Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Fingeronthebutton · 27/04/2025 12:43

Exasperated24 · 27/04/2025 12:06

I can’t believe this is even a question 🤦‍♀️

Some people take the fucking biscuit 😡

ilovesooty · 27/04/2025 12:42

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:26

I would say half given she hasn't actually physically cleaned and also had further spare time to herself. She's not your employee, you are paying her for a service so half is generous.

Not her fault she couldn't physically clean.

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:42

faerietales · 27/04/2025 12:36

So if you turned up to work to find it locked and you couldn't get in, would you be happy to lose a days' pay?

Show quote history

I wouldn't be happy if I was an employee and I would be in the right. However, if I was on a zero hours contract I would be resigned to it. Also I would have some free time to look for more work.

Overthebow · 27/04/2025 12:42

Definitely the full amount, it was your fault she couldn’t get in, not hers. She shouldn’t miss out on her wages.

tinytemper66 · 27/04/2025 12:41

Of course you need to pay her…

ilovesooty · 27/04/2025 12:41

McSpoot · 27/04/2025 12:11

She kept that slot open for you - you owe her the full amount.

Exactly.

MintTwirl · 27/04/2025 12:41

Surely this is a reverse? You pay her the full amount.

BeaLola · 27/04/2025 12:40

Can't believe you even had to ask especially as you really rate your cleaner and don't want to lose her

PAY HER FULL WAGES DUE

Rklap · 27/04/2025 12:40

You pay her the full amount. She turned up to do the job, it was not her fault that the key wasn’t where it should have been. By your booking, she was prevented from doing other work/earning money elsewhere - so you must pay her.

Anewdawnanewname · 27/04/2025 12:40

It’s not that she had the time to herself and not clean that’s the thing to consideration, it’s that she’s not been able to earn anything else in that time.

Lookingtomakechanges · 27/04/2025 12:40

You should pay her the whole amount. She was counting on the money and had set the time aside, and it's not her fault she couldn't use the time to clean your house.

Frozenpeace · 27/04/2025 12:39

I'm staggered this is even a question! Is this a reverse? Noone is that clueless surely?

Anewdawnanewname · 27/04/2025 12:38

If your employer locked you off your computer for three hours would you expect them to dock your wage due to their mistake?

Snorlaxo · 27/04/2025 12:38

Of course give her full pay. It’s “your” fault that she couldn’t get in and she shouldn’t lose money.

If your employer locked you out of your workplace would you accept half pay? Of course not. If that was an acceptable way to behave then people would use that tactic regularly to bully their employees. Eg during their notice period

If you want to claim that money somehow then the cat sitter is the person that you need to pursue.

Cabinqueen · 27/04/2025 12:37

Yup, another vote for full amount payable.

Chenecinquantecinq · 27/04/2025 12:36

I hope this is a joke because if not you have zero morals!!!!

faerietales · 27/04/2025 12:36

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:26

I would say half given she hasn't actually physically cleaned and also had further spare time to herself. She's not your employee, you are paying her for a service so half is generous.

So if you turned up to work to find it locked and you couldn't get in, would you be happy to lose a days' pay?

QuickPeachPoet · 27/04/2025 12:36

Of course you should be paying her the full amount.

Chenecinquantecinq · 27/04/2025 12:36

OMFG are you for real get in the bin!!!!!!

Trickabrick · 27/04/2025 12:36

What type of person are you to even have any doubt over the right thing to do? 🙄

MidnightPatrol · 27/04/2025 12:35

This is so tight OP.

Butchyrestingface · 27/04/2025 12:35

Cornoffthecob · 27/04/2025 12:23

Definitely you pay her the full amount. Then get your friend to reimburse you as it was her fault she couldnt get in. If you want to keep the cleaner do the right thing. If you dont she might not be back.

Her friend was likely doing OP a favour for free.

Some things in life you just have to suck up, and this is one of them.

Discoprincess6 · 27/04/2025 12:34

Jesus Christ do you really need to ask

HarpSnail · 27/04/2025 12:34

JifNtGif · 27/04/2025 12:26

I would say half given she hasn't actually physically cleaned and also had further spare time to herself. She's not your employee, you are paying her for a service so half is generous.

This is ridiculous. If you showed up to your workplace and were unable to get in to do your job through no fault of your own, would you expect to have a day of your salary docked because the work didn’t get done and you got unexpected time off? And if the cleaner only does three hours, that’s not a usable period of time to suddenly have free at no no notice, if she’s then got to move on to her next client.

republicofjam · 27/04/2025 12:34

Are you the poster who got her young son to mark up a bottle of squash because you suspected your cleaner might be helping herself to a drink?

Swipe left for the next trending thread