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Original poster

Should I have paid my cleaner when she was unwell?

56 replies

JMSA · 23/02/2025 18:48

I have a cleaner who comes to my flat for 3 hours every fortnight. She's great and I value her. Always pay on time, always have the place tidy for her (as to leave it messy would be disrespectful), always give her a lovely Christmas present, am flexible with her, always realistic in my expectations, etc.
She let me know on the day of the clean that she wouldn't be able to come this week. She wasn't feeling well. Obviously I told her not to worry, to rest up and get well soon. I also messaged her the following day, to check on her (not with a view to the cleaning, purely out of concern!). She didn't reply. I didn't pay her for the missed clean and I'm wondering if she's annoyed at this.
It goes without saying that I would have her over another time, at her convenience and whenever she feels better. But I have to wait until my usual slot a fortnight later, as she doesn't do this. Naturally I have to clean the place myself in that case, as it can't wait another two weeks.
Should I have paid her, or is it part and parcel of being self-employed?

OP posts:
Chonk · 23/02/2025 19:24

JMSA · 23/02/2025 19:04

We're not sociable with each other and have never met up. There's really nothing messy about it.

Show quote history

I think the previous poster was trying to explain that you only feel conflicted about payment because the cleaner is someone you 'know' to some degree. If you'd arranged for a plumber who you'd never met before to come and fix your shower but they cancelled as they were ill, you wouldn't even consider paying them. The previous poster wasn't suggesting you've made the situation messy.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 23/02/2025 19:23

I wouldn't as she may decide to be ill more often. Giving her the chance to do it another time is fair enough

blueshoes · 23/02/2025 19:15

No I don't. She is very apologetic because it is usually a last minute cancellation, but there is no expectation on her part that she would be paid.

Tinytigertail · 23/02/2025 19:06

I don't pay if my cleaner cancels, but if we cancel her for sickness etc, I'll pay her.

Original poster
JMSA · 23/02/2025 19:04

Lovelysummerdays · 23/02/2025 19:03

You don’t pay self employed people when unwell. You wouldn’t pay the window cleaner or a plumber who cancelled. It gets messy as a cleaner works inside your home and you are sociable with each other. I would say, having been a cleaner you want to set your rates to include enough to pay yourself holiday pay and sick pay. So I’d be more inclined to offer her extra hours to make up for missed time if your paying a low rate say £12 but not so much if earning £18

We're not sociable with each other and have never met up. There's really nothing messy about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
JMSA · 23/02/2025 19:03

Thanks again everyone. I'm feeling a bit more reassured.

OP posts:
Lovelysummerdays · 23/02/2025 19:03

You don’t pay self employed people when unwell. You wouldn’t pay the window cleaner or a plumber who cancelled. It gets messy as a cleaner works inside your home and you are sociable with each other. I would say, having been a cleaner you want to set your rates to include enough to pay yourself holiday pay and sick pay. So I’d be more inclined to offer her extra hours to make up for missed time if your paying a low rate say £12 but not so much if earning £18

Redglitter · 23/02/2025 19:02

If i cancel i pay. If she cancels she gets nothing

Iloveeverycat · 23/02/2025 19:02

Self employed not entitled to sick pay.

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/02/2025 19:01

She’s se. She won’t expect to be paid if she cancels / I’ll

Dosomethingusefulnow · 23/02/2025 19:01

I think it depends on the message im self employed and if im ill and have to cancel I dont expect paying and clients being kind is lovely but its easy for a message to feel like a pressure and not kindness but questioning when you will be back.

terracelane23 · 23/02/2025 19:00

I'm self employed and wouldn't expect to get paid if I'm ill. In terms of her arranging another time, its not always possible. I work on a fortnightly rota so I simply don't have another free slot to make up for any time off sick. The customer typically has to wait until their next fortnightly slot.

Diningtableornot · 23/02/2025 18:59

I would not pay a cleaner who was off sick, at least not normally; there could be exceptions.

StillAGoth · 23/02/2025 18:59

andyouwillknowusbythetrailofdead · 23/02/2025 18:56

Do you get paid when you're ill? I do.

Well that rather depends on your company's sickness policy. But self employed people don't get paid for taking time off sick, no.

Original poster
JMSA · 23/02/2025 18:58

Bearbookagainandagain · 23/02/2025 18:57

I don't pay when my cleaner cancels, we pay if we cancel under 1 week notice. She is self-employed so it's her responsibility to manage sickness period.

I do find it a bid odd to message her for a non-work related reason, not sure I would respond if my manager was messaging me to enquire about my health on my non-working day...
Depending on the boss, I would either think it's well-intended but weird, or that he's checking on me maybe thinking I was lying?...

I know what you mean but we're friendly with each other when she's here, if that makes sense. And I know that she lives alone, so I'd appreciate someone checking in with me. Maybe I got that wrong though.

OP posts:
Motheranddaughter · 23/02/2025 18:58

My cleaner has only cancelled once in over 10 years
I paid her for that session and for all our holidays

Hollyjollywafflecone · 23/02/2025 18:57

andyouwillknowusbythetrailofdead · 23/02/2025 18:56

Do you get paid when you're ill? I do.

No because I’m self employed
presumably just as the cleaner is

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 23/02/2025 18:57

andyouwillknowusbythetrailofdead · 23/02/2025 18:56

Do you get paid when you're ill? I do.

I don’t.

And I wouldn’t expect to.

Bearbookagainandagain · 23/02/2025 18:57

I don't pay when my cleaner cancels, we pay if we cancel under 1 week notice. She is self-employed so it's her responsibility to manage sickness period.

I do find it a bid odd to message her for a non-work related reason, not sure I would respond if my manager was messaging me to enquire about my health on my non-working day...
Depending on the boss, I would either think it's well-intended but weird, or that he's checking on me maybe thinking I was lying?...

Dinosweetpea · 23/02/2025 18:56

No, I don't play my cleaner if she's unwell or can't come for any other reason.

Constantlurker112 · 23/02/2025 18:56

Please don't worry and don't overthink it. So many reasons for someone not replying to a text. And no, part of the deal of being self employed is that you price your work to allow for holidays and sick days.

Zanatdy · 23/02/2025 18:56

No you don’t normally pay when cleaners can’t attend due to illness. Same with my dog walker, if she is sick I don’t pay. Pretty standard so I wouldn’t feel bad

Original poster
JMSA · 23/02/2025 18:56

No contract and I don't think I've ever cancelled on her. If I did, I would pay.

OP posts:
andyouwillknowusbythetrailofdead · 23/02/2025 18:56

Do you get paid when you're ill? I do.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 23/02/2025 18:56

No, you don’t pay her.

However, if you were unwell and cancelled on her I think paying her would be fair.

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