What is your inclement weather policy?
My current policy is that if schools are closed so am I.
I am thinking about making these paid days since I can not control the weather...thoughts?
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What is your inclement weather policy?
My current policy is that if schools are closed so am I.
I am thinking about making these paid days since I can not control the weather...thoughts?
If it is cold we don't go outside. I don't close even if schools are closed. We haven't been out too many days this winter. If it is -20 with the wind chill we stay in. Most parents still have work no matter how cold it is.
Since I don't do school age kids I'm open everyday and everyday is paid regardless of attendance. I used to do school
Age and on days when school was out due to breaks (Christmas, march break, summer) and when the busses weren't running or pa days then they had to pay my full day rate instead of my b/a rate unless prearranged at contract signing that the child wouldn't be attending other them school days. I can't operate a viable business with school agers so I cut them out totally.
I have no school aged children so school closures do not affect me.
Most parents still have to go in to work so therefore I am open. I don't go out when it's this cold so staying warm in the house is no issue for me! Working from home in this kind of weather is just another reason I love my job :) I am getting tired of inside days though!!!
If I did close, I am not sure if I would charge or not. I am leaning towards no but that is just me.
Mickyc- Thanks! I am not talking about cold-I never close based on temperature. I am talking about ice storms, snow storms and so on.
I don't have school age children, I just find it is usually a good guide. Again, I am not talking about regular winter weather here. Like we recently has some severe ice storms the power was on and off for 4 days-in that case, no I wouldn't want to be responsible for 5 children. The problem is my parents don't work locally so inclement weather can mean difficulty with pick up or in the case of a power outage more time before pick up. Does this make sense?
I don't think I would close but would take precautions when that sort of weather starts up. I would also make sure parents are aware that if my power goes out, pick up would need to be immediate, just like if their child was sick and needed to go home.
Well parents still have to go to work even in inclement weather so I couldn't imagine closing and if the power went out well its not that big of a deal now if the power was out for several days then that would be a different story but we do have a generator for emergencies. However my husband would only fire it up after about 4 hours of no power to run the furnace and the well and the fridge. But I would not close just because the busses are not running.
We just carry on as normal. I do remind parents to leave work as early as possible if weather gets worse because my late policy will apply - ie if you are silly enough to drive to work in this weather then you need to be prepared to leave work early to get here on time.
Would have to be extended disruption for me to close ie if power goes out we go to battery operated lights and flashlights. I let parents know and then get ready for the temperature in the house to start falling - ie find extra blankets, add sweaters to the kids as needed. Really do not see the need to close because the weather outside is yukky. I just thank my lucky stars I don't need to go out in it and pray for the safety of those that do.
I don't do school age kids but when I did then if the buses were cancelled so was walking the kids to school. If a parent took their child to school I did not go to get them at the end of the day and it was the parent's responsibility. Children here were charged for a full day of care even though they were here because I didn't want to take the gang out.
I would imagine if the power was out then most parents wouldn't be going to work and would keep their child at home? I am open no matter what the weather - cold, storming, raining etc. If the weather is that bad then I would hope a parent would not be at work and would come pick up their child anyways.
I have had daycare while the power was out (I am in the basement). We just pull out the glow sticks and flashlights and have fun. If it was a matter of power being out for a few days then obviously I would close but I wouldn't charge parents for it.
Thanks everybody! I have no idea what my policy will be now-but I have lots to consider!
I had a situation happen today due to the weather. I messaged all of my parents at 6:15am when I realized that the bus were cancelled. That being said, I have before and after school kids that I drop off at the bus and the others I walk to school. I had 1 child show up in the morning with his backpack and his father did not say anything to me, so I assumed he was going to school. I had to leave early to walk him to school because of the snow and when I get back, there is an email from the mother asking me if I can keep him for the full day. I am only suppose to have this child BEFORE school, so when I dropped him off, I phoned my hubby telling him that I had the rest of the day off. I tell her that if the father had told me at drop off OR she messaged me BEFORE we leave in the mornings, I would not have a problem keeping him here. So she asks me to pick him up from school?? Sorry, I have made family plans for the remainder of the day. I dont get it, we knew that this crazy snow storm was coming, busses are cancelled (that is how this boy gets home) and yet you drop him off with all of his school things and dont inform me of anything? Am I wrong? I dont know. Just seemed like common sense to me. On top of that, I need to drag my pregnant self out in that crazy weather with my 2 young boys. Grrrrrrrrr.
Here is my thing....how does the weather impact my ability to offer childcare? The only way would be in terms of taking the kids outside but that doesn't mean they can't come and spend the day indoors. How do you justify not being able to open your daycare due to weather? It makes no sense to me. I don't have to drive somewhere to open up I walk downstairs and as long as I have power and people can access my home then I am open as normal.
I agree 100% bright sparks. The only way I am effected is by my before and after school kids and attempting to find out if they are going to show up or not
Snow day here (well ice day actually...). I stay open but if the buses are cancelled I don't do school runs. I send the parents a text in the am and they have the option of bringing the school aged kids to me for the day if i have space,bringing them to school themselves or keeping them home. I generally get paid anyways since they have the option. If the parents send the kids to me for the day, well that's a bonus because I get a full day fee!!!
Bright Sparks- I have to agree-if things are up and running as per usual I wouldn't close. I guess my concern is that I have had parents show up late when there has been bad weather which put me off staying open, because the expect me to "understand the circumstances".
ttremble88- I don't think you were in the wrong at all! As you said had you known you ofcourse would have done as mom had requested.
if parents are showing up late due to weather then you charge late fee that is all. $1 for every minute they are late. Sure makes sure they are on time and take the weather conditions into consideration. Also I have in my policy that too many late pickups is a reason I can terminate care.
That a separate issue though and should be put in the contract and perhaps even an email the night before when a weather warning is issued asking that they call be x time to notify you of their plans for the day and if they are in all likelihood just going to take more time and be late dropping off. It's all about communication.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daycare123
What the parents need to understand Daycare123 is that they should have left work earlier considering the weather. Not your problem. You charge by the 15min segment or whatever after their normal contracted time. You realize there is a weather situation and so do they and it is up to the parents to make the changes necessary or pay the consequences literally . Now having said that I would probably give a 10-15 minute leeway to parents depending on distance driven rather than my normal 5.
My only concern would be for the health and wellbeing of the kids. All the buses are cancelled today too here in Winnipeg and it is extremely cold - almost -50 windchill. The only situation I could see for closing is if the power went off and stayed off when we are having such extreme weather. Our power went off for about a half hour last night and it was very noticable that it was getting cold in that short amount of time with the furnace not running.
As far as the power going off - it will likely be off at the child's home too so sending the child home doesn't make it all better for them although they would have access to their own bed, extra clothes etc.
I have never and don't plan to close for bad weather...but if my power were to go out for an extended amount of time, I would send the kids home for sure. Even if the power is off at the kids' homes, parents have the option of taking them out to eat and warm up in the mall...etc. I would be stuck in the dark and cold with all of the kids...not fair to them or me. Other than that, I can't see the weather affecting my daycare other than not playing outside...which has happened a lot this winter! My son is the only school ager, so I deal with that on my end, but it doesn't affect the daycare families. Schools rarely actually close where I am, even if buses are cancelled. I leave it up to parents whether they are able to make it...and they usually do.
Also, I am somewhat understanding of lateness due to snowstorms, etc. Mostly, I find the parents leave early enough that they do get here on time...but I have actually told all of them that I do understand if there is a major weather event and they get stuck in traffic. The last thing I want is them driving crazy to get here on time and possibly causing an accident. They usually call me to let me know they are stuck, but on their way and I am relaxed about that. I guess it's because I don't have habitually late parents, so I know that in the event of bad weather, it happens. I have also been the parent stuck in a storm trying ot get to daycare to pick up my child...it was so stressful!
I agree with you sunnydays. Last year I had a family with only one car and it was so teeny tiny, it got stuck a lot lol. They were usually later than normal but only once they were passed my closing time. I didn't charge them for that. They don't have a cell and that sort of bugged me but what can you do ha ha.
Yesterday one mom's brakes seized up and she texted to let me know they would be later getting their son but they still arrived before closing time so all was good.
I also agree with sending home children if the power goes out. At first I thought I wouldn't send home but I see your point of them having the option to go somewhere where there is power.
So if you send the kids home due to a power outage sunnydays would you deduct anything? This has never affected me so I'm unsure what I would do if it came down to it! By the way, here in B.C. we're required to close if there's a power outage.
A lot of these kinds of things comes down to calling the parents to advise them of the situation and most parents will want to get home to their own house and make sure things are ok and use it as an excuse to leave work. I wouldn't be reimbursing the families but truthfully I would be hoping they would come but compared to when a child is sick or injured I would be much more lenient. I have notified the parent of the situation so if their child get chilled and catches cold well they will be off for a few days with the child wont' they - would have been better to come in the first place.
In my frist year of doing business I closed, but I live in the prairies and we have frigid weather a lot. So that would mean that I am constantly closing.
I stay open. The only time I will close is if roads are closed and I feel that emergency services would not be able to reach us in a timely fashion. I still expect my dcks to be picked up on time and late fees still apply.
Same with a power outage. I will remain open unless it is off for an extended period of time and I am worried about keeping food safely or the house warm enough.
Either way, it is my judgement call and these are paid closures for me. If I close due to either bad roads or power outages with kids here, they have a 1 hour window to pick up.
I have remained open during blizzards and had kids show up. Even one whose parents weren't working. So don't ever assume parents will use common sense :) If you feel you should close, do so.
My major concern is that kids are still able to be picked up at the end of the day. I love my dcks but don't want them stuck here ;)
This is my main concern. If I feel that we would be stuck in an emergency situation I will not open. I also will not open if the power goes out. Yes, I know the power will likely be out at their house as well-but at that point I need to be setting up the necesarry things for my own family (like this year when our power was out for almost 2 days).Quote:
Originally Posted by nschildcare
Thanks everyone for the input!
I will be simply using my discretion on a case by case basis.
I also consider a weather or emergency closure a paid closure.
Exactly what has happened here! Part of the reason I have been considering a proper policy in the first place!Quote:
Originally Posted by nschildcare
I don't think I would deduct anything for sending them home due to a power outage as it is beyond my control...but it has never happened, so I'll decide when and if it does! I have also never heard of roads being closed where I live, so it would have to be pretty extreme to consider emergency vehicles not being able to get here or parents not being able to pick up. I guess those of you who live in areas where weather is more extreme have to consider these things more!