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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>I Need My Backbone Adjusted, It's Weak!
crazydaycarelady 11:29 AM 09-05-2012
How would you all handle this? I feel kinda weird asking for the money since I didn't actually work for it.

My policy is on the MAJOR holidays (which there are 6) if your child would normally be here on that day then I get holiday pay. So for example this family never comes on Thursdays, so they don't have to pay for Thanksgiving, but they do come on Mondays so they get charged for Labor Day. I charge NO OTHER days that I don't work, like sick days or vacation.

So I gave dcm the bill which included Labor Day,. She slips a check on my desk minus Labor Day. Looking back she did the same thing on July 4th but I let it slide since I was on vacation that week. She signed my contract!

Her son goes to preschool so I charge her the full day for him, since he is here from noon to 5:30. Maybe she feels she is paying me too much already. I am a pushover, I HATE confrontation. I know I need to work on this. My inclination would be to just write on their next bill that I am owed for Labor Day.
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SilverSabre25 11:31 AM 09-05-2012
Whoops, DCM, you forgot about Labor Day. I still need $x, due by [date]. Remeber, since you're contracted for Mondays then I need paid for any holiday that falls on Monday.

Have a copy of the contract or handbook to hand, just in case she challenges you.
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Happy Hearts 11:39 AM 09-05-2012
Crap! I think that was sneaky of her to slip it on your desk and not say a word about not paying for the holiday. If you say nothing, then she will continue to not pay for holidays and you will feel like this every time she does it. It will fester into something ugly and resentful for you.
So, you must say something today. Don't let it slide. It will be uncomfortable and she'll be pissy probably. Be prepared. Photocopy the portion of the contract regarding this, plan what you're going to say and don't fall for anything she has to say about not paying it. This is crunch time for you: either stick up for yourself or change your policy that doesn't charge for holidays.
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DBug 11:59 AM 09-05-2012
I would just add it to the following week's bill, along with any late fees. But I would email dcm as soon as I realized. Something like "DCM, just wanted to let you know that last week's payment was short one day. I can add it to next week's bill if you like, but it will be an extra $35 ($5/day) in late fees. Or, feel free to bring it by this evening between 6pm and 8pm along with the additional late fee for today (or however many days it's overdue). Thanks! Have a great evening!"

I always play dumb and give the parents the benefit of the doubt. She may have signed her contract, but she may not have read it or remembered it, kwim? That way when she says "Oh, I didn't realize I have to pay for stats." You can say "Oh, I'm so sorry I wasn't more clear. Payment is required for all stat holidays as outlined in the handbook." It drives the point home while saving face on both sides.

Now, if this was someone who routinely takes advantage, there might be another way of dealing with the issue ...
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My3cents 12:08 PM 09-05-2012
you need to revive your contract to say that all Holidays are paid Holidays and list them. This is a bonus to you and you will learn to look forward to these far and few days even more then you used to look forward to them. They are energizer days. Make me a better provider.

Say something to that parent ASAP. Sorry Marge I think you overlooked Monday as a paid holiday because I didn't receive your payment for that day.

I actually had parents that asked if I was open
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crazydaycarelady 12:12 PM 09-05-2012
Originally Posted by :
I actually had parents that asked if I was open
Me too!! Dcm is a nurse and had to work so dad had to "babysit" his own kid!
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littlemissmuffet 12:12 PM 09-05-2012
I would tell her at pick-up today "Hey Cindy, you didn't include payment for Monday - I will give you until tomorrow morning at drop-off to bring it by, but after that I will be charging the usual late payment fee of ____ (in my case, $30/day). If you need a copy of the contract you signed wherein you agree to paying holidays, I can provide one in the morning. And smile BIG
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HappyHearts 12:12 PM 09-05-2012
Originally Posted by DBug:
I would just add it to the following week's bill, along with any late fees. But I would email dcm as soon as I realized. Something like "DCM, just wanted to let you know that last week's payment was short one day. I can add it to next week's bill if you like, but it will be an extra $35 ($5/day) in late fees. Or, feel free to bring it by this evening between 6pm and 8pm along with the additional late fee for today (or however many days it's overdue). Thanks! Have a great evening!"

I always play dumb and give the parents the benefit of the doubt. She may have signed her contract, but she may not have read it or remembered it, kwim? That way when she says "Oh, I didn't realize I have to pay for stats." You can say "Oh, I'm so sorry I wasn't more clear. Payment is required for all stat holidays as outlined in the handbook." It drives the point home while saving face on both sides.

Now, if this was someone who routinely takes advantage, there might be another way of dealing with the issue ...
This^

Exactly how I would do it!

Very professional and gets the point across.
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Crazy8 12:16 PM 09-05-2012
you gave her a bill and she STILL deducted a day??? That sounds like it requires a firm calling out - she knew she shorted you!! I would mention it at pick up and remind her of your policy. I know its hard to do but you have 6 paid days and chances are she will do this for all of them if you let this one slide (I also would have let it slide if I was taking a vac week like you did 4th of july).
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busymomof2 12:20 PM 09-05-2012
My dcm who usually just leaves the check in the diaper bag didn't on Tuesday. She then texted me if Monday was a paid holiday for me. I told yes all holidays are paid just not my vacation. Parents try to get away with not paying holidays but if they get paid we should get paid. Our job is just as important.
I hate confrontation too but if you let them get away with it she will continue to do that then it will be hard to back track why you let her get away with all the other times. Are you filthy rich...prob not...so stand up for your money girl!!!
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jen2651 05:08 AM 09-06-2012
I had the dad (who I had the check issue with) hand me cash on the day it was due. There were other parents there, I should have just counted it in front of everyone but didn't. I realized he shorted me a day (I am assuming he was going to not pay for the holiday). I filled out a receipt and gave it to him that told him he had paid: M (pd holiday), T, Th, and if he wanted to use Friday of that week (which he always does...it's his contract) the payment for Friday was due Thursday am. So, I basically paid myself for the holiday and took a day from him. We will see how this goes...I know...passive aggressive=not good. But seriously, he's not dumb. And, he is going to be stuck on Friday when I don't let his daughter due to non payment. If shows up, there will be a late fee and cash must be in hand!
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SilverSabre25 05:13 AM 09-06-2012
Originally Posted by jen2651:
I had the dad (who I had the check issue with) hand me cash on the day it was due. There were other parents there, I should have just counted it in front of everyone but didn't. I realized he shorted me a day (I am assuming he was going to not pay for the holiday). I filled out a receipt and gave it to him that told him he had paid: M (pd holiday), T, Th, and if he wanted to use Friday of that week (which he always does...it's his contract) the payment for Friday was due Thursday am. So, I basically paid myself for the holiday and took a day from him. We will see how this goes...I know...passive aggressive=not good. But seriously, he's not dumb. And, he is going to be stuck on Friday when I don't let his daughter due to non payment. If shows up, there will be a late fee and cash must be in hand!
Ya know, I actually think that was a great way to handle it. I don't think it was passive aggressive at all!
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busymomof2 07:16 AM 09-06-2012
I agree super smart idea. You'll have to let us know how it turns out Jen2651.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:07 AM 09-06-2012
Originally Posted by My3cents:
you need to revive your contract to say that all Holidays are paid Holidays and list them. This is a bonus to you and you will learn to look forward to these far and few days even more then you used to look forward to them. They are energizer days. Make me a better provider.

Say something to that parent ASAP. Sorry Marge I think you overlooked Monday as a paid holiday because I didn't receive your payment for that day.

I actually had parents that asked if I was open
I did, too, for part-timers and neither of their parents were working that day.
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lovemykidstoo 11:16 AM 09-06-2012
I will be anxious to see how this turns out for you too. She sounds like a real doozy to stiff you after you gave her a bill. You sound alot like me. I sometimes don't have a backbone and don't like to cause problems with the parents either. I wonder why we're so worried about upsetting the parent, when in fact, this parent in particular wasn't worried about upsetting you.

I was wondering what everyone usually did for holidays in which you have vacation time attached to. For instance you said you let July 4th slide because you were off too. That's what I normally do. I have the whole week of July 4th off and I never charge for that day. Now Christmas this year, I have in my contract that I get paid for Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day. I'm taking as vacation December 26, 27 and December 31 off. Would you still charge for the actual holidays or let them slide because they're attached to vacations?
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busymomof2 12:37 PM 09-06-2012
I'm taking my vacation Dec 24 thru Jan 4th. I just used the extra holidays to extend my 5 day allowed vacation. I do expect to get paid for Dec 24th, & 25 since they are in my contract as paid holidays and happen before the start of my official vacation dates. I will let Jan 1st slide since it is in the middle of my vacation (although you could make an arguement to get it paid). I know I will have to collect after I return from vacation and that's never easy since parents never want to pay for holidays.
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