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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cleaner who works 6 hours per week preferring cash in hand weekly - holiday pay? Is this a thing?

135 replies

Catwhispereroo · 26/06/2025 18:14

Hi, we have a cleaning lady who is generally lovely. She comes for 6 hours per week, £20 per hour, so £120 per week. She always prefers cash in hand weekly.

Today she asked if we will pay her 4 weeks holiday pay as, according to her, 'everyone else does.'

I had a think about it, but have had to tell her this is not possible. I feel bad though. AIBU?

My reasoning is -

  1. A cleaner is already quite a luxury, as I'm no longer working.

  2. We have had lots of cleaners over the years and all preferred cash and none ever asked for holiday pay for cash in hand work.

  3. I don't want the hassle of a contract setting out holiday pay or sickness pay (will that be next)? We are a just a private household, not a company.

  4. I will give her a few weeks pay as a Xmas bonus anyway.

  5. She seems to go abroad for a month each year. If we gave her 4 weeks pay, that would be almost £500. Then, if I got a replacement cleaner in for those weeks, that would be another £500!

  6. When we go away I'm happy for her to come as usual (even though we don't really need this) so that she doesn't lose out financially. But I can't pay 4 weeks holiday as week.

Again, AIBU? Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Catwhispereroo · 26/06/2025 18:27

Thanks, yes this is what I thought.

Occasionally in the past, I've used cleaners from an agency, as a one off or something like that. I explained to her that they will be getting holiday pay, but they will be on contracts!

OP posts:
readingismycardio · 26/06/2025 18:26

Cheeky. Let her go and find someone else.

Minecroft · 26/06/2025 18:25

Self employed people don’t get holiday pay.

Londonrach1 · 26/06/2025 18:25

No. You don't pay someone self employed holiday pay as their pay reflects it. Tbh I'd let her go as she sounds untrustworthy

Kamek · 26/06/2025 18:24

She hasn't got a leg to stand on as the cash you pay her almost certainly won't be getting declared anywhere! You forfeit protections and statutory entitlements when you're not declaring it.

Spirallingdownwards · 26/06/2025 18:24

She is either self employed in which case she isn't entitled to holiday pay or you are her employer and pay her tax, NI contributions employer and employee and she is entitled to paid leave.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 26/06/2025 18:23

I’d say she’s self employed so holiday should be included in her rates.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 26/06/2025 18:23

She's clearly biting the hand that feeds her.

You are already extremely generous to her and now she's used to it has decided she'd like to get a bit greedy

libraunited · 26/06/2025 18:21

She is self employed. But if she was an employee she would accrue AL, so legally she would get 0.6 hours of holiday pay for every week she works. As 2025/26 tax year is only 12 weeks in she has only accrued 7.2 hours / £144 to date. It’s not usual to pay full AL allowance anyway in June as if she resigns she would be due you AL pay back. Her AL pay comes from her hourly rate which should account for her AL

Weddingbutterfly · 26/06/2025 18:20

No you don’t pay holiday pay, £20 an hour for a cleaner is excellent, school cleaners etc earn £12 ish an hour. Her price includes her tax , ni, holiday , pension etc this is not a you problem.
Also why are you paying several weeks money for Xmas she’s your cleaning help not family, maybe a £20 in a card but that’s it, she sees a you as an easy touch sorry