Originally Posted by Leigh:
Just wanted to add: An us vs. them environment doesn't work for ANYONE. If you're focused on punitive measures, you're leaving out the important things like morale. Low morale in a childcare can be devastating (in any business, really). I'm not saying to let employees walk all over you, but instead to work on making them happy within reason, treating them like adults, focus less on rules (outside of state regs, of course) and more on solutions.
Also, our morale is great. We have a very good relationship as far as working together and she seems to enjoy her job. Which is probably part of the problem. It's hard not to become friends when you work together closely 40 hours a week and it's easy to take advantage friendship it seems by thinking hey she will understand if I feel bad after staying up too late playing softball last night, etc.