Cleaner drank the juice, ate the salmon and charged her phone

She is there to work. Offering beverages or food is fine but not an entitlement. You don't owe her anything. I wouldn't go to work in someone's home expecting them to give me something besides the payment they owe. I'd do my job, bring my own stuff or ask if I need anything that I can't do without.

Drinking (alcohol?) on the job is a no-no.

Not doing a good job is a no-no.

Not being reliable on a regular basis is a no-no.

Rummaging through someone's fridge and cupboards, eating food or drink that hasn't been offered is a no-no. Akin to stealing. What else would she help herself with?

All sackable for me. If she can't see the boundaries she's crossing there, I wouldn't trust her in my home.

Charging devices using an empty electric slot is not a problem at all. She doesn't need to ask.(Assuming she didn't remove something that was there first and could be important, just to charge her phone. That, she needs to ask first).

I would be sacking this person since she seems to take more than she gives and you pay her while at it. Find a better cleaner.

I’ve found it’s more dependent on the industry than your level in the organization.

I work in tech and software development places are pretty generous but when I support software on site it can be very different. In most retail and factory sites I’ve had to bring in my own if I want it. Public service and smaller offices have normally had some sort of kitty. More corporate places have tended to provide. A brewery I worked for had free tea, coffee, juice, soda, hot chocolate, etc. and a free canteen with free beer on tap (30+ years ago, mind, maybe not now!). Finance places also pretty generous with free canteens sometimes. Charities some free, some kitty.

This 😂

Get the chip off your shoulder. If you need a cleaner you need a cleaner. Get rid of the one you have. Engage the services of an agency, or come up with a clear contract for one you find privately. Encourage your kids to be respectful of whoever you take on. The idea of involving them in monitoring actions etc doesn’t sit right.

I've worked in schools for 25 years.

I have never had free tea and coffee.

That’s poor.

Every job I’ve ever done from admin when I was in my early to 20s to my senior role now has provided free tea, coffee and come to think of it, squash!

Charging a phone has not been a problem anywhere for me but tea and coffee has been very varied.

She’s obviously a wrong ‘un. I think you should call the police.

Every place I’ve ever worked has had free tea and coffee and no problem with charging a phone?

You sound fun

The cleaner is not an employee.

She is a self-employed provider of a service, just as a plumber or painter or electrician or hedge trimmer would be.

Would you let your plumber help himself from the fridge?

I wouldn’t have a problem with her charging her phone. Having a drink would be fine if I’d offered refreshments or told her to help herself (which I probably would). Bit cheeky to just take without being offered though! Food is a different matter, I’d be annoyed if she was taking food from the fridge.

You were talking about employment rules. OP has a self-employed contractor in her house for two hours at a time. Rules do not entitled them to breaks, free food and drink, or a charging spot for their phone.

Yes, these are nice things to provide, but they aren’t requirements and they shouldn’t be taken without permission. OP is contracting her cleaner on terms the cleaner is at liberty to set, if the cleaner doesn’t think the terms and conditions are generous enough she should be asking for what she feels is needed or appropriate or finding other customers, not simply taking.

The phrase “I would deny them nothing” is a little worrying. They are doing a job, they should do it well and providing things like drinks can certainly help people feel more loyal, but I hope they don’t abuse your generosity.

YABVU to involve your children.

Having a cleaner does not make you a snob.
Encouraging your children to monitor said cleaner’s juice intake does.

It’s not even juice, it’s bloody squash..

Most people do get free tea and coffee, and squash isn’t unusual either.

I don’t think the OP has a clue if this woman ate the salmon or not, but perhaps she can get her kid to booby trap it for next time.

True, but they should get breaks, and how much does it cost to give refreshments? I am disabled, and have carers and cleaners and I would deny them nothing. I only buy individual packs of drinks and food for them. In the past decade I have had just 4 different care people.

You got your kids to spy on the cleaner?

Obviously if she is unreliable you ought to get rid of her.

There’s nothing wrong with her drinking squash or charging her phone - it’s normal for a workplace. If you don’t want her using a specific item then tell her.

I have no idea why having a cleaner would make you a snob.

You seem.. a bit odd.

Most people don’t get free food and drink at work.

There are some employment rules, even if you just have someone a few hours. How much does it cost to make the people who work for you comfortable, feel that they are wanted, and doing a good job?

She probably left the empty bottle out so you’d know you’d run out of it.

I cleaned homes for years! Ive been accused of stealing wine, a bible, cassette tapes, meat from a fridge and breaking stuff. The trouble is the cleaner is the go to person to blame if anything gets broken or goes missing. Very annoying! I would happily charge my phone. Not take food or drinks. No without permission.

Are you that hard up that you can't afford juice, but you can afford a cleaner. Get a grip.