Dear Chandrika / Mr. PK Mishra / Mr. Sanjay / Mr. Ryan,
I have a grave concern on Cuddles and attitude of the staff. Despite paying exorbitantly high charges, your child care staff is very adamant and, as if they are doing charity and providing a "free" service.
1> Ramya tells us, we can't meet her without appointment. And her appointment timings are 10-12 in morning. What's the point of in-campus day care then ? - We pay to service provider, and we run after them to meet them !
Upon insisting that I want to talk as I am not happy with their service and have concerns. She allows me, however, is in hurry to leave Greenage, without providing any satisfactory answers.
2> My major concern is, Ramya tells us to not send Fruits as Snacks, as that is a hassle for Day care staff to cut and serve to kids. She tell us that, if you want to send Fruits then send it pre-cut in morning, they will refrigerate. She tells us, it's not "convenient" for day care staff to serve it that way. My question is, Whose convenience should be of importance here ? Parents or Sevice provider ? And that's the reason why we pay for it. If I send Fruits they will not like it, but I am sure, if I will send Kurkure/Lays chips etc. which is very convenient for them to deal with.
She makes a shallow argument that day care staff is BE graduates, and hence are not willing to cut and serve fruits and so we should make alternative arrangements for snacks.I am surprised and shocked about the mentality demonstrated. They consider it as inferior tasks, not suitable for a BE graduate?? Rather than taking a corrective action to support parents, she goes on making arguments endlessly. While I am trying to arrive at an acceptable solution, it seemed that she is determined to not budge. Chandrika, if you feel that your day care assistants are overqualified for this tasks, may be you have wrong hires, and you must fire/replace them.
She further argues that it's not hygienic for them to cut the Fruit and serve to kids, as it will be contaminated. I really don't understand why? Do they mean to say, staff that cuddles employs is 'filthy/unhygienic', what an excuse to make their life easy ......A series of arguments, with no real substance !!! Anyone can tell...if is it hygienic to eat fruits immediately after cutting or, 6 hours after cutting it in morning. Also, to bring it to room temperature before serving it(as practiced by Cuddles), it poses great risks of gathering airborne viruses/bacteria. All of us know, how susceptible Bangalore weather is for younger kids to make them sick every now and then, specially during rainy seasons. My this point made no sense to them. I got an answer that they are certified nutritionist. This sounded like, they are the ultimate authority on health matters and parents have no business/right correcting them. She further suggests, why don't you send "Banana"...we do already send Banana on a day/week, but cant send Banana everyday, and BTW, my daughter is well capable to peel banana skin on her own. Very strong determination to not budge, to prove parents wrong !
Overlooking my point about Cuddles way of handling Fruits is unhygienic...finally she tells us, All parents are fine with it, and it's only us, who are complaining. She further tells us, why don't you feed her fruits to kid at home ? - Sure madam, any other instruction for parents !
3> Upon asking, Why there is no Basic kitchen equipment setup(knife/peeler etc.), though kitchen was promised at the time of admission ? - In response, Ramya comes up with another brilliant argument and she tells us, that water provided by SS, She feels that water quality provided by SS is Recycled water(used for toilet Flush and Gardening etc. ) and so, she does not want to have basic kitchen equipment in Greenage. Again, just for the sake of argument, she present another flimsy arguments...Does she mean to say, Greenage is a third class apartment, providing so many residents recycled water for kitchen use ? Understand, you are a service provider and can't argue irresponsibly, just to not budge.
She makes one feel that we are wrong, by saying.... "No other parents are complaining or asking for same" ...I am sure, this is a standard line being used by Cuddles, everytime any parent complains about anything. And so, I told Ramya, let's have a parents gathering and discuss in front of all parents. Her response...She will let me know, about parents meeting. I will wait to hear from you Ramya.
Mrs. Chandrika, please announce a parents-cuddles mgmt. meeting, this July month. Past calls for a meeting by parents on various issues, have been ignored by you, as service provider, and so inform us about Date/Time, when you are coming to Greenage to hear parents issues and concerns ?
I am sure, you don't want angry parents, as we want you to be a good service provider inside Greenage. Also, Mrs. Chandrika, establish a communication channel for Greenage, as we are not able to post our grievances on your official Facebook Page. If not, Residents can as well create a Cuddles-Complaint Facebook page, which you can track for complains. Another alternative that you can sign up for could be to be part of ApanaComplex group, to track Cuddles complains.
Please understand that when it comes to children, you don't want to ignore parents. This is a pressure cooker situation and your continuous ignorance on parents issues/concerns, is not a good strategy deployed by Cuddles.
SS mgmt, We as residents look upto you to intervene and ensure good service and attitude of staff, at the price that most of us have already agreed to pay. Despite paying for it, if Cuddles comes up with Flimsy policies/arguments, for their own convenience and wash off hands from basic responsibilities, it is not acceptable at all.
We have also not been happy with your pick up from Greenage Gate, and you seems very much under staffed on this. On one occasion my daughter was left with Main gate security waiting, while your person was late for pick up. On another instance, couple of days back, kids were picked up from Greenage gate, with no Umbrella getting wet in rain walking till cuddles.
Social media on Cuddles is not a medium that we prefer, however, inaction of any kind will leave no option with residents. Looking forward for a positive response for Cuddles, and come to the discussion table with residents. Stop playing Gimmicks ! Enough is Enough !
-Jayesh
