Should she pay?

Posted: Thu, Jun 03 2010, 6:38 pm Post subject: Should she pay?

I run a small playgroup in my home, only 5 kids plus my own DD. I charge $80 a week & being that it's such a small group, every penny counts. Nevertheless, I am a mentch & charge a full week if they miss 1 day but take off for each additional day missed.

One parent recently had a baby & so I lost money for the 6 weeks she was on maternity leave. (She kept her DS home with her & the newborn) Now she's been back at work for the last 3-4 weeks but only ends up bring her son 2-3 days a week because its hard for her to get the baby to the babysitter & bring her toddler here & get to work on time. If her DH is available, she keep her son home with him. This week, for example, he only came Tues & Wed. We'll see if he comes Fri or not.

Great for her, but I lose out.

Is it unreasonable to call her tonight & tell her that I'll have to start charging her a full week from now on, that I understand it's hard for her to bring him, but I'm losing out?

Posted: Thu, Jun 03 2010, 6:42 pm Post subject: re: Should she pay?

Entirely not unreasonable (I also don't think it was fair to keep her son home for six weeks and not pay you). I think you can tell her that either she pays in full, or you need to give up her slot to someone else.
_________________
Live the life you want to live. Be the person you want to remember. Make decisions. Make mistakes. If you failed, at least you tried.
~~~~~
I don't claim to know everything, nor do I think my opinion rules. It's just that - an opinion. Smile

Gold Member Joined: May 10 2009 Posts: 1099

If you have a potential child who would use that slot then you can explain to her that either she pays full price or the slot will go to another child. If anyway that slot will be empty I think it's mentchlich to charge for when he comes, you can make it a policy that you charge the full week regardless but I personally don't think it's nice as it's not like you are losing out-unless another child would take that place. jmho.

Executive Member Joined: Mar 13 2008 Posts: 422

Are you turning down other kids because you keep the spot open for her kid? if that's the case then I would definitely tell her. If not you could be loosing out even more as she may want to find someone who charges per hour or day and then you'd loose out on the 2-3 days a week of extra money.

Posted: Thu, Jun 03 2010, 6:45 pm Post subject: re: Should she pay?

Could you get another child to fill the slot?

I'd make a wholesale change in your policies, either setting a weekly minimum (you must pay for at least X days a week) or make it a weekly fee, come or not.

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 24 2008 Posts: 6528

I don't think you are obligated to keep the child.

I kept my son by his babysitter during my maternity leave because they would have not reserved his spot.

I think it sounds like you've gone beyond. Let her know that this is your parnasa and you need a minimum commitment or you will fill the spot.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

I think weekly or monthly minimum is a smart compromise, just as a general policy. You're still being flexible not making people pay for typical absences (which are usually just a couple of days, not too often) but they pay a fee for the position of being a member of your group.

But for the specific situation, what they said - if you could have a different kid, give the parent a choice between paying or leaving so you can take a steady.

Executive Member Joined: Oct 29 2009 Posts: 368

I definitely think it's reasonable for you to tell her this. But I think in the future, you should write up your practices and hand it out to the parents before you take their child. In it, you can definitely say that they have have up to 2-3 unpaid absences a month, if that is what you desire, or whatever you decide is fair. The parents should always know what to expect beforehand.

Silver Member Joined: Apr 19 2009 Posts: 586

in all my kids playgroups, there was/is a monthly fee and you pay it no matter what. that was clearly stipulated in the beginning. pesach? sukkos? only 2 weeks of school that month? lots of snow days? you're sick? maternity? unless you stipulated it in writing, it is hard to know what is acceptable at this point. definitely create a clear policy for the future so this won't happen again. hatzlacha!

Diamond Member Joined: Jan 19 2006 Posts: 4428

I haave always paid monthly, even in months were my child was sick over two weeks of the month. I have NEVER heard of not paying for sick days in a playgroup. It may be different with babysitters though.

BTW I paid a full month for pesach, RH- Sukkot, and when they had 10 days midwinter.

Posted: Thu, Jun 03 2010, 9:30 pm Post subject: re: Should she pay?

OP, if you are not a drop in babysitting, I think it's crazy that you allow so many unpaid days.

Posted: Thu, Jun 03 2010, 11:01 pm Post subject: re: Should she pay?

OP here:

Thank you everyone! I ran this by DH, my mom & my sisters & all agreed I can ask for full pay. After all, this is my parnassah. I did have a policy but I never took into account that a working mother would stop bringing her child some days at some point. This specific child is not staying for the summer & I've already filled his spot starting in July but if she decides to pull him out now, so be it. There are only about 3 weeks left of this session anyway.

And, as many of you suggested, I will be writing up a note to the parents of the next group specifying my policies - I think I'll have them pay for a month at a time.

Thanks so much!!