Question Related To Bad Weather / Delays Commuting

[amberrose3dg]

I was wondering how everyone here handles bad weather and if you charge families late fees for picking up late if the weather is bad especially if the weather has been predicted bad in the forecast for some time.
Personally I want to charge families and not feel bad when they knew it was coming and did nothing to prepare.

[TSDaycare]

I personally don't charge, although I don't deal with it very often here. While it annoys the heck out of me, I am lucky for the most part not to have to encounter that. If the parents seemed pretty careless about whether they are late or not and it's repeatedly happening, I may have to enforce it.

[daycarediva]

Depends.

For families who are regularly respectful/on time. They usually try to leave work early to pick up on time. Last week a dcm left work 20 minutes early only to arrive 10 minutes late. She sent texts before she left about leaving early and doing her best as the roads became increasingly worse. She came in apologetic. No, I didn't charge.

For families who show up 30 minutes past contracted pick up time, without so much as an apology, using the bad weather as an excuse when they weren't even working? Yep I charged.

[Cat Herder]

I definitely charge for that (known weather conditions) and would consider replacing.

[MomBoss]

I charge. They will have to leave work a lil early to make sure they can arrive on time. Regardless of the weather, i still have things to do after 5pm. If they are late, they will make me late.

[LysesKids]

Depends.

For families who are regularly respectful/on time. They usually try to leave work early to pick up on time. Last week a dcm left work 20 minutes early only to arrive 10 minutes late. She sent texts before she left about leaving early and doing her best as the roads became increasingly worse. She came in apologetic. No, I didn't charge.

For families who show up 30 minutes past contracted pick up time, without so much as an apology, using the bad weather as an excuse when they weren't even working? Yep I charged.

THIS is what I do

[Cat Herder]

I wanted to clarify that I live in the deep south so any weather coming our way is headline *Breaking* news for days preceding it.

I have no experience in unpredictable climates.

[hwichlaz]

Case by Case. I have a lot of first responders as parents...and even some families where both parents are first responders. Sometimes they get held over at work for bad weather, disaster, murder etc. When that happens they pay my overtime fees, but not my late fees. They are very good about being on time the rest of the time, and they text me as soon as they know they are getting held over. Most of the time it's only for an hour until an aunt or grandparent can make it over to get them.

[mamamanda]

For me it depends on the situation. A parent who knows in advance & just doesn't care can pay a late fee. But if they leave work & honestly struggle to get here due to sleet & snow I don't typically charge for that. I'm a little more lax than some with pick up time anyway though. I don't give them a set pick up time. I close at 5 & I expect them to be here before that. Other than that, it's not a huge deal to me. Though my parents are all great right now about communicating what time to expect pick up so I can have the kids ready.

[amberrose3dg]

Case by Case. I have a lot of first responders as parents...and even some families where both parents are first responders. Sometimes they get held over at work for bad weather, disaster, murder etc. When that happens they pay my overtime fees, but not my late fees. They are very good about being on time the rest of the time, and they text me as soon as they know they are getting held over. Most of the time it's only for an hour until an aunt or grandparent can make it over to get them.

Im more concerned about the careless ones who "have" to work but don't plan for anything to not even leave work early or for that matter on time and blame it on the weather.
Today we are supposed to have an ice storm start around 11. I was met with a lot of blank stares when I mentioned it.

[Blackcat31]

I charge. No matter the circumstances.

If it's a known weather situation, I fully expect parents to plan ahead.

If it's an unavoidable thing that caused them to be late, I understand but still provided services and should still be compensated for them. If those services happen "after hours" then those fees apply.

To me its pretty black and white.
I charge for being late not WHY they are late.
That's the difference. (in regards to feeling/not feeling guilty )

[Ariana]

It depends. Some families have jobs where they cannot leave at a specific time but have to wait until their shift is over or the school day ends. If there is a snowstorm that starts mid day and I know that the commute will be ridiculous I don’t charge. If it is a family who makes their own hours then yes I charge because there is no excuse for not getting here on time.

I also appreciate a text to let me know and I also appreciate it if the parent has called the grandparents to come if they can’t get away or are stuck in traffic. Both of those things will make it less likely a family is charged.

[LysesKids]

Im more concerned about the careless ones who "have" to work but don't plan for anything to not even leave work early or for that matter on time and blame it on the weather.
Today we are supposed to have an ice storm start around 11. I was met with a lot of blank stares when I mentioned it.

You are getting what I'm dealing with right now... I read your weather; I would have said daycare is closing early due to hazardous driving conditions expected. Heck, you might end up closing early if you lose power - they have no choice then

[DaveA]

I have 1 waiving of late fees due to weather/road emergencies per year (at my discretion) written into my policies. Otherwise yes I charge.

[amberrose3dg]

I have 1 waiving of late fees due to weather/road emergencies per year (at my discretion) written into my policies. Otherwise yes I charge.

This is a good policy.
I may have to add something like this. I just have in my contract I charge for late no matter what. I am just finding parents acting like it is more of my issue for bad weather and not their issue( I warned that i will not give a pass for being late at pickup, they had 24 hours to plan for it). I have already had two families pick up and two more decide not to come. They haven't announced early dismissal yet but there is already ice on the roads.