Client coming off mat leave wants to change hours

[Suzie_Homemaker]

It depends on what suits you.

I officially open at 7.30am. Over the years, I've had the odd request for earlier. For my situation, I don't have young children home anymore, so it's not a big deal to me to open at 7am. That said, if I already opened at 7am, there's no way I'd consider 6.30am for anyone.

I approach this two ways :-

Depending on the pick up times for the group I currently have, I have opened at 7am with the requirement that they pick up 30 mins earlier too. This works if the client wanting the early drop off happens to be the last pick up. I can achieve very little between 7am and 7.30am but finishing 30 mins earlier is a big help.

I also have agreed to do the 7am drop off based on babysitting rates, so an extra $10 a day. No one works for free so I wouldn't even consider it if they aren't picking up early, without an extra charge. However, I state really clearly in the contract that any half day closing, is not based on their extended hours but on the core business hours, that if I find myself in a situation where they are not often here then the option will be removed (use it or lose it), and of course, the additional fee. I do state clearly in the contract that drop off cannot be any earlier than 7am. The door will not be opened before then.

IMO, this really just depends on how long your hours are already, if the early start impacts on your family getting ready for the morning, and just how early the drop off will be.