Ethical dilemma.
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Anonymous
| I work part-time at a group daycare, the centre is closing for six weeks for renovations. A co-worker will be taking care of 4-8 children per day, childcare licensing requires that a caregiver must be licensed if they are caring for more than two children to whom they are not related. She is operating a temporary daycare out of a parents house, and will be collecting employment insurance during this period. I am so tempted to report it, but I wouldn't want to put all these families out of care for six weeks. In my professional opinion, she should not be caring for this many children because she lacks critical competencies for a care giver. She has difficult dispelling conflict and will act visibly frustrated, is hugely unreliable (history of absenteeism, will call in sick to work if hungover, heavy smoker, etc).. Also, I am not in DC, I posted here just out of discretion and to ask for opinions. |
Anonymous
| Stay out of it. |
Anonymous
| In my opinion, mind your own business. The parents aren't stupid. They likely realize this setup is illegal. My guess is that she will be totally overwhelmed the first day or two and she will quit or some families won't come back. Stay out of it. |
Anonymous
| If something should happen to one of those kids it will be on your conscience forever. This is nothing more than cheap parents putting theives of their children on jeopardy. Report it. |
Anonymous
|
An adult who is responsible for the care of children is legally obligated to report any suspicions of abuse or neglect.
That's the law. Obviously there are shades of grey w/ the situation you describe but if you feel the right thing to do is to report the law actually supports that decision. |
Anonymous
| Sounds to me like OP is envious of her coworker. |
Anonymous
|
The thing is OP isn't reporting it out of good faith. She's reporting it because she, for whatever reason, dislikes her co-worker.. Or maybe she's envious (like PP mentioned) because the co-worker got the opportunity to continue employment during renovations and she didn't?
Unless the parents don't realize that their child will be with 7+ other children and only one childcare provider, I'd MYOB. She may not be the only adult there anyways and if all 8 parents are ok with the arrangement I don't see why you're so bothered. I think you just dislike this woman and want to secretly ruin her opportunity to make income while daycare is out. Maybe it's because you didn't get the opportunity ? |
Anonymous
|
Would you rather sit quiet and allow the risk of danger for the children and liability for the caregiver for 6-weeks or speak up and have an angry co-worker, but allow the families some time to find other, safe, legal care for 6-weeks?
Maybe the families are unaware of the licensing requirements. Could you send out a letter clarifying and encouraging parents with some options to find childcare for those 6-weeks? The risks to the kids and the caregiver are not worth it. The licensing regulations are there to keep kids safe. As a caregiver, that is top priority. |
Anonymous
| How old are the children, OP? |
Anonymous
|
Hi all, just to clarify I will be going travelling during the six weeks. I'm actually really happy to have the time off.
I'm not worried out of bad faith or jealousy, I'm worried for the kids and parents because I have seen how she handles conflicts, tantrums, and "bad days" and she could use some serious education on how to be a proper caregiver. Her contract ends in September and my boss has made it clear to me she is not renewing my coworkers contract. I also don't think it's ethical of her to be cheating the system (collecting unemployment, not reporting the cash income, etc). The kids are mixed ages, some as young as 2 and then some older kids who are out of school. I'm most likely not going to report it myself, but I just feel really nervous and have a "bad feeling" something is going to go wrong and I could have said something. I think i'm just going to talk to my manager about it, I'm sure she will know what to do. |
Anonymous
| OP, how do you know the home isn't licensed already, and your friend isn't just helping the parent who owns the house? You sound like a royal trouble maker. Sorry. |
Anonymous
| The parent is a landscaper, and my co-worker has told me she is offering the parent a reduced rate for allowing her to use her home. But that doesn't really matter because clearly I am in the wrong for questioning the scenario. Thank-you everyone for your input. |
Anonymous
| You're welcome. You seem to know an awful lot of details for being a PT worker at a daycare. I will not ask how. |
Anonymous
I'm sure she can check the requirements online. 
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Anonymous
I was not talking about licensing requirements. |