Do not be late.

[Anonymous]

How do I make this clear to my employers on one night a week?

I don’t mind them showing up ten or fifteen minutes four nights a week but, on Thursday nights, I work late and need them home no later than 9:30. On the dot. Not 9:45. Not 9:35.

Is it about my inconsistency in not insisting that every day they come home on time? I have told them explicitly that I cannot stay past 9:30 but they don’t seem to get that ten minutes over matters to me.

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Charge them (and maybe preface it with "it is really essential that I leave at 9:30 on Thursdays--my late fee is $xx.") Alternatively, let them know that you cannot work till 9:30 if they are going to be late routinely--you need to end work at 9:15 to allow for the lateness.

That's what our preschool does, and it's pretty much the only thing that sticks if people don't understand that caregivers need to go home themselves.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think since your bosses see that you are accepting of them coming home late the other days - that is is okay to come home late on Thursdays.

(Note: Hopefully they are paying you extra for staying late!)

However, you explicitly told them that you NEED to be gone at 9:30PM & they are totally ignoring your request which is unacceptable to me.

Let them know once again, stressing the importance of it.
If they continue being late after that, I would quit them if I could afford to + find a new family to work for.
One who respects your words.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Lat3 fee is $10.00/minute. If they continue, then you find new job where you are respected.

[Anonymous]

I think if you accept they are 10-15 min late all the other days, you can't expect them to know that being late on Thursday is really not ok.

You can either reiterate to them that you need to be out by 930, not even 931 and that if it happens again, you will have to charge a late fee.

I do think there is probably some "well she's fine with the other days so I'm sure its not really a big deal on Thursday' thoughts going on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you accept they are 10-15 min late all the other days, you can't expect them to know that being late on Thursday is really not ok.

You can either reiterate to them that you need to be out by 930, not even 931 and that if it happens again, you will have to charge a late fee.

I do think there is probably some "well she's fine with the other days so I'm sure its not really a big deal on Thursday' thoughts going on

I agree that they think lateness the other dates are OK so Thursday must be OK as well. I’m hesitant about the late fee because some people won’t care and they will pay the late fee or you will threaten the late fee and actually never follow up with it so you have I agree that they think lateness the other day OK so Thursday must be OK as well. I’m hesitant about the late fee because some people won’t care and they will pay the late fee or you will threaten the late fee and actually never follow up with that so you have lost even more ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you accept they are 10-15 min late all the other days, you can't expect them to know that being late on Thursday is really not ok.

You can either reiterate to them that you need to be out by 930, not even 931 and that if it happens again, you will have to charge a late fee.

I do think there is probably some "well she's fine with the other days so I'm sure its not really a big deal on Thursday' thoughts going on

I agree that they think lateness the other dates are OK so Thursday must be OK as well. I’m hesitant about the late fee because some people won’t care and they will pay the late fee or you will threaten the late fee and actually never follow up with it so you have I agree that they think lateness the other day OK so Thursday must be OK as well. I’m hesitant about the late fee because some people won’t care and they will pay the late fee or you will threaten the late fee and actually never follow up with that so you have lost even more ground.

This! If they can afford it, they will continue to pay you and because they’re paying you, they can be as late as they want as often as they want. I would let them know, again, you can’t stay pass 9:30pm. Let them know if they can’t be home by then, you will no longer be able to work until 9:30pm or you can no longer work on Thursday’s. I had this issue and I expressed that I’m always on time and expect the same curtesy. I understand that under certain circumstances you may be late from time to time but if this continues we may have to 1. change my hours or I will not be able to work on this day- I was in school and had a part-time job as well so I expect them to adhere to the AGREED hours specified in my contract. The switched up quick and gave me ample notice as well as paid for additional time (in cash).

[Anonymous]

Start bring 10-15 minutes late every morning. Give them a taste of their own medicine. Thevtruth isctheybfo not care about your needs. They are selfish and Ard concerned only with themselves. They will not change.

[Anonymous]

Tell them you absolutely must leave at 9.

[Anonymous]

I strongly disagree that just because the OP is okay w/them being late on the other days, then they feel being late on Thursdays too is acceptable.

It is not.
Plus remember that OP stressed that she needed to leave by nine-thirty on this particular day.

Her bosses are just being selfish, disrespectful + inconsiderate in my opinion.

And who would want to work for people like that.....??!
Not anyone that I know!

[Anonymous]

I think telling them that you absolutely need to be out the door by 9:30, but they are consistently late by 15 or so minutes from whatever you set time is, so you need to change the set time to 9:15 on those days so that if they are late you still get out when you need to.

That will make it clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think telling them that you absolutely need to be out the door by 9:30, but they are consistently late by 15 or so minutes from whatever you set time is, so you need to change the set time to 9:15 on those days so that if they are late you still get out when you need to.

That will make it clear.

This.

Or push it back to 9:15 even. And if they ask why you say that they clearly/routinely need a 10-15 minute buffer at the end of the day but you can't offer that on Thursdays so you will need to be done at 9. Also, you should be compensated for all of these extra quarter hours. Also it's just hugely disrespectful and inconsiderate of them to behave this way. An occasional lateness happens but routine lateness is inexcusable in my opinion.

- MB

[Anonymous]

Sitting here with my employers being one hour late.

I hate this. It is such an unnecessary wrinkle in an otherwise good relationship.

[Anonymous]

Be dressed, bag in hand, coat on when they get there and as soon as they are in let them know they are in charge of child and walk out. When they ask you about it, let them know it is imperative you leave on time on a Thursday and if they want time to talk to you they need to arrive earlier. Repeat every week