Don't know what to do.

[Andrea157]

Hello,

I hired a domestic cleaner in Feb/Mar of this year and so far she has taken at least 6 weeks annual leave to date. I received a text from her yesterday informing me that she has gone on holiday - when she should have been cleaning my house, I also know for a fact that she used her young daughter on one occassion to get out of the cleaning chores....I'm at a quandary as what to do - do I terminate her employment with me? or do I keep her on? - she's a nice enough lady and does an okay job (all the basic house-hold duties).

The last time she went on holiday - she mentioned that this was the last holiday that she'd be taking and now she's on annual leave again. How do I let her down gently?

Would appreciate your thoughts and comment / advice.

Thanks xx

[Lucyinthepie]

Presumably she's just doing this on a self-employed basis. If you're not happy with her then just send her a letter saying you have decided it's not working and she doesn't need to come back on her return from holiday.
Personally I think she's taking the mick. One of the benefits of cleaning is the flexibility, but you do need to give your customers some level of reliability, and one day's notice that you've gone on holiday isn't acceptable.

[bubblesincoffee]

Is it quite a casual arrangement? I would get rid, there are lots of cleaners out there.

I would just say, or write, that the arrangement is not working out for you and you will no longer be requiring her services.

You don't have to give a reason. She will probably pick up on the fact that you are annoyed she has just dropped her holiday on you without you having to say anything, and that's a risk she chose to take anyay so she might be expecting this.

[Lucyinthepie]

Just bear in mind that you're not terminating her employment, and she isn't on annual leave. You aren't her employer. She's probably expecting to get the shove to be honest, nobody in their right mind would mess about like this if they wanted to keep the work.

[Pandemoniaa]

It sounds as if she's not quite got her head around the responsibilities that come with having a job. If you are self-employed you tend to take fewer holidays, not use your status to bugger off whenever you feel like it. Or at least not if you plan to keep your clients.

So I think you have to have a conversation about how you need someone reliable and so far, she's not given you much evidence of this. Personally, I'd give her a final opportunity to prove that she wants the job but make it clear that you won't be forgiving of any future unreliability and that you will want much more notice of any holiday plans.

[Nagini]

I wouldn't give her another chance.

What bubblesincoffee said :)

[Andrea157]

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments - I just thought it was a bit off of her trooping off on holiday (again) without any notice - I even received a text from her last week saying that she's pop round this week !?!

[LadyThumb]

You sound too nice for your own good. Just tell her you need someone reliable and therefore you don't require her services any more.

[WhoseGotMyEyebrows]

Yeah find a new cleaner.

[Andrea157]

Thank guys to be honest with you the reason why I hired her in the first place is because I lost my DH to terminal cancer in Dec 10' and I have a little darling poppet (2y/o) who just loves to make a mess (think we all loved making mess when we were young) - but I'm just so tired most of the time and I'm also now back at work - so don't have a huge amount of time to be running about the house with hoovers, dusters, mops, laundry trying to do everything all at the one time...not to mention looking after my wee treasure :-)

[lemmein]

Sorry to hear about your DH Andrea - you sound like you've got a lot on your plate at the moment. Shes taking the pee - my DH is self-employed and wouldnt dream of behaving like that, he'd have no customers left! Just write to her and say you need someone who you can rely on so you will have to look elsewhere. Shes not playing fair with you - theres no need for you to be so nice to her.

[redexpat]

I've worked as a cleaner and would NEVER mess someone around like that!

[StayingDavidTennantsGirl]

Employing a cleaner to relieve you of one set of worries/chores sounds like an excellent idea in your position, Andrea - but I suspect that this cleaner is adding to your stress, rather than relieving it, and so my advice would be to terminate the arrangement.

Do you have any sort of contract in place with her, or is it an ad hoc arrangement? If it is the latter, I would be inclined to give her as much notice of termination as she has given you of this latest holiday - ie bugger all! If you do have a contract, you will have to look at the provisions for giving her notice - but from what you've said, I doubt you have a contract, so won't need to worry about this.

I hope that you find a cleaner who will help you and make your life easier.

[WhoseGotMyEyebrows]

So sorry to hear about your loss, I can't imagine what you must have gone through recently

[Andrea157]

Really appreciate everyone's help/comments/advice regarding this matter - just to let you know that I've e-mailed her and told her that I no longer require her cleaning services - (even though I really do need a cleaner) would like to give everyone a huge hug for being immensely helpful to me when I'm not firing on all cylinders...bless you all xx