Disagreement with parents

[sandylynn]

Thoughts please....I sent ALL parents a note asking what their plans over the holidays were...they all responded telling me which days they were NOT going to be here...I CONFIRMED the days they were not coming through a text. So I went ahead and booked a very IMPORTANT appointment for 1 of the days NOBODY was coming. Yesterday one father says to me "oh so you AREN'T available that day..cause you made an appointment...so we don't have to pay you...right? AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE.....I said "I wouldn't have made the appointment if you needed me"....thought? I am seriously contemplating canning them over this...This isn't the first time they have done this to me.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Just misunderstanding, that all. He maybe thought you book appointment before they confirmed not coming and if your contract structured that they not pay if you not available, then it fair he checking if fee due.

Not every action of client done to make you feel unappreciated. Money tight for all at Christmas. He just checking if fee due on that day or not. You clarified, that all needed.

[babydom]

I take it the other way. Haha. I take it as he's trying to pull a fast one and get out of paying for a day. But that's just me. Lol. I'd say pay is required. Appt was booked after the fact that they took the day off. And in future don't tell the parents what ur doing on ur day off they don't need to know. Then this won't come up. :)

[sandylynn]

Thank you babydom...you are exactly right...they are pulling a fast one....I confirmed with the wife that she WAS NOT coming at all during xmas and new years....she said NO! I even asked her...."oh, are you guys going away for the week...she said NO...just staying home....gee...I wonder if this might be the same parents that give so graciously at Christmas.....lol

[Other Mummy]

Yes, they are pulling a 'fast one' on you. However, if you are taking their fees for the day..then technically you need to stay open for them. It is in their right to change their mind and bring their child to care since you are technically 'open'. It sucks and it is low handed I agree....but at the end of the day...they are in the right. You should not be charging for a day off (unless you have paid days off in your contract). In future, I would not be telling anyone about an appointment or other commitment on the off chance that no one arrives to daycare that day (or week) because of THEIR choosing if they are still paying.

[sandylynn]

ABSOLUTELY NO misunderstanding here suzie_homemaker....t hey were asked...they said no....I am FREE to do WHATEVER I wish on that day....I do not get paid if I am not available...but I WAS AVAILABLE....they changed their mind after the fact and it was too late...my appt was booked and I am keeping it....and for the record...this is NOT the first time these people have done this...I WON'T TOLERATE IT ANYMORE.....absolute ly ridiculous....people who treat the person who cares for their most PRECIOUS GIFT....r u kidding me lololololol

[sandylynn]

other mummy .....so if all of your parents tell you AND confirm that they are NOT coming on a particular day....you don't leave your house...just in case....let's say....they change their mind during that day and maybe want to bring the child even for an hour...because theoretically you must be available for the whole day to get paid for the day???? that might work for you .(which is fine) ..but not me

[babydom]

I don't do that either. If they say they are off they are off. It's paid and they can't change their mind after. I'm not a drop in centre. No thank u :) lol

[sandylynn]

Thank you babydom!

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Did you want view or did you want validating?

I choose give benefit of doubt and not treat every action client does as negative. But I also choose not be negative in life. Regardless of their intent, situation was clarified so it non-event. Minor issue being made into big one. How blessed that this biggest issue to complain about.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I am off on Christmas Eve now as no one is coming but will still be paid. TECHNICALLY, if anyone needs me that day, I have to open or give their money back. They all have confirmed their days here and they all know I have no kids that day so I know none of them will come BUT if they needed too, yes they have the right to come. They would tell me a day or 2 before though

In this case, if the dad wanted to come, I'd offer his money back. If he was just saying this to be annoying I'd say "I have no children that day so I'm off" end of story. I don't need to tell them my plans for days off

Since he knows about the appt, I would just let him know it was made after you knew no one was coming. I agree with suzie, sounds like a misunderstanding and dad just wants clarification. I don't think there's anything wrong with that and feel it's fine for him to ask about how the fee will be applied that day.

[sandylynn]

Actually suzie_homemaker, I DON'T treat every action a client does as negative, not sure where that comment is coming from....anyways...I am not a negative person and DO NOT choose to be negative in my life! I was really just looking for some feedback and thoughts on the situation and if you are someone who chooses to stay home (in the event that someone comes at the last minute)...that's ok too...MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU :)

[sandylynn]

5 little monkeys...thanks for your thoughts :) I guess unless one knows these people....it is difficult to understand (with these people) that it is CLEARLY NOT A MISUNDERSTANDING...A m I to have to clarify AGAIN every morning of the days that they said THEY WEREN'T coming to see if they changed their minds AGAIN.. THATS JUST WRONG...SORRY.....ME RRY CHRISTMAS

[5 Little Monkeys]

Re:staying home

If I know no one is here on a day, I will casually mention it to parents just so they don't wake up and think "oh, maybe I'll take you to dc today after all". This way, they know that if they want to come, I need a day or 2 notice. No one has ever asked to come though so it's not been an issue. But if I accept money for the day, they do have the right to come

[sandylynn]

So ...if they don't give you the 2 days notice....and you take that day off (because everyone said they don't need you)....do you expect to be paid?

[5 Little Monkeys]

And they stay home? Yes, I'm paid for the day

If they didn't give notice and asked to come that day the morning of, I'd look at what I was doing. If I wanted the day off, I'd give their money back. If I wasn't doing anything, I'd let them come. Depending on my errands, it wouldn't be a big deal (to me) to have a child join me for the day.

[Other Mummy]

My cut off time is 9:30am. If parents arrive after this time they find the door locked. This is in my policies so that would be moot. I'm not a drop in baby sitter to accept children at various hours. If the client came prior to 9:30am I would either accept the child into care or reiterate that they told me they would not be coming so I made other plans. I would then credit them their daily fee onto the following week.

[MommaL]

In this case, if the father told me that he wanted to bring his child after all before knowing that I had an appointment, then I would either reschedule my appointment or offer to return the fee. If on the other hand, I brought up the subject about having an appointment and that's why the father asked if he still had to pay, then I would do as you did and let the father know that the appointment was booked after everyone had confirmed that they would not be coming. But, to be honest, if the father made a big fuss about it, I would probably offer to return his fee or even a partial fee (if the appointment was only going to take up part of the day) just to avoid an argument. It just wouldn't be worth it to me since technically I should be available that day if I'm getting paid for it and was not taking it off as a vacation day.

[MommaL]

I also wanted to mention that if this is a scenario that happens rather frequently that I'd probably add something to my policies about "for planning purposes, parents have to provide ___ days of notice if they need to change their child's schedule for care" (or something along those lines). That way that can't change their mind and it gives you the ability to make plans without worrying about people questioning it.

[mickyc]

I ask for everyone's Christmas schedule by December 1st. I always double check a few times with families. This year I ended up with a week off paid. It probably would be a good idea to add it into my contract that once I receive their Christmas break schedule it cannot be changed. Then there would be no worries in making appointments/plans.

[Lee-Bee]

I would jut let them know that you have an appointment that you booked on a day that all families said they did not require care. This means you do not need to book the appointment January 4th when all families do not need care, that it was for their best interest.

That said, unless the family is just all around disrespectful I wouldn't really consider this a rude thing to do. My husband would likely have asked the same thing (making me cringe) but he is of the mindset there is no harm in asking...you really would be surprised at how much money you can save by asking such things. Drives me up the wall but my husband continues to do it because he continues to receive money in exchange for asking in such cases. That said, if we had a caregiver for our daughter the caregiver would understand it wasn't an insult as they would know they are respected...which doesn't seem to be the case here.

[sandylynn]

Thanks for all your thoughts...ALL WORKED OUT JUST FINE!