To say no to my cleaner coming over Christmas?

[ettyz]

My cleaner who works 5 days a week doing 6 hours a day for us and gets above the average wage for a cleaner, has said that she needs to work next week. I said no to working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday as obviously it’s Christmas and no to Friday as I have people over. She’s obviously self employed and we are her only cleaning job, but I don’t really fancy someone cleaning when Me and dh not at work, all the kids are at home and we just want to relax without anyone in the home. She said it’s too much money for her to lose out and she won’t be able to afford to not work those days. she hates Christmas and doesn’t have any family to spend it with so was actually asking to do Christmas Day! It’s not my fault she hasn’t budgeted for it but we had told her when we first took her on in April that we don’t need her services over Christmas. Aibu to say no to her working those days next week, I don’t want to upset her. We are hosting Christmas at ours so no time when we won’t be at home next week for her to pop in and clean, plus I’m at home so I’ll be able to do it anyway!

[BifsWif]

You don’t have to have her, but you should pay her.

[ButDoYouAvocado]

Riiiight.

[RolandDeschainsGilly]

You need to pay her.

[alltoomuchrightnow]

obviously a tough time for her but as you say, you told her back in April... so why would you go back on that.

[Starfish28]

Just pay her for the days and leave it at that.

[CoperCabana]

Wait - she does 30 hours cleaning per week for you? Are you the queen?

[SweetFry]

Pay her for her holidays!

[pantomaam]

30 hours a week cleaning? Wow! You either have huge house or are very messy!!

Anyway, surely she's entitled to some holiday pay?

[ShadyLady53]

30 hours cleaning a week?!


Is she self-employed or are you her employer?

If you are her employer she’s entitled to paid holidays. We pay for our cleaner’s holidays.

(Also have a big, immaculate house but only need her 10 hours a week so wondering what on Earth yours does for 30 hours?!)

[happychange]

You should pay her for Christmas and just tell her not to work

6 hours a day of cleaning though, how big is your house? And how will you manage on your own if it takes her 6 hours every day

[MrsStrowman]

How messy is your house to need 30 hours of cleaning every week?! Could she take some ironing home for you, or come over to help clean up after dinner etc? Or give her a Christmas bonus equivalent to a week's money and tell her to take the week off

[Worriee]

Can you afford to pay her anyway for those days ?
Tbh I’d let her work as Christmas generates so much mess it would be handy to have somebody to help with all that ?

[DeloresJaneUmbridge]

I agree with you OP, can you afford to give her the money as holiday pay?

That would be this easiest way out of it, call it a Christmas bonus.

[VeryQuaintIrene]

Agreed - you need to give her holiday pay.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Pay her ffs.

[Navynails]

Well that's a nicer problem to have

[tired17]

You can certainly say you don't need her to work but you should still pay her.

I'm not sure about self employment rules but if she only works for you then is she not your employee and entitled to bank holiday and normal holiday pay?

[Howdoyoudoit31]

Give her holiday pay and pay her for it as she practically works full time for you.

[DamsonWhine]

I would check your assertion that she’s “obviously self employed” very csrefully. If she’s working 30 hours a week for you and you’re her only cleaning job she may well be your employee as a matter of law, in which case she’s entitled to paid holiday. And a pension and NICS.

[LittleMe03]

5 days a week 6 hours a day maybe give her a nice Christmas bonus instead of paying her?

Maybe she has not had any disposable income left to budget I know this is not your fault.. but it's nice to be nice!

[gamerchick]

30 hours a week? Do you have an enormous house?

Give her holiday pay, be santa. Maybe have her come Thursday to freshen up for your weekend guests.

[Avrannakern]

If you're her only employer then HMRC and she could argue, and probably win, that she is not self employed but is actually employed by you and you are simply trying to avoid the tax implications as well as sick pay, holiday pay and maternity pay.

However, if you want to keep saying she's self employed fine. But you need to pay her. Those are her days. She's willing to work them. You don't want her so you're cancelling but you need to pay. She should have a contract which says that.

[Butchyrestingface]

My cleaner who works 5 days a week doing 6 hours a day for us and gets above the average wage for a cleaner, has said that she needs to work next week.

Do you own a hotel?

I am by nature a slovenly trollop but even I would struggle to generate enough mess to support a 30 hour pw cleaning habit although I could try.

[ettyz]

She’s self employed and we have given her a Christmas bonus but doesn’t amount to what she gets in the week, I’ll let her work overtime in the new year.

[popgoesthewheel]

You have a cleaner 30hours a week!
If you can afford that then you can afford to pay her the time.