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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:
Strangeworldtoday · 27/04/2025 13:58

You efdectively cancelled the clean after she had arrived at the property. She incurred expenses getting there and lost the opportunity to fill that slot with other work.
If you arrived at worn and they sent you straight home, would you expect them to pay you for the day or just tell you you arent being paid and thats that

JHound · 27/04/2025 13:57

Pay in full. Her inability to get in is your fault.

Daisyhon · 27/04/2025 13:53

I can’t believe u would even consider not paying her the full amount , it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t get in .

Hastentoadd · 27/04/2025 13:52

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

I can’t believe you are even asking this….it wasn’t her fault that the key wasn’t there so you pay her the FULL ammount

Richiewoo · 27/04/2025 13:51

Of course you pay her the full amount. It's not her fault your neighbour is an idiot.

MyDeftDuck · 27/04/2025 13:50

The fact that she couldn’t get access isn’t her fault so full payment is justified and fair.

AliBaliBee1234 · 27/04/2025 13:49

She came to do her job and couldn't. Why wouldn't you pay her?

SpringGreenOnion · 27/04/2025 13:45

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

Dear oh dear, you’re married to an idiot. It’s pathetic that you’d even need to show him this thread to convince him. He doesn’t deserve to have someone clean for him quite frankly.

Jellycatmum · 27/04/2025 13:45

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

You really don’t deserve her, respect her or appreciate her, tell your husband to give his head a wobble.

StMarie4me · 27/04/2025 13:44

Full amount. Not her fault. Definitely full amount.

ThinWomansBrain · 27/04/2025 13:43

if it's through an agency, aren't there terms and conditions set out in the contract?
Many people would pay the cleaner holiday pay and not require her to come in - how much mess can the cat and the dopey cat sitter create?

Clarinet1 · 27/04/2025 13:43

NestOfWipers · 27/04/2025 12:49

You can't charge your friend!!

Your friend is doing you a favour looking after your cat while you were on holiday, she made a mistake and it's unfortunate, but you can't charge your friend 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

@couchparsnip I don't blame you for thinking maybe you didn't need to pay her the full amount as the house wasn't actually cleaned, but it's not her fault she turned up to do the cleaning & couldn't get in. She couldn't really do anything else with the wasted time & she may be relying on the money for bills or food shopping (she might not be either we don't know) but short story is she turned up to work and was unable to work, for reasons well outside of her control so yes, you need to pay her in full!! Apart from that good cleaners are hard as hell to find, so I wouldn't risk piss pissing her off!! (are the cleaners from the same age agency aren't necessarily as good)

Show quote history

I was semi-joking when I suggested pursuing the friend but I see others have said similar.
Since the OP’s update that this is a difference of opinion with her DH I think she should have a think about what kind of man she is married to! After all, this is a cleaner they want to keep and how much money is the disputed half pay going to be? £25? £30?
(Edited for typo).

GlorifiedChair · 27/04/2025 13:41

"She's employed by an agency and I pay her directly. The agency provides cover if she's sick etc."

She isn't employed by the agency, she is self employed (or you wouldn't be paying her directly). Pay her the full amount - no question.

Adelstrop · 27/04/2025 13:41

I think you should pay her the full amount, not least because you may find that, if you don’t, you will no longer have a brilliant cleaner!

Carrotop · 27/04/2025 13:38

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

Your husband is wrong. It’s sad that this is even a question for him.

Of course you pay her in full, how would you pay her for “wasted time only” , without compensating her for the time she set aside to clean? You can’t.

I used to tutor kids in their homes, if the parents forgot to tell me one day they were all away for a family trip and I got there and was unable to deliver the lesson, I’d definitely expect to be paid fully for the lesson which I would have done, since I’ve blocked out that time/day on my calendar.

It’s far too late notice to effectively cancel when the person is already there and can’t gain access. If you don’t pay her in full you will have wasted her time.

Roselilly36 · 27/04/2025 13:37

I would pay in full in those circumstances.

ThinWomansBrain · 27/04/2025 13:36

your husband is a bullying twat.
does he often make you question your own judgement to this extent?

Marmaladelade · 27/04/2025 13:31

ElizaMulvil · 27/04/2025 13:28

Your H is awful. You can get a clear picture of people's morals by how they act when they are in a position of power over the less powerful. His instinct is to exploit. Grim.

Absolutely this…and cleaners are usually all women in residential

Marmaladelade · 27/04/2025 13:30

Ant get over your husbands attitude..so poor

Eggsinthewhoopsiebasketalready · 27/04/2025 13:30

Cleaner here... I was locked out a few weeks ago.. Customer had left bolt in the back gate...
She paid me in full..

OldTired · 27/04/2025 13:29

Full amount. She could have got the full amount working another job if you hadn't booked her, she's lost all of those hours.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 27/04/2025 13:28

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

Ah yes OP, of course, the ‘husband’ is the idiot here 😉

ElizaMulvil · 27/04/2025 13:28

Your H is awful. You can get a clear picture of people's morals by how they act when they are in a position of power over the less powerful. His instinct is to exploit. Grim.

TimeForATerf · 27/04/2025 13:28

Good grief, if you turned up at your employer's office or hospital or whatever OP and couldn't get in would you expect them to dock your salary?

total piss take.

User5274959 · 27/04/2025 13:27

Pay her the full amount,
You budgeted for it.
And next time she cleans it will be two weeks worth of dirt!