Late Fees

Every daycare I know has operating hours. Whether these hours be open to drop-off and pick-up with the prescribed time or specifically spelled out individually in the contract, every provider has a start and end time to their day. Just like any other business there are hours set aside in the day for us to be responsible to someone else for our product or service. Unfortunately, there are times when parents do not view our hours with respect and decide that their time is more important than our own.

Tardiness is a pet peeve of mine. It reeks of disrespect. To me, it demonstrates that the person being late values their own time more than that of the person who is left waiting for them. It's rude, inconsiderate and will leave you without daycare. My thoughts are that if I can be here, on time, each and every morning then the parents can be here, on time, each and every evening. There has never been an occasion wherein a parent has come to drop-off their child to find me not here. But, I can assure you that I have stood staring at the ticking clock, muttering profanities under my breath many, many times.

What happens when a parent arrives to pick-up late? For me, it depends on a number of factors. The first of these factors would be frequency. How often is this parent late? The second factor is situational: Did they honestly get held up in a doctor's appointment? Or did they find their usual fifteen minute trip took triple the time in the ice storm of the year, and rush to get here sincerely apologetic and embarrassed at having stolen my free time? Or did they stroll in without a word of regret? All of these specifics come into play when I deal with a tardy parent.

Regardless of the reasons, one must have a late pick-up policy in their contract. And, the late fee should reflect an amount that not only compensates you for your extra time but acts as a deterrent to future infringements. Your late fee should also reflect your normal hourly rate. For most providers this would be between $15 and $20 an hour. Taking into account the average worker gets paid overtime fees of one and a half times his normal rate that would increase your fees likewise. My late fee is $15 per half hour or any part of that half hour. And, I expect that fee to be paid to me the next morning at drop-off if you wish to leave your child in care. And I mean that! No pay - no stay.

There are very few occasions wherein I have had to enforce the late fee policy. For the most part I make it very clear that tardiness will not be tolerated. It's amazing what parents will pick up on when you just spell it out for them. In fact, in all my years of daycare I have only enforced the policy on two families. The one family got the point and was never late again. The other wasn't so quick to pick up (no pun intended!) on my lack of patience at having to once again work an hour late on a Friday night. They assumed (wrongly) that paying me an extra $30 meant that they were entitled to be late anytime they damn well pleased as long as they came in with cash in their hand. They found their selves without daycare one Friday evening about six o'clock when they decided to stroll on in.

If you are too soft and don't want to rock the boat when parents are stealing your free time while enjoying more of their own then take this into account:

One hour a week of over time X fifty two weeks a year = 52 HOURS OF OVERTIME PER YEAR

Yes, you read that right. If you work only twelve minutes more every day then you will lose out on a weeks pay each and every year. How would you feel if I told you that next week you will care for all those smiling faces, wipe their bums, feed their tummies, and clean up their mess and you will do it all for FREE? My guess is that you would never fall for that. But, if you are not charging late fees when warranted then that is exactly what you are doing each and every year. Yep, working one whole, long, tiring week for free. Ready to change your mind yet about those late fees you aren't charging?

After hours fees exist for a reason. These fees are applied at a premium rate to compensate someone who has already worked their full week. These people should be relaxing, recharging and spending time with their families. Why do you think the after hours vet clinic or plumber, or furnace man charges such exorbitant rates? Why? Because that's what the cost is to him when he has to miss his child's dance recital or the family dinner. Time is money and if you put in the time you deserve the money.

If you don't have a late policy then type one up. Add it to your contract. You'll thank me for it later. And for those of you who are too scared, too nice, too easily pushed over then don't bitch and complain next time you miss your son's T-ball game because some inconsiderate parent thought his time was more important than yours. No, look at your son and tell him that your job is more important than his game.

Work for free? Who does that? Not me.



For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca