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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to pay cleaner half wages if they couldn't get in.

237 replies

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:03

We have a brilliant cleaner who we don't want to lose but I am not sure what the done thing is here and what she would consider fair.
She was due to clean last week while we were on holiday, so we have a key safe so she can get in.

Unfortunately my friend, who was feeding the cat, forgot to replace the key in the safe. So my cleaner arrived but was unable to get in. My friend was at work so couldn't come round with the key.
I need to compensate the cleaner for her wasted time but do I give her the full 3 hrs or 1.5 hours.
She probably spent 15 mins trying to get in and phoning me plus travel time of about 30 mins there and back.
She's employed by an agency and I pay her directly. The agency provides cover if she's sick etc.
Should I cover what she was expecting to earn or just compensate for the wasted time plus a bit extra?

You are being unreasonable - pay her the whole amount
You are not being unreasonable - pay her half

OP posts:

Peacepleaselouise · 27/04/2025 17:23

SmudgeButt · 27/04/2025 16:49

Pay her the full amount and tell your friend that she's got to give you the money. Or at least a portion.

No, don't do this! Friend was doing you a favour. You don't charge people if they accidentally mess up whilst doing you a favour! Just pay the cleaner in full and don't think about it again.

Peacepleaselouise · 27/04/2025 17:21

I had almost exactly this scenario happen to me and I paid the full amount as they arrived at work able to do the full time and an issue which wasn't their fault stopped them. It was irritating but just one of those things.

Maria1982 · 27/04/2025 17:03

angelopal · 27/04/2025 12:04

You need to give her the full amount. It's not her fault she could not get in.

This!!

SmudgeButt · 27/04/2025 16:49

Pay her the full amount and tell your friend that she's got to give you the money. Or at least a portion.

TheJinxMinx · 27/04/2025 16:47

Full amount ik its frustrating as no clean but it was not her fault she turned up for her shift she could have taken on other work had u of cancelled in advance but this was a sheer accident of ur friend forgetting to put back the key

Whammyyammy · 27/04/2025 16:42

You should pay her the full amount

Nanny0gg · 27/04/2025 16:40

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:45

I would assume that OP doesn't have an employment contract with cleaner.

Show quote history

I was more thinking common decency

Slawit · 27/04/2025 16:35

In full then round it up to the nearest full denomination just to show her HOW MUCH SHE IS APPRECIATED.

notsureyetcertain · 27/04/2025 16:27

In full because this wasn’t her fault

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 27/04/2025 16:23

Pay her in full. She could have e done other work but couldn't due to your friend. No her problem!

Jumpingthruhoops · 27/04/2025 16:18

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:03

You are being unreasonable - pay her the whole amount
You are not being unreasonable - pay her half

Why on earth would you only pay her half? She came to do her job as normal and couldn't get in - that's not her fault!

I'd pay her fully... and perhaps even give her a bit more for the stress and inconvenience.

Jeschara · 27/04/2025 16:18

Pay the full amount. No question about it.

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 16:15

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:53

I think I worded this wrong and made myself look like the idiot! DH thinks we should just pay for her wasted time, I think we should pay her in full. I will show him this poll and do what I wanted to do. Thanks x

Her wasted time was the entire duration of the clean, so warrants full pay. How would your DH react if he turned up for work, couldn’t gain access and then had his pay docked ?

Lampzade · 27/04/2025 16:13

The truth is that OP’s dh has very little respect for the cleaner .
I am almost hoping that she decides to quit

Lovelysausagedogscrumpy · 27/04/2025 16:11

You pay her the full amount - she wasn’t at fault. The cleaning service we use has a rule that if you cancel the clean within a certain time frame you still have to pay - this would fall under that rule. You’ve effectively cancelled the clean because she couldn’t get in.

ohdearagain2 · 27/04/2025 16:10

I can't even believe you are asking this - you want to dock her pay for a mistake someone else made? She could have worked for someone else that day not her fault the key was not there.

Itsagreatdaytosavelives · 27/04/2025 16:00

full amount yo be paid

diddl · 27/04/2025 15:45

What does pay her for her wasted time mean in this context & why does your husband think that only that should be paid?

If I was your friend I'd be offering to pay half.

Openup · 27/04/2025 15:18

Are you serious? The cock up was on your end, so of course you pay her in full!
if I were her and knew that you were debating this I’d be looking for someone else to fill your slot.

SilviaSnuffleBum · 27/04/2025 15:14

You pay her in full WITHOUT equovocation, if you're a decent person!

GabbySolisX · 27/04/2025 15:12

Full amount. She turned up to do the job and couldn’t through no fault of her own.

judduelong · 27/04/2025 15:12

Full amount

Amateurs10 · 27/04/2025 15:12

Good lord, of course you pay her in full.

Surroundedbyfools · 27/04/2025 15:11

Don’t take the piss. Full pay and you absolutely know you should. Not her fault your friend messed up

Lookuptotheskies · 27/04/2025 15:11

I'm very annoyed with myself - I posted the wrong vote!

Pay her the full amount OP, it's not her fault.

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