Quick advice re: cleaner please

[Lamontaine]

Hello,
Looking for some quick advice please.
I have had a cleaner for the last 9 months and she is good but is off sick or on holiday at least once a month. I still pay her for her hours when she’s sick or on holidays (4 weeks a year).
She had three weeks off on holiday over Xmas and has been off sick all this week too.
I texted her to say I’d need to factor in some more flexibility going forward as although I understand that she can’t help illness, it’s costing our family quite a lot to keep paying her every week when she’s off so much. I suggested I guarantee a certain amount of hours per month and pay them no matter what and any extra she does, I pay cash in hand.
she just texted me back with a photo of her and her son (also unwell) wearing masks. I feel bad that they’re unwell but I can’t keep paying for her not to turn up. Not sure what to do, she’s a good cleaner (when she comes) but I’m starting to feel resentful of having to pay so much out when she’s quite unreliable.

Why do you pay for holidays and sickness? When you’re self employed (or in her case, cash in hand!) you don’t get holiday or sick pay.
I've never had a client pay me for either.
You're being taken for a ride unfortunately.

Yep fynoderee is correct. I have been self employed for decades and I have never expected any of my clients to pay me for being off sick or on holiday. I wouldn’t last long in my business if I expected it.

I think you need to find another cleaner. One who is reliable.

On occasion I have paid decent reliable cleaners sick pay or when unable to come but this is rare. For example one lady had to go abroad urgently - family sickness. She actually offered to come a different day that I couldn’t do. I pay Christmas holiday as a bonus and usually one week in summer as we are often away anyway. Other than that I think your cleaner is being quite cheeky, although it’s unfortunate she is unwell of course.

Use a legitimate agency or someone who is self employed rather than off the books and you might get better service. I wouldn’t be paying her for being off.

What? Why are you paying her sickness and holiday?!

Most of my relatives are self employed - they don't work, they don't get paid!

If she does a good job when she's there and you'd prefer to keep her as your cleaner, tell her you can only afford to pay for hours she works now, she might turn up more reliably.

I’m self-employed (in more of a consulting role, though not on an eye-watering hourly rate) and currently unable to work for at least two months due to serious illness. My clients are enormously sympathetic and many have sent flowers and some really lovely notes. There’s no question of them paying me though - that’s not our business relationship. I pay tax and charge enough to cover holidays, sick leave, and even to set something aside for catastrophic circumstances such as this.
If I asked them for money right now they would be utterly baffled.

As per the first post.

If someone is self employed and doesn't do the job, they don't get paid.

I mean, if you had a long standing relationship with a cleaner who had been excellent for years and you choose to, when she then was ill, it would be different, but you don't owe her anything with her record so far.

If my cleaner can't come, she messages to see if I want to leave it that week (and she doesn't get paid) or if we can work out a different day / time if I prefer.

Cleaner here..long term customers mostly.. Depending on days I get paid Xmas week and that's all. She is taking the piss op. Tell her cost of living =paid when work only.

I have had cleaners for 20 years and have never paid sickness / holidays. We do pay a Christmas bonus (2 weeks worth).

You need to find someone else. Don’t bother trying to change her behavior because she’ll just get resentful she is not getting such a sweet deal any more.

My cleaner (who is amazing) doesn't expect to be paid if she doesn't show up for whatever reason.

I'm also self employed and don't get paid unless I work the clinics I book.

We pay our cleaner if we don’t need her or one of us is too ill for her to come. We don’t pay her if she is ill or on holiday.