Quote Originally Posted by kangaroomama View Post
....I think what this parent is worried about is that I might terminate her child without notice for personal reasons (ie. I decided I didn't want that number of kids or I wanted a full-timer instead of her part-timer)....
Ya we ALL bare this burden of concern because unfortunately there ARE providers out there who do this ... other than verbally reassuring her there is not much you can do about this

The bottom line is she cannot MAKE you provide care to her child .... in that aspect the contract is more to protect US and our income ... if you did terminate her without notice because something 'better' came along all she could do is sue you in small claims court for the 'pain and suffering' that might have caused her or loss of income while she searched for new care and so forth ... however the reality is there MAY be valid reasons for terminating without notice - health being one of them - if you suddenly become to ill to provide care you cannot be bound by a contract to 'provide notice'.

This is exactly what I TELL parents who express those concerns to me to be honest because it eases their mind that I would NOT do this to them because I am sharing and educating them that I am AWARE that this is their recourse if I were to do this and it would cost me more money in time off work 'defending' myself in court and stress and aggravation of potentially being sued - it is just EASIER to give the PROPER NOTICE as per my contract for terminating without 'cause' and just 'because' ... so she could be rest assured that she would get at least 10 days notice for me as per the contract.

If a client was not happy with the 10 day notice from ME feeling that was not enough time for them to find alternate care than I would be more than willing to increase that on BOTH our ends because the reality is that 10 days notice is not enough time for ME to find alternate client either - however it is the 'standard notice' to terminate employment contracts at least in Ontario so this is what I have always gone with!