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Original poster

Paying cleaner when off

136 replies

MagicMatilda · 09/04/2023 20:53

DH and I are in a disagreement…our cleaner is taking 3 weeks off for surgery in June.

I think we should still pay her but DH thinks we shouldn’t.

What would you do? Thanks

OP posts:
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Hawkins009 · 05/08/2023 23:11

Lou22000 · 10/04/2023 17:34

I'm a self employed cleaner and think it's really generous what your thinking of doing

What happened with the nhs and career break ?

Cosyblankets · 11/04/2023 21:31

jannier · 11/04/2023 16:20

Doesn't an agency cost the customer a lot more and mean you get random people in your home? Certainly more than the minimum wage your paying an hour.
Not having the luxury of a cleaner I don't get the issue of having to do it yourself I just fit it in around my 10 hour working day.

Show quote history

I don't have a cleaner either I'm just saying I wouldn't pay if they were off because I'm self employed and no one pays me when I'm off

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 19:27

jannier · 11/04/2023 19:04

The op said the cleaners op is a breast reduction on the NHS so it's not cosmetic......you said you wouldn't pay for cosmetic surgery why bring it up if you didn't think this was cosmetic surgery.....?

Show quote history

I think you’ve misunderstood I said my cleaner has been off for cosmetic surgery and I wouldn’t pay her.

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:18

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:18

Can't argue with idiots
Let HMRC catch them if anyone reports them

Idiots

Boring idiot!

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:18

Can't argue with idiots
Let HMRC catch them if anyone reports them

Idiots

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:17

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:16

@nomoredriving
But you are 😱😩😳

Nah, I'll run the risk!

Thanks.

God I bet you're a bloody barrel of laughs at a party!

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:17

Just bc you haven't been caught doesn't mean your tax liability is non existent

Honestly you are fucking idiots

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:16

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:15

If you want her to be an employee cleaner / PA then you have to sort out employer liability, her tax and NI and possible pension. Contributions

No point you listening to the "pay her cash" gang

Do what you want but realise that you are muddying waters
And making yourself liable if she hasn't paid tax

I'd stick to self employed status for cleaner if I were you.

You're not me! Thank god!

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:16

@nomoredriving
But you are 😱😩😳

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:16

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:15

If you want her to be an employee cleaner / PA then you have to sort out employer liability, her tax and NI and possible pension. Contributions

No point you listening to the "pay her cash" gang

Do what you want but realise that you are muddying waters
And making yourself liable if she hasn't paid tax

I'd stick to self employed status for cleaner if I were you.

Nope, not going to!

I'll risk access that thanks.

Worked well for years, not going to change.

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:15

If you want her to be an employee cleaner / PA then you have to sort out employer liability, her tax and NI and possible pension. Contributions

No point you listening to the "pay her cash" gang

Do what you want but realise that you are muddying waters
And making yourself liable if she hasn't paid tax

I'd stick to self employed status for cleaner if I were you.

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:15

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:10

A number of PP are being stupid and it's very difficult when stupid is your default

As it has been explained

She's either self employed and gets no sick leans or AL cover or you are telling us she's employed and you are not fulfilling your employer responsibilities

Pick your poison

Mines SE and I pay her for sick leave and holidays!

I'm not concerned that HMRC or my cleaner will be knocking on my door...

And I'm not stupid.

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 19:13

@jannier so it's that you can't afford it? Not that you're so very able to fit it in around your 10 hour working day?

TwoThousandZeroZeroPartyOverOopsFoundMoreTime · 11/04/2023 19:10

A number of PP are being stupid and it's very difficult when stupid is your default

As it has been explained

She's either self employed and gets no sick leans or AL cover or you are telling us she's employed and you are not fulfilling your employer responsibilities

Pick your poison

jannier · 11/04/2023 19:07

Inthesamesinkingboat · 11/04/2023 16:24

I use a cleaning firm. I pay much more as an hourly rate than if I employed a cleaner directly, on the basis that there is always someone sent regardless of whether my usual is on holiday or sick.

personally three weeks off for elective surgery I wouldn’t pay

Why do you think it's elective? Just because she won't die of it doesn't mean the spinal issues it can cause won't cause disability

jannier · 11/04/2023 19:06

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 18:35

Agencies are useless IME.

Treat yourself, having a good cleaner is liberating.

Show quote history

Not on an average salary with a London mortgage bad enough not knowing how I'm going to afford getting to work come ULEZ .

jannier · 11/04/2023 19:04

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 18:33

Who said it was a reduction or on the NHS?

Not I.

Show quote history

The op said the cleaners op is a breast reduction on the NHS so it's not cosmetic......you said you wouldn't pay for cosmetic surgery why bring it up if you didn't think this was cosmetic surgery.....?

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 18:35

jannier · 11/04/2023 16:20

Doesn't an agency cost the customer a lot more and mean you get random people in your home? Certainly more than the minimum wage your paying an hour.
Not having the luxury of a cleaner I don't get the issue of having to do it yourself I just fit it in around my 10 hour working day.

Show quote history

Agencies are useless IME.

Treat yourself, having a good cleaner is liberating.

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 18:33

jannier · 11/04/2023 16:15

Breast reduction on the NHS is only for medical reasons it's not cosmetic massive boobs cause horrendous pain and spinal abnormalities

Show quote history

Who said it was a reduction or on the NHS?

Not I.

nomoredriving · 11/04/2023 17:23

Not having the luxury of a cleaner I don't get the issue of having to do it yourself I just fit it in around my 10 hour working day.

GrinGrin 🎻

Inthesamesinkingboat · 11/04/2023 16:24

I use a cleaning firm. I pay much more as an hourly rate than if I employed a cleaner directly, on the basis that there is always someone sent regardless of whether my usual is on holiday or sick.

personally three weeks off for elective surgery I wouldn’t pay

jannier · 11/04/2023 16:20

Cosyblankets · 11/04/2023 12:21

At a guess it'd be 3 hours ish to clean my house. So that's 42 pounds. And the house still needs cleaning. It isn't my responsibility to pay a self employed person when they're not working. If people want the benefits of sick pay they should become an employee and work for an agency.

Show quote history

Doesn't an agency cost the customer a lot more and mean you get random people in your home? Certainly more than the minimum wage your paying an hour.
Not having the luxury of a cleaner I don't get the issue of having to do it yourself I just fit it in around my 10 hour working day.

jannier · 11/04/2023 16:15

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 09:47

ive never thought to pay my cleaner when she’s off. She’s pretty good but I have often suspected she isn’t ill when she’s said and is actually at her other, PAYE job. Or I drive past and see her car at her house/not at her house which doesn’t accord with what she’s told me - like she’s stuck at work 😂 (she doesn’t know but I pass her house on my way to work).

She’s been off for cosmetic surgery too - I wouldnt pay for that.

Breast reduction on the NHS is only for medical reasons it's not cosmetic massive boobs cause horrendous pain and spinal abnormalities

Cosyblankets · 11/04/2023 12:21

jannier · 10/04/2023 20:25

Even 14 would be way below minimum wage when you factor in down time, travel and not being booked 8 hours a day so really not fair to compare to most self employment regardless of what you can afford. I'd personally if she's fit enough ask for a deep clean before hand and make do with what I can keep on top of myself then pay her a percentage of not all....assuming you get a cleaner once a week it's not a lot to pay but would put food on her table or turn the heating on for a few hours.

Show quote history

At a guess it'd be 3 hours ish to clean my house. So that's 42 pounds. And the house still needs cleaning. It isn't my responsibility to pay a self employed person when they're not working. If people want the benefits of sick pay they should become an employee and work for an agency.