Policies and Clients
Sometimes I feel that I have a good set of fair policies and then a problem comes up that has never happened before , an issue that I thought I had covered clearly and it makes me re-think all of my policies.
When I do interviews they last about an hour and I go over my policies in detail . Questions are asked back and forth , no one has ever complained about what I have as my policies . I have been wondering how other providers are affected by their policies . How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ? Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere? Have any parents told you that is why they went elsewhere for child care? Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ? |
Hard to type lengthy reply on phone...
Never had a client pull for strict policies. Complain about it 9+ months in like it would change? OH YEAH. Make threats to pull? Sure and I hand them a withdrawal form with no emotion. No one has pulled. |
Originally Posted by Second Home: Parents respect your policies easily and willingly if you do right from the start. Kind of like kids and rules/routines. They say they don't like them but we all know kids crave routine and consistency. Parents are VERY similar ;) I replied in bold above to your other questions. :) |
How does having strict policies ( and following through with them ) affect your ability to get new clients ? I think that parents respect that this is my business, and that my policies are necessary to it's smooth and continued operation.
Do you think that having a strict illness policy will make parents go elsewhere?Exactly the opposite. Parents love that I don't let sick kids play with their own kids. I think this HELPS get clients. The last child that signed on with me has parents who were quite impressed that we have had NO illness in our daycare all winter (Until about 2 weeks after this child signed on :(). The other parents are very respectful of the rules, and follow the golden rule. Do these policies make parents term because you follow through on your policies ?Not yet, but if they choose to term over it, I won't feel a loss. They all agreed to these policies when they signed on. |
Originally Posted by Leigh: |
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: |
Originally Posted by Second Home: |
Originally Posted by rebekki78: |
I'm like BC. My clients tell me over and over during the enrollment process that they love that I am so specific with my policies and that I'm clear about what I should expect and what they can expect as well as what happens if these expectations aren't met.
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YEs
I have had one person tell me straight up my policies are too rigid and she will be going to a center. I also had a lady not sign up because her son had asthma attacks and I would not reimburse for missed days. I also just today got notice to term care for enforcing my 9 hrs then overtime policy after 11 months of caring for their children!
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Originally Posted by Second Home: Yes, parents I do not want to deal with go elsewhere. No, I just don’t hear from them again after they make a quick exit. Not yet. If it does I hope they find the right fit for their family. |
Originally Posted by Roxy1: |
I had a family up & quit over the holidays. I'd had their baby for 6 months. They even said they knew they were losing their deposit quitting w/o notice, but I'd left them in a bind scheduling my vacations and holidays 'like that.' I managed to get almost 3 weeks off, paid, b/c I scheduled my vacation judiciously around paid holidays. They knew of the schedule 6 weeks in advance. It really caught me off guard, as we'd had a great professional relationship.
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I haven't had any issues yet. At interviews I just explain my policies and if they parents have questions, I explain why these policies are important.
I think it would be too stressful for me not to have "rigid" policies. That would 6 families trying to do what they wanted, constantly sick kids, not getting paid on time...no thank you. I would rather have a family pass up my daycare than deal with all the stress. |
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