out of bed. It drives me nuts!! I continue on with my day but it's annoying when they show up during snack or art or whatever else we are doing and I have to accommodate for their child. (I'm not going to punish her for her parent's mistakes). If she shows ups when we are done these things that is fine but when it's during them, it's a different story. She is done in a week though as dad is laid off for 3 months. She mentioned to me the other day that they are going to get a babysitter to come to the house to make it easier for the child once dad goes to work. I'm thinking they are tired of me asking that they show up on time and would prefer to just let their child sleep in. Oh well, they were my last pick up so now my days get even shorter so it's a win for me!

[mickyc]

Like I stated before late drop off's are not an issue for me. We do what we do and if their child isn't here they miss out. too bad. I have had kids show up half way through snack and nope I don't go get them anything. I prepped only what was needed and that is that. I have 1 mom right now that can be here anytime from 9-10:30 (usually comes at 9:30).

Now late pickups are a totally different issue! LOL I close at 5 and there is no way I would stand for a parent being late. I charge $1 for every minute after 5 that they are late. I enforce this policy (I used to charge $5 for every 10 minutes but recently changed it). I have charged a few parents the late fee and it usually doesn't happen again. My new contract also states that consistent late pickups are grounds for termination. If a parent usually picks up at 4:15 and doesn't show until 4:30 or 4:45 that is fine but after 5 - NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY LOL.

[Busy ECE mommy]

My contract says dropoff by 8:30am as we have school dropoffs to do. Often we continue on for a walk or to the park from there. Wouldn't it be funny if you were gone from the house when the parent dropped off late without notifying you LOL!

Late pickups are $20 late fee here. One time 5 minute grace period, then $20. It ususally doesn't happen too often if the deterrant is good enough.
I would move the pickup time back to 4:30 and start interviewing for a new family.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I'll have to double check my new contract but I think I switched my late fee to $10 for the first 15 mins and than a full day's pay for anything after that which is $30, $32 or $35, depending on what their full days rate is.

[nschildcare]

My late fees are $10 for any part of first 15 mins, $20 for any part of next 30 mins. I call emerg contacts after 45 mins with no contact. I also have the clause that lateness may result in immediate termination with no refund of fees. Never used that clause but have been tempted.

[Polkaroo]

I go on about my day. I personally don't mind what time they are dropped off but I do mind if they are late at pick up. I just started my daycare and my first little one started two weeks ago. The first 2 full days they were late (5min and then 25 minutes) I sent them an email on the Friday reminding them that my pick up time is 5:00. I told them that I trust they were able to adjust to their new schedule this week and that as of Monday, any late pick-up will be charged a late pick-up fee as outlined in the agreement. If late drop off bothers you definitely put your foot down. As I outline in my guidelines, I have a family of my own and have a schedule so these times are important to be respected.

[Secondtimearound]

I do not mind late drop offs , I just do my schedule , I can not stand late pick ups !!!! I started everyone on contracts and specifically went over the pick up times !!! I get the dck ready to go so I need them to be picked up at the right time !!

[Sassygirl]

Late drop offs dont bother me.

I have no problem saying at drop off "Oh xx just missed snack/craft etc. To hopefully have the dcp get the point.

I do not tolerate late pick ups. I have 4 other children and enough to do each night. I have all the dck dressed and ready at the door. I say "sorry can't chat we have xxx tonight have a good night see you tomorrow" All my dcp know we have a very busy evening schedule.