Client changing schedule-Advice pls

[FunnyFarm]

I have a client who has (in a rather blunt email) "told me" they want to drop their child's care by one day a week for financial reasons. Would this be cause to write up a new contract? I love this little child, but the family can drive me nuts with a lack of respect towards my time. drop off and pick up are all over the place (frequently late- I have vented about them before...) Anyway, I want to toughen up my late fee penalty because of them. Truly, as much as I love this little one I am on the verge of terming anyway because of the lack of respect to my time. However; I need the income too. I constantly have an add up anyway because you never know what will come your way :). I guess I really just want to know- can I renew my contract with them due to a change in care? I wish I could term the client and keep the child.... *sigh*....

[SLD]

You can and should do a new contract. In response to the email, attach the new contract and tell them it will need to be signed and returned before the next day of care.

With that, change and hilight your late pick up policy and have them initial that they have read and understood it. Next time they're late do a warning letter.

Make sure all clients get a copy of the revised late fee tomorrow.

[mickyc]

How many days do they come now? I wouldn't take a drop in your pay just because they can only afford 1 day of care.

For myself I only charge full-time. I have had part-time before but it was for a minimum of 3 days a week. If they want to come one day of those three then so be it but I still charge for the 3 days. I don't worry too much about the drop off/pick up times as long as they are within my hours of work and do not disturb nap. If a child isn't here when we do art or eat snack then they miss out. I carry on with my day whether they are here or not. I do appreciate it though when parents give me a heads up if they are dropping/picking up at different times. I only have 1 family currently who is not consistent. As for picking up late - that is a huge NO NO. I charge a late fee and have no issue charging it. I do also have in my contract that consistent late pickups may result in termination. I would likely speak to a family about it before I got to the point of termination.

[playfelt]

I have a rate for 2 days or 3 days but my full time rate applies to 4-5 days because it is almost impossible to find a client that only needs 1 day a week. I would be telling them that they will need to drop down to 3 days a week to get a cheaper rate and then make them stick to those days. Ideally you could find someone to fill the other two days.

[torontokids]

From reading it sounds like they want to go from 5 days per week to 4 (not go down to 1 day per week).

I think you can either:

Term

Tell them "no," it is a full time spot and you both start looking for something new

Send them the new contract with your part time rate which is higher then the full time rate (mine is $5 more per day)

Personally, with all the issues you are having with them I would tell them the spot is a full time spot and aggressively look to fill the spot. I think there can be a problem always having your ad up as people see it and wonder why you always have a spot? Or since they have seen it many times they may assume they contacted you but haven't.

[mickyc]

Sorry I guess I misread it. Yes it sounds like they are wanting to drop one day not go down to one day. I would tell them that full-time is full-time and they are paying for the spot not for the amount of days they are there. So even if they don't send their child for the day they are still charged for it.

If they need to save money they need to look at their other bills and how they can cut down on their expenses (cell phone, cable, eating out etc). Things like daycare should not be at the top of their list for something to cut back on.

Stand your ground, don't take a cut in pay just because THEY want to cut down on their expenses.

[bright sparks]

From reading it sounds like they want to go from 5 days per week to 4 (not go down to 1 day per week).

I think you can either:

Term

Tell them "no," it is a full time spot and you both start looking for something new

Send them the new contract with your part time rate which is higher then the full time rate (mine is $5 more per day)

Personally, with all the issues you are having with them I would tell them the spot is a full time spot and aggressively look to fill the spot. I think there can be a problem always having your ad up as people see it and wonder why you always have a spot? Or since they have seen it many times they may assume they contacted you but haven't.

Yes that is my understanding too. They just want to reduce a day not go down to one day. If this was a family that I had no issues with and I could financially handle the loss then I would accommodate them but that's because right now in my area there is a huge slump in enquiries so I would hate to loose a full spot for the sake of doing a family a favour by dropping one day. That being said, it sounds like this family wouldn't be missed so its up to you to just figure out what works best for you. If you send an amended contract for them, highlight the policies in bold but also verbally communicate that there will be zero tolerance for these policies being broken moving forward and make it very clear to them the consequences. The thing is that you have to follow through and enforce them otherwise they are going to carry on abusing these rules.

[FunnyFarm]

Thank you all for the advise! I noticed that I didn't explain that they are currently at 3 days per week and going down to two. So my part time rate is the same for them. I have amended my late fee and resent my contract with amendment in late fee. I also state that my clock is set to The Weather Network and therefore there should be no argument about time. But yes, I do think I want to get another Full timer. :) Would help the pocket book for sure!

[playfelt]

Since the are only part time now and cutting it down even more then for sure it is time to replace them.

[mickyc]

I wouldn't allow them to go from 3 to 2 days. I would tell them your minimum for part-time is 3 days - take it or leave it.

[Crayola kiddies]

My minimum is 3 days

[cfred]

I used to accept a minimum of 3 days for PT. Now I only accept FT as I got so, so sick of dealing with that nonsense!

[bright sparks]

It sucks so bad though when your area is saturated with providers and not enough clients to go around. It's all good and well saying you wont take part time but some of us don't have that luxury. I have that policy now and have had for quite some time but that just leaves me with constant spots open. I have a boy leaving in August when mum goes on mat leave. He started a year ago 3 days a week...my last part timer...and she asked to drop to 2 days while on mat leave and I said no, 3 days was my minimum. So now because of that I have lost 3 days not 1 which would have been better. You do what works best for you personally and act based on your area and whether you think you have a good chance of filling spots. I am at the point where I may drop my daily rate substantially and require parents to supply their own food just to get people to enroll. Damm you undercutting stay at home moms/daycare providers...lol...yo u are screwing with my business!!...Okay I totally diverted but don't judge me haha

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree bright, it's much easier said than done to just stop taking part time. As of July, I will have 5 kids enrolled with it being 2 full time and 3 part time. I'm limited to 4/day and thankfully right now I am full everyday. However, unless all 3 pt's leave at the same time, I'm stuck filling pt spots or taking a decrease in pay for who knows how long until all 3 are gone. I would love to only accept ft or at least charge ft whether they are here or not but until I have space I can't charge for a spot that's not open.

One of my only regrets with opening my business is that I started with pt. If I could do it again, I'd have only accepted ft. Live and learn though and hopefully one day I can get to that but right now it's not possible unless I take a cut in pay.

OP, if you don't want them to decrease their schedule than you need to tell them that it's not an option. I give a $10 decrease for any day I know they won't be here ahead of time, could that be an option?

[FunnyFarm]

You do what works best for you personally and act based on your area and whether you think you have a good chance of filling spots.
I agree, we need to do what is best, and you are correct that my area is saturated with care providers. I just finished filling a pt spot that I advertised for several months! (I am also picky who I chose. clearly made a wrong choice with this fam though!) And I also will be losing another in a few months due to mommy going on mat leave. *sigh* I love being home with my daughter and caring for other kids, but it can be so frustrating with how this job fluctuates so quickly. :) I truly can't wait for my DH to finish his apprenticeship and I won't need to rely on this income, but instead just roll with it and enjoy it! But right now it sucks! I'm one stressed out Momma here. :p

[Secondtimearound]

I agree with mickyc , two days a week is just enough not to be able to establish a routine with the child . It seems like the family is calling the shots , and do not care or understand the difficulty trying to fill the remaining days with another family . I charge a set rate for part timers , regardless of days .
I only work Monday to Wednesday and have most of my dcks all 3 days , I have one family 2 days a week I charge her the same as if it was 3 days . I know it's a high rate but I have no way of finding a family or want to have a family one day a week !

[FunnyFarm]

I charge a set rate for part timers , regardless of days .
I only work Monday to Wednesday and have most of my dcks all 3 days

I am seriously reconsidering the way my contract is set up now! I like the idea of a set part time rate regardless of days. Thankfully most of my dcks are easy going and my part timers are all easy at two days a week.

[ttremble88]

I am one of the ones, due to area, that have ONLY part-timers. Where I am, most of the mothers either are strictly stay home mothers, self employed or work part time. I have only ever had 2 full timers, both of which are no longer with me, but I always have a full daycare group.

I have been lucky enough to be able to puzzle piece my daycare children schedule into one another, allowing them to share a spot. For example, I have a mother whom is a nurse, so one week she needs 2 days and the next week 4 days. I have another mother who is on mat leave, so she allows me to schedule her into my none full days, so part time nurse and mat mom, become a full timer.

It is nice because every week is different and every day, I have a different mix of children. Yes, it is a lot of work on my part, but on the plus side, when you have that 'handful child' at least you know that they will only be there 2-3 days per week! :p