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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be uncomfortable with my cleaner bringing her child

131 replies

Panapan · 26/06/2024 18:53

We have a cleaner who comes for a couple of hours a week. Sometimes she brings a colleague and only stays an hour. Today she brought her teenage son - said he was going to help her as he’d finished his GCSEs. I assumed he’d just be hanging around with her but she then only stayed for the hour and charged me for two (ie she charged me for her son). He worked hard and didn’t do a bad job - not perfect but adequate - but I’m not completely comfortable with paying a 15 year old the same as I pay his mum. I’ve paid and won’t say anything as I’m hoping it’s a one off. But if he comes back next week, would it be unreasonable of me to gently suggest that I’d rather he didn’t come the next time?

OP posts:
Original poster
Panapan · 26/06/2024 19:04

I wouldn’t raise it unless he comes again and even then only gently with his mum afterwards. I wouldn’t want him to feel criticised in any way.
No she wasn’t supervising him (she couldn’t as she was cleaning her parts of the house).

OP posts:
MiriamMay · 26/06/2024 19:04

Why is the work of a fifteen year old worth less than that of an adult?

FluentRubyDog · 26/06/2024 19:02

From your title I was expecting your cleaner to be bringing around a toddler due to lack of childcare.

As it is, YABU. You get the job done, whether 2 people do it in 1 hour or 1 person in 2 hours. At least the teen is developing healthy working habits.

As for not paying 15 year old the same as adult in the same post you admit he did an adequate job, go and have a word with yourself.

Original poster
Panapan · 26/06/2024 19:01

SheddingCat · 26/06/2024 18:58

Your issue aside, it’s awesome that a 15 year old lad helps mom with cleaning and actually knows what to do, you say he did a decent job. That would make me think highly of the cleaner and her family, he must be a good lad to do this (im sure he could just have stayed at home and done nothing in that time.

Maybe see what happens next time and raise it as an issue if it happens again? Is he a nice lad?

Yes you are right it’s great that he was doing it. She did say that he wanted to earn some money. He seemed like a nice boy. I guess my issue is just that other teenagers wouldn’t be getting £18 for an hour of work. But absolutely no issue with the boy himself.

OP posts:
Hearthfloor · 26/06/2024 18:58

YANBU your contract of employment is between you and your cleaner. There was no prior or formal discussion about her son and at GCSE age he probably would not be employed by a cleaning firm or agency. The fact that she stayed for half the time and still expected the same wage was inappropriate even if her son did “help”. Was she supervising him as he cleaned? It can be easy to use the wrong product on the wrong surface and cause damage or staining.
If he comes again state that he is welcome to sit and wait but not to work or come in future.

SheddingCat · 26/06/2024 18:58

Your issue aside, it’s awesome that a 15 year old lad helps mom with cleaning and actually knows what to do, you say he did a decent job. That would make me think highly of the cleaner and her family, he must be a good lad to do this (im sure he could just have stayed at home and done nothing in that time.

Maybe see what happens next time and raise it as an issue if it happens again? Is he a nice lad?