Parent losing hours at work

[Starshine]

One of my family's is here on a flex-care basis. When they signed on the mom said that her work hours were not always regular, but that they would typically need me 3-4 days a week. They have been with me a few months now, and the mom has consistently been working at least 3 days a week. For the past two weeks though, her shifts have gone down to 1-2 per week. She says she doesn't know if they will pick up again or not.

Now, at the time, I accepted this family for flex-care because I needed the income. However, I have gotten used to having the income of her coming 3 or more times a week, and now I'm starting to feel a hit. I guess my question is, what would you do in this situation? Financially, I would obviously prefer to have someone here full-time. Should I give it a while and see if her hours pick back up? If they don't, then what? Is there a point at which I can terminate care because I need a full-time child here? I feel like an ass because I agreed to flex-care, but had she said at the beginning that it would be 1-2 times a week, I think I would have said no. Clearly, she didn't know her hours would be cut either and I know it's a financial hit for them as well.

[apples and bananas]

I offer part time care, but on a 3 day per week min. You don't have to bring them 3 days but you have to pay for 3 days. It keeps my income consistent in case this could happen. I've been through this... I had to terminate the client as they couldn't commit to 3 days a week and I needed to feel consistent.

[Judy Trickett]

I would tell her she has to commit to a set number of days or you are going to fill the spot. OR, because she is "flex", advertise, fill the spot and then offer her any gaps you might have in enrollment as her daycare days.

[bri]

I agree with the other two post. I offer partime care but they have to guarantee min 20 hours per week. That way you can have some stability and it gives the family some freedom to have flexible care. You could ask her to commit to a certain number of days and if she can't than you can say she can stay on till your able to fill the spot with a full time child. I know its not nice but at the same time you have to do what is right financial for you and your buisness. After all that is the nice thing about running your own buisness you can do what works for you.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yes ~ this is why I hate 'flex care' because everyone defines it differently .... to me it means that they do not have a CONTRACT with me at all it means that they call up and say 'do you have a space and if I have someone sick or on vacation I say 'sure' but if I do not than well SOL find someone else on your 'list' of flex care people to call .... but for others they define it that they are expecting a full time space to just BE THERE for them but yet are only expecting you to get paid for when they 'need' care and therefore you are expected to forgo income for the privilege of serving them ~ why would anyone want to do that????

I get that this might seem 'better than nothing' when you are NEW and empty and trying to get started but it is not a long term viable solution unless you business plan is to not be 'full' in the first place and you can forgo this income without feeling 'upset' about it OR if you define their flex care plan with you as truly no commitment on your part ~ they are just filling in an 'empty spot' while it is there and if they use it they pay for it and if you find someone else to use it it is not there for them then!

I agree with Judy and the others that in the absence of a 'clear' definition of your flex care agreement you need to either have her make a minimum commitment of however many days you can afford to not have her paying on the others and draw up a contract on that OR you need to terminate her entirely and give her the option of operating without a contract where she is truly 'on call' meaning that if the space is there she can have it but if you are full than you turn her away and she only pays for the days you are available to her ~ but if she wants and needs the space to be there for her 'just in case' than she needs to PAY FOR IT!!!!

[Momof4]

I also have a 3 days/week minimum for the sake of the child and my income. Children need routine and when they only come to daycare one or two days/week how can they ever feel comfortable?

[kidlove]

I too have a three day week minimum to help secure my income, some parents still try to push the issue though. If you dont already maybe you should add to your contracts that any part time is concidered contingent upon filling by full time. required you give a certain ammount time notice. Full time should out weigh part time, but you should state so in a contract to cover your butt for when a parent has a problem with it. I had someone who took my min. due for a good couple years ( the kid was a pain to care for, so it helped my choice) but I got an offer for full time and this "pain" part timer was taking the spot. sooo... I gave the "pain" parents the choice to pay full-time or loose their spot because someone else needed full time care.