can someone tell me the most diplomatic way to tell this Mother that I dont want to change my notice period just for her

[woahthere]

I have just signed contracts for an after school child, 3 hours every day. I explained all contract with her and she was happy and signed and has left deposit. Now I have had an e-mail from her saying that she does not agree with having a 4 week notice period and that she wants it reduced to 2 as this is what she did with all other childminders. Can someone please tell me how to diplomatically tell her that no Im not happy to do that and that I couldnt give a flying one what other childminders did for her?!
Actually not bothered if she doesnt agree to this and pulls out because I hate people who think they can dictate my terms of business to me, i think its really disrespectful.

I think you should write to this mother being über-polite (über-professional) and say that a four-week notice period is your terms of business that you apply with all your mindees' families and that you are sure that she will understand that you cannot alter those terms for her, in her favour.

Agree with Bonsoir, but I don't think the mother is trying to dictate your terms to you, she is trying to negotiate. As you say it is a business relationship, and this seems like fair play to me. I've done it in other contractual situations (not child-minding), and think it is a case of if you don't ask, you don't get.

I agree with bonsoir. The time for negotiation is before you sign a contract and pay a deposit.

Yes I think that is the time for negotiation as well, I went through it all with her very thoroughly at the time and she had had a copy of my policies on this beforehand so she knew already that this was the case. i feel a bit annoyed about it really.

Agree with majority here and she should have discussed this BEFORE signing. Very annoying and even more annoying if she doesn't come and has wasted a contract (not cheap!)

It's annoying because the mother is being unprofessional - you gave her the contract for review, she reviewed and signed, and then she had afterthoughts.

The very best way of dealing with this is by being more professional than she!

What Bonsoir said

I think that a brief email saying these are my terms and in the interests of equity all of the families I work with have the same terms

(have you a policy with summat about this in, that you can flourish at her? possibly not but have a dig through)

at "in the interest of equity..."

I'm going to take a wild stab here and guess that it is not mother but the father who objected to the four weeks notice. I think she read through, discussed with you, was happy, went home, father stomped his feet and she went back to see if she could make you both happy. Now you'll probably reply and tell me she is not married and I'm totally wrong.

I agree that the time for negotiation is before contracts are signed. But, I also think she is quite possibly not trying to pull a fast one, but has rather been caught in the middle.

I would just say that I once got in trouble for giving one parent more favourable terms than another and it turned out to be bad for business. And then say that ever since you don't negotiate on basic contract terms so that you can keep everyone's the same. So, in the interest of "equity"...

Agree. I have all mine on the same terms apart from one pays me 70p extra an hour (purely because THEY insisted I was worth more than I was charging - I explained it wasn't fair as others would stay at lower price but they put their foot down and said that was the rate! lol). The only other time was when one family was given an 8 week notice period but that was because it was 2 siblings aged under 5 and I know many do this.

I would definitely go for the need to keep all contracts on the same terms'

Good luck :)

You could well be right strix, mind you she had my parent pack about it about 3 weeks before hand in which it clearly states that I ask for at least 4 weeks notice and that if it is not given then they are charged regardless so he could have read it before hand.
I just dont like it though, it shouts to me that she will be awkward and that she actually doesnt respect childminding as a profession. I know what I want to say, just not how to word it.

Dear Mrs X

Whilst I appreciate that other childminders have different notice periods, my standard notice period is (as I explained) 4 weeks for all my clients. I'm afraid that I don't negotiate my basic contract terms as I prefer to keep the contract the same for all my clients.

I look forward to minding little X.

Yours etc

prefer to .. would leave these words out of the above - and state you have to treat all your clients equally

(do I mean interests of parity?)

[doubts self]

i like equity!
have done it...will let you know outcome!

my contract is 8 weeks so tell her to get stuffed and it could be worse!!

Remind her that the notice period is reciprocated, and ask her with a smile if she would be confident of finding new childcare in a fortnight if you decided to give her notice.