Do day care workers appreciate when you pick your kid up early?

[Anonymous]

I have been picking my baby up closer to 3 on Fridays this summer and the day care workers seem happy when I tell them about early pickup on Thursdays.

They are really good caregivers but just seem so exhausted. I asked what they were doing this weekend and they said “rest.”

[Anonymous]

I mean, most people are glad to have a lighter load and leave early on a Friday. What are you looking for here? “Yay it’s the weekend” is a drumbeat of our culture, across basically all work environments.

[Anonymous]

I think so, they may be able to get off work early.

[Anonymous]

Of course. why wouldn't they be? I know our daycare workers love and take great care of my daughter, but at the end of the day it is a job for them and she is not their child so.......no different than me being happy if my 3:00 meeting gets cancelled or my boss tells me he doesn't need that report for another week or whatever.

The other thing is that with ratio requirements, I know our daycare sends workers home early if there are enough parent pick ups to get them into the next required ratio (e.g. if the required ratio is 4 kids to 1 adult and there are 9 babies there, then they need 3 workers to be in ratio. But if that 9th baby leaves, then they could let one staff member go home and still be in ratio.) Being a caregiver is tiring, low paid work; I don't fault people for wanting their rest! I like getting out of work early too...

[Anonymous]

God, yes! Former daycare teacher and we were thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think so, they may be able to get off work early.

Do they lose pay if they go home early?

[Anonymous]

OP, if you were told you could leave 3 hours earlier on a Friday wouldn’t you be happy? I’m not sure why you would think this is any different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think so, they may be able to get off work early.

Do they lose pay if they go home early?

In a center, yes. But one kid out didn’t usually send us home early.

In-home, no.

[Anonymous]

Of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course. why wouldn't they be? I know our daycare workers love and take great care of my daughter, but at the end of the day it is a job for them and she is not their child so.......no different than me being happy if my 3:00 meeting gets cancelled or my boss tells me he doesn't need that report for another week or whatever.

The other thing is that with ratio requirements, I know our daycare sends workers home early if there are enough parent pick ups to get them into the next required ratio (e.g. if the required ratio is 4 kids to 1 adult and there are 9 babies there, then they need 3 workers to be in ratio. But if that 9th baby leaves, then they could let one staff member go home and still be in ratio.) Being a caregiver is tiring, low paid work; I don't fault people for wanting their rest! I like getting out of work early too...

Yes, to all of this. I know my daycare workers are nice and loving but of course they want to relax on weekends and are happy with windfall less stressful days/afternoons. Honestly when I can pick my kids up early it's because I was able to leave work early so we're all on the same page of get-out-of-work-good here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think so, they may be able to get off work early.

Do they lose pay if they go home early?

I was going to say the same. If they are hourly, to some degree having lots of parents come early is not ideal.

[Anonymous]

Stop justifying not picking up your kids early. Center or in home, it’s always welcome!

[Anonymous]

As long as it is after nap time. Never pick up during nap time.

[Anonymous]

No I'd think they would be Infuriated