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AIBU?

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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:
BobbyBiscuits · 27/04/2025 15:10

She turned up to the job willing and ready to work. It's fully your fault the key wasn't present.
So she should be paid for the whole shift. It matters not whether she waited around for 15 minutes or three hours, she couldn't suddenly take another job to replace yours so she shouldn't lose out. She couldn't use the time to make money, or do anything else meaningful.

BeardieWeirdie · 27/04/2025 15:10

Reverse, surely? No one can be this much of an arse.

Shitzngiggles · 27/04/2025 15:08

The husband no doubt thinks he's being very generous and doing her a huge favour. Knob.

VerityUnreasonble · 27/04/2025 15:07

worriedaboutthefuturenow · 27/04/2025 14:04

isn't that the same thing ? the full 3 hours is wasted time, she cant get another customer at such short notice ?

Show quote history

This!

Point out to DH her wasted time is 3 hours as that is how long she had arranged to be available for you and therefore couldn't do any work elsewhere. After that time had already started was too late to arrange alternative work during that time.

So you agree - you pay her for the full time or her wasted time. Which is the full 3 hours either way.

Anjo2011 · 27/04/2025 14:57

Full amount

Grammarnut · 27/04/2025 14:53

Pay her the full amount. It's not her fault your friend forgot to put the key back.
Seen your update. Your DH is a prat - bet he wouldn't accept a dock in pay if his office was locked and he couldn't get into work.

Chocolatecakewithsprinkles · 27/04/2025 14:42

Was she supposed to stand outside your house until the 3 hours were up banging on the door? DH is in the wrong. I hope she reads this and sees how much her time is valued.

ACynicalDad · 27/04/2025 14:39

You pay her in full and apologise.

Alfiemoon1 · 27/04/2025 14:39

Pay her the full amount why should she be out of pocket because she couldn't get in

Nevermindkitten · 27/04/2025 14:35

The full amount definitely.

Zebracat · 27/04/2025 14:32

So if your husband couldn’t get into his workplace one day,would he be happy with half pay?

Evaka · 27/04/2025 14:30

redphonecase · 27/04/2025 12:04

If you got to work and there was a problem so you could'nt get into the building and they sent you home, would you be happy for them to dock half your pay? not as if she could fill that time with paid work at such short notice.

Nailed it

Funnywonder · 27/04/2025 14:29

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

Righty ho …

viques · 27/04/2025 14:28

Option one , you apologise for wasting her journey and explain what happened, next time you go away you give her a spare key, you pay her what you owe and she continues to work for you

Option two you only pay her half the amount, she tells the agency she doesn’t want to work for you any more as you are a spiteful old besom. She tells other cleaners working for the agency and they don’t want to work for you either.

Your choice.

snowmichael · 27/04/2025 14:20

Not your cleaner's fault, you should pay her in full
Suppose you went to work, and found it locked until someone arrived an hour later
Would you be accepting of your employer docking your pay for an hour?

caringcarer · 27/04/2025 14:13

It was your friend's fault she could not clean. She arrived to clean as agreed. You need to pay her.

Viviennemary · 27/04/2025 14:12

I think you need to pay her the full amount. It was in no way her fault she couldn't get in.

BumbleBeegu · 27/04/2025 14:11

Your DH is a dick! How on earth is he even attempting to justify his stance on this??? Fucking idiot!

Pay your cleaner!!

worriedaboutthefuturenow · 27/04/2025 14:04

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

isn't that the same thing ? the full 3 hours is wasted time, she cant get another customer at such short notice ?

terracelane23 · 27/04/2025 14:03

Of course you should pay her the full amount. She could have earned that elsewhere instead of wasting time trying to get into your house.

Pluvia · 27/04/2025 14:02

Your DH sounds dreadful.

Calmdownpeople · 27/04/2025 14:02

How awful that you are even thinking about not paying your cleaner in full when she hasn’t done anything wrong . Shane on you. Seriously.

Kris2107773 · 27/04/2025 14:02

Hi do you have any update on thus please..? My son startrd doing it he is 12..

fussychica · 27/04/2025 14:01

Agree with everyone else, pay her in full or you don't deserve to keep her. I'd also think about giving her a bit more next time if you haven't cleaned the house in her place.
Your DH sounds entitled and the kind of person who looks down on those in the service industry.

Lampzade · 27/04/2025 14:01

A decent cleaner is like gold dust , if you don’t pay her in full don’t be surprised if she quits.
Then your dh can take over the cleaning