Charging and illness, think I need ti tighten up my policies......

[popperdoodles]

Looking for some opinions as to if i have done the right thing or if I'm being too soft. Think I need to tighten up my policy on this incase it happens again. Anyway one of my mindees has chicken pox so i sent a message round all my parents to explain and stated that my ds had been a bit poorly but no spots so no idea if he has it. I gave them the option to keep little ones at home with no charge. All parents were not concerned and said they would happily still send. Now, are you still with me LOL, one child has just not turned up toady and the other I was due to have has come down poorly so mum keeping her home because of that but would have sent her otherwise. I can only presume mum of one who didn't turn up is keeping her away after all due to illness in my setting and I don't blame her, she sent a text this morning saying hope everyone feels better soon type thing but didn't specificly say she wasn't coming. Therefore am not going to charge her for today as I said on monday I would not charge if they wished to be kept away. However I am going to charge mindee who is poorly today as when I spoke to her mum yesterday she was definately happy to send her. Does this sound reasonable? Or in deed make any sense? By the way my policy states full charge expected if mindee ill but no charge if I close due to illness. Thanks.

im confused.is the one your charging with you?

Sorry, neither of them are here. Both have been kept home. One because mum wanted to, other due to child being ill. Chicken pox child is being kept home too. I only have my own ds here today who may or may not have chicken pox too early to tell. hope that makes a bit more sense.

so which one are you charging?the one thats ill,one with chicken pox or one that let you know theyre keeping dc home?the one thats not contacted you?sorry think i have a fuzzy head today.

I'm confused.

You may want to write a communications policy stating you won't conduct biz by text message. I think its more professional.

I dont think a communication policy is needed as ActiveC Suggest's, as its more convenient sometimes to keep communication out of hours.

However, to be totally honest, if your child (if i followed what you said correct) has passed on Chicken pox, than i dont think you can expect pay?

The mum who said her little ones poorly may just be sayign that to keep her little one safe/excluded from your care untill you may or may not see signs of spots/chickenpox on your little one.

JUST RE-READ.. And see one of your childminded children had the Chickenpox first, in which case his parent should be paying you, the other parents who take the day/time off through choice should also pay.
Although its a fine line, as they may just be keeping there little ones away from your provision for safety precautions.
Good luck

I send emails to parents when my child is ill and tell them I won't charge them if they want to keep their children off. I had a parent who was on holiday at the time saying they did not want to pay for those days either!!!! Next time I'll check my mailing list!

When mindees parents advise the night before attendance, child poorly: cold, cough, making them sick, from coughing. So not attending, then changes mind in the morning, saying they are not too bad..
I am not keen on taking a child who could make me poorly, therefore I will not get pai if I am sick, not that I go sick, I carry on whatever..
I know it's my call, but I'm not sure, I did make oher plans once I heard mindee not coming.
What would you do....

oops posted above message in wrong place! sorry

OK - the one who got the chicken pox should be paying you regardless - the others should also be as they have chosen not to send their children - but you shot yourself in the foot there!

You were daft (sorry) to offer them the option of staying home for nothing!! Chicken pox is normally an illness everyone clamours for their children to catch to get it "out of the way".

Next time my advice would be to inform all parents by telephone that you have a client off ill with X (chicken pox, D&V etc) and you are just letting them know as it is your duty to do so under registration guidelines. Whether they choose to send is up to them but as long as you are open for business they have to pay you.

I think its a grey area in this case as you implied you were closed for business as you told them DS seemed ill.......you needed to be absolutely clear whether you were open for business or not.

Hope that doesn't come across too harsh!

Surely the child with CP should have stayed at home? Not come in and 'scared off' all the well children?