How to find daycare drop off/pick up helper?
Hi! It looks like my work hours are no longer compatible with my daycare. I don't have family around, nor a babysitter, and I don't feel comfortable asking friends for what would be a very regular support. How/where do other parents find this type of support? I'm mostly looking for somebody to pickup LO at 5pm, and hangout with my child until I come back home about 1 hour after daycare ends. So it's a short assignment, but would be needed 2-4days/week.
Also I don't have sick days with my work. Where/how do you find last minute help when daycare sends your child home but you are not able to care for your child yourself? Or when your child is sick?
Thank you
Dec 14, 2023
Parent Replies
I'm sorry for what sounds like a sucky situation. I think you have to get flexibility on one end or the other - either work hours need to shift (back?) to what they were for you, or you need to find a daycare that goes until 6. Have you talked to your manager yet about how you got daycare based on certain work schedule? Have you asked daycare if they can keep your kid until 6 (or whatever) 2-4 days per week?
As far as sick-kid days, you have to use vacation or personal if you don't have sick (however I believe it is the law in California that you accrue sick leave from your first day in a job). Honestly if your job is going to give you hassle for this (not being able to work due to sick child), it is a sign of more types of dysfunction and an indication to start looking for a new job.
This is so tough. There are certainly babysitters/nannies/helpers that can be hired for pick up and care at home for a few hours. Looking for a college student might be a good choice for someone looking for regular work with limited hours. Urbansitter is an option for last minute babysitting needs but you'd have to be honest with them that they'd be caring for a sick kid and some might opt out of that. You probably need to take unpaid time for this instead. If you've been with your job long enough you could be eligible for FMLA (unpaid but job protection).
I think the longer-term solution is a daycare with longer hours and/or a more flexible job (I know that's a very difficult thing to find).
I wanted to hire someone to come in the mornings to drop off the kids and a friend of mine suggested that I contact some local night nannies who might be interested in picking up an extra hour or so before or after their night shift. Just a thought!
When I was a college student at Cal, I was an afternoon babysitter for a family w/ 2 boys - I would pick them up from school every day and bring them home and hang out for a couple hrs, starting homework and occasionally dinner, etc. I got the gig from an older girl in my sorority, who was graduating. Perhaps you could contact the Sorority Leadership office at Cal to see how best to get the word out regarding your needs (Email: lead [at] berkeley.edu (lead[at]berkeley[dot]edu) Phone: 510.642.5171). RE: your question about last minute sick care - afraid I can't help you w/ that one (what kind of job doesn't let you call out sick?).
I suggest that you ask other parents at the daycare if they can help you out. You will have to pay them, of course. If you can find a kid who lives nearby and gets along with your kid, it could work well.
Just wanted to let you know that virtually all employees in California are entitled to accrue sick leave (must permit accrual up to five days starting in 2024; it was three days before). Info here: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Paid_Sick_Leave.htm
If you aren't getting what you are legally entitled to (including retroactively), you can get free legal assistance here: https://legalaidatwork.org/
Also - if you hire someone to drive your kid(s), they must be at least 18.