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Original poster

Cleaners hung out to dry - times article

187 replies

Itwasntme1 · 19/04/2020 13:07

I have just read an article in the times about people not paying their cleaners.

My very wealthy friend stopped paying his cleaner on day one, this lady has cleaned his house for years. I had just employed a cleaner, she had only come twice, but I am still paying her.

I realise I am taking a risk, she might not come back when lock down is lifted and I have now paid her for more missed sessions than she has cleaned. However morally I would struggle with stopping payments.

Is the times article right, have most people stopped paying their cleaners?

OP posts:
Blankiefan · 19/04/2020 16:45

I'm not paying my cleaning company at the moment. I assume they'll be using the furlough scheme for their staff and accessing the other support schemes for small businesses. I've been furloughed so my salary is 20% less than it would be.

Yerroblemom1923 · 19/04/2020 17:46

My sister is a cleaner, self employed, declares all earnings etc. Some of her clients have continued to pay her, or agreed to pay a reduced amount, some haven't. She is still waiting for the government SE scheme of 80% wages to contact her and has applied for UC in the meantime. However she won't hear if she's been successful until May! If it wasn't for the kindness and generosity of her clients she'd he struggling to pay the mortgage and feed her kids!

frostyfingers · 19/04/2020 18:15

I’m not paying mine - DH and myself are both self employed and have lost every income stream for the foreseeable future, with no income likely until June, assuming we qualify of course. Our cleaner understands our position and has said that she will return as and when it’s allowed and we’ll pick up where we left off. I don’t feel great about it, but am not in a position to pay that money. I have 3 dc’s here, one back from uni and the 2 others whose work in hospitality and are also w/o income. We’re struggling, she’s struggling and it’s shit for everyone.

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Cleaning
DelurkingAJ · 19/04/2020 18:38

We are still paying both our childminder and our cleaner. I miss them both very much. We will continue to do so as long as this goes on (our jobs are pretty secure).

Eve · 19/04/2020 18:46

Mine had stopped coming to me as waiting an operation that’s now delayed. She is cash only, when she’s better I will ask for more hours and will pay extra to try & make something up.

Bubbletrouble43 · 19/04/2020 18:49

We don't have a cleaner but we do have a window cleaner. I'm carrying on paying him by standing order as it's a small fee monthly and we can manage it easily. I hope his other customers do the same, he is young with a wife and new baby.

TheSmelliestHouse · 19/04/2020 19:07

I pay mine as I'm still getting paid, and it feels like the right thing to do

Greysparkles · 19/04/2020 19:11

I was a cleaner. Had 6 long term clients, most that I've had for over 5 years.
Not 1 has offered to pay me through lockdown. It's stings tbh

I've had to get another job now, so I won't be going back. Which is a shame

CountFosco · 19/04/2020 19:52

DH and I both are key workers who can WFH and whose jobs are safe (I'm in pharma so the industry has gone crazy with everyone testing antvirals and vaccines so we are busier than ever, will still get a bonus this year etc) that so we are continuing to pay our small local agency. We've used them for 6 years and 'our' cleaner has been cleaning our house most of that time, she does a great job and will struggle without the income. I've said we are happy to pay a retainer as long as it takes (we expect clients to pay cancellation fees, it's no different as far as I'm concerned). That may make me sound like Lady Muck but we have an income that puts us in the top 5-10% of the population, paying my cleaner is just acknowledging my privilege and accepting the responsibility to others.

Thinking about the comments above about other SE people a lot that have been mentioned earn more than minimum wage whereras cleaners don't. I'm still paying our window cleaner because he can still do his job and maintain social distancing. Yoga teacher has a secure 'proper' job that pays well above average as well so teaching yoga is just a sideline so not worried about her. Gym has frozen membership, as has nursery. Kids activities are sidelines for the coaches, they have other jobs and they have chosen to cancel direct debits. I've not cancelled any payments. We've increased what we buy from our milkman and are seeking out local companies that can deliver. We are very very fortunate, both generally but particularly in this situation where we have guaranteed incomes and reduced expenditure (last filled the car with petrol over a month ago). The very least I can do is continue to pay a good and loyal cleaner.

wanderlove · 19/04/2020 22:51

I think if you are still being paid fully you should pay otherwise you are making money out of this. If your money is reduced by 80% then maybe pay some. If you've lost your income you can't pay. You should do the right thing if you can.

Vargas · 19/04/2020 23:07

My cleaner has offered to keep coming to work. I would really really really love her to, but it doesn't seem right so I have asked her not to come and will pay her fully. DH and I have not taken a pay cut so it seems only fair that we keep paying her. DH thinks we should cut her pay and let her claim from the Gov't, but I disagree as she won't get anything until June. She has been with us for years and is scrupulously honest, I know that if she can claim anything from the Gov't she will let me know. I am hoping she is going to be back to work in a few weeks!! That is probably overly wishful thinking....

Vargas · 19/04/2020 23:10

As for other workers, I still pay my Pilates teacher as she is doing online classes. Same for the kids' music teachers. I haven't heard from the window cleaner but he is welcome to come and clean outside only. I had my hair done right before lockdown, and as soon as I can I will book another appointment with my hairdresser. I have never used the same salon to do my pedicure so they are the only ones missing out...I hope they are able to claim.

ceeveebee · 19/04/2020 23:19

I just posted on a very similar thread

Re the self employed support: when do you think they will receive this support? There’ll be no support paid to self employed people until June. Do you think many cleaners have enough in savings to last 3 months

We haven’t lost any income so we are still paying our cleaner in full, and yes also paying some of the kids activities (where they are individuals rather than large companies) and have paid hairdresser for a voucher. Gardner and window cleaner are still coming too. We are also supporting as many local businesses as possible eg butcher, veg delivery etc. We want a life to cone back to!!

SummerBreezemakesmefeelfine · 20/04/2020 00:07

DH on furlough at 80% until June and may not have a job to go back to if this situation continues. We have a cleaner, but she also works as a domestic assistant for the NHS. Obviously she can't come now. We paid cash in hand at twice her hourly rate as an NHS employee, but we left it up to her as to whether the money was declared to HMRC.

I will probably give her a week or two pay in her hand and then explain politely that DH will be helping with the cleaning if he loses his job.

TheFredericaQuartet · 20/04/2020 05:10

We don't have a cleaner but we do have a window cleaner. I'm carrying on paying him by standing order as it's a small fee monthly and we can manage it easily

Why can't he continue to clean your windows Confused

That may make me sound like Lady Muck

When I said that to OP, it was because she referred to her cleaner as "the lady who scrubs my toilets"

TheFredericaQuartet · 20/04/2020 05:11

Why are some of you paying your cleaners in cash?

TheFredericaQuartet · 20/04/2020 05:15

The very least I can do is continue to pay a good and loyal cleaner

How much do you pay her?

CountFosco · 20/04/2020 06:24

How much do you pay her?

The standard rate the agency charges Confused, it's up to them to determine their costs. I assume she gets NMW.

TheFredericaQuartet · 20/04/2020 06:31

I don't know what the Confused face is for - it was a straightforward question.

How much do you pay the agency? How do you know the money you're paying the agency now is going to your cleaner?

Self employed cleaners can earn far more than NMW.

OhTheRoses · 20/04/2020 07:21

Our cleaner comes via an agency. The cleaner gets £11ph and the agency gets a commission. She has been with us for a couple of years. Most of the cleaners are Romanian/Bulgarian and have poor English. The agency is in dire straits and not charging the commission at present- they have expressed concern about the cleaners who are self-employed and paid directly by the clients. Our cleaner usually works 6 hours pw.

Technically they could register as self employed or claim universal credit but the agency hasn't been forthcoming about whether they are doing that and one knows in one's heart the cleaners probably haven't been declaring all of their earnings.

I have paid in full for 4 weeks. The agency have thanked me, the cleaner has not. I have suggested that we could set up the summer house as an ironing room - nowhere near the house and accessed via a side gate. Cleaner could iron, just under half her usual work and be paid in full for four more weeks. To be fair other clients could drop laundry and she could do a whole lot more. If she doesn't want to do that I shall be reducing her money to half.

It is hard. I suspect the agency will go out of business and many of the cleaners will return to Eastern Europe asap.

One thing I can attest to as DH and I have been cleaning and staying on top of the laundry - she works hard and fast in her 6 hours although we are a little more thorough.

PatchworkElmer · 20/04/2020 07:44

I paid our cleaner for a month (she comes fortnightly) but owe her again today- would like to pay for another month. She is cash in hand only though, which creates an issue! I have messaged her this morning asking for her back details as I don’t want to risk a cash point.

MusterMark · 20/04/2020 07:51

Why would you pay for a service you're not getting?

I am paying my cleaners, although I told them to stay at home. That's because in my view, I have a duty to help keep the economy going. The state is paying 80% to furloughed workers for the same reason.

My income is not affected however. If I'd had say a 50% drop in income, I would try to pay them 50%.

Many people alive today have only lived in a market economy where it is "every one for themselves". The quoted line above is an example of this mind-set. Now we are in a collective economy where we need to look after each other.

Everyone will lose in this situation and we need to share it around as much as possible.

anothernotherone · 20/04/2020 08:18

MusterMark Its an American attitude - one of few first world countries where it's considered right and proper that employees can lose job and healthcare without any notice with immediate effect without doing anything wrong. The customer service, everything as a consumer service, disposable economy.

It's not going very well in the land of the disposable worker though...

lanbro · 20/04/2020 08:26

I think if you can afford to you should, obviously if your income is reduced you can't.

I am a small business owner and have received huge support from my community, many regular customers bought vouchers to help with my cash flow, customers dropped off ingredients that I was struggling to find, and I know I'm going to get more support when I reopen. If you can help then please do

MimiLaRue · 20/04/2020 08:39

Why are some of you paying your cleaners in cash

Because they dont declare the income! The problem then of course is, they cannot apply for government help. Well, I'm sorry but you cannot have it both ways. Our taxes go to the NHS, if you earn but pay no tax deliberately then why on earth should you be helped by the government when everything goes Pete tong?

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