Late pick up for late appointments

[bright sparks]

Some people....

I had a text this morning from a mother 30 minutes after dad had dropped off saying she would be picking up at 5 instead of her regular 4:30 because she had a physio appointment. I said for future reference she needs to schedule appointments earlier or make alternative arrangements to collect on time because it causes me not to be able to stick with plans should I have made end of day appointments and the only time it is okay to collect a bit late is due to unforseen traffic, not because a family decides to schedule an appointment too late in the day. I try to be flexible, understanding that this doesn't always work out but then they should ask me if its okay not tell me that they did it anyway.

She replied saying that she thought I was open till 5 and only after that would late fees be charged. She said she was dumbfounded and that she would have to alter the contracted time to 4:45....even though A) that isn't her call, and B) she would still be late picking up at 5. I explained that everyone has a contracted set of hours that they pay accordingly for. Because she generally picks up on time at 4:30, the days that I know others will be collected by 4:30 I almost always take a 5pm appointment slot somewhere because it is so rare I can attend them. I don't care where parents are or what they are doing during their contracted hours as long as I am able to contact them. What I am bothered about is collecting after contracted pick up time because they want to get a run in or go to an appointment. What if I wanted to get a run in or go to an appointment?

She genuinely doesn't see the problem and because for the most part she is on time, she thinks I'm attacking her and not being fair. See where trying to be human and being a little flexible gets us ladies? Give them an inch and they will take a mile.

I've told mom not to stress and that we will talk face to face at pick up as once again not a fan of texting info like this. I know we will work this out, but these parents as with so many don't seem to get the difficulty in us getting to appointments of our own with the logistics of 5 children plus our own.

The irony is that I actually have to arrange a few days of later or earlier pick up as my daughters gymnastics practice at school requires a 4:30 pick up which is when the majority are collected and it's to far away for her to walk. In hind sight I wish I had never responded to the text and just talked about this at the door.

Just a vent ladies...I feel better already, it's just that some days I just shake my head. She is a decent person and I've no doubt this will be a none issue at pick up time. I do get that people get so self absorbed in their own lives, but it does piss me off sometimes especially when I feel like I'm being taken advantage of and all I'm trying to do is take back control and prevent that from happening further.

18 weeks....

[Fun&care]

I hear ya. It's so annoying when a parent "informs" us of a change in schedule instead of ASKING if it's okay. Just because we work from home doesn't mean that we can work 15 hour days. Somtimes it's like they think their schedule is more important than ours.

And ps only about 6 weeks until I give notice, taking the summer off pretty darn excited! I will not miss the shenanigans we have to deal with sometimes!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I charge per day but do ask that parents pick up within a reasonable amount of time after their shift. Thankfully, most let me know ahead of time if they have an appt or errand and ask if it's okay to be late picking up. The times that they don't...Well, I know how you feel!!! I'm also the type of person that automatically thinks the worst though so I'm imagining they're late because of some terrible accident!!

[mickyc]

I also charge by the day and never make arrangements Until after 515. I always just assume I am working until 5 even though most pick ups happen at 445-450. It never fails on the days I am in a hurry though to go somewhere is the day a parent shows up at 459!!!

If you have contracted hours then stick to your guns. Over their hours is late! So frustrating.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I charge per day too. Any parent can stay beyond their normal pick up as long as it remains in business hour. Yes, it hard to schedule appointment and might be nice to knock off early if all gone but same for parent too. Not issue as long as here before close.

If I was finding too hard to do family errand/appointment, then I would shorten business hour but like last minute customer run into store, parent can pick up here last minute too.

Only time I expect early pick up is if I open earlier than business hours for them. If I agree to child come 30 mins early, then I expect my time back at end of day with pick up 30 mins early. Otherwise I assume working until close and bonus if they get here early.