What to do about cleaner in this heat?

[Rainallnight]

My cleaner travels from the other side of London. She’s due tomorrow. I think probably the right thing to do is tell her she doesn’t need to come and pay her anyway.

But I’m in two minds and interested in what other people are doing?

Really kind thing to do, I’d do the same.

I think that is incredibly considerate. I'd probably do the same thing.

If you can afford it that's a great kindness. Another possibility would be to suggest that she comes earlier in the day as it's not too bad travelling early before the sun warms things up. How much would it be to pay for an Uber to get her home in air-conditioned comfort?

I’d do the same as she has to take public transport and cleaning is a hot job anyway. I wouldn’t consider cleaning my own house in this weather unless I had air con. It’s not just a bit of hot weather as a PP suggested, it’s pushing 40° which is very hot even for a heatwave. Obviously some people are in hats and coats as mentioned on every thread 🙄 but they are either abnormal or in Scotland

I think that's the right and honourable thing to do.

I’m a cleaner and that’s so lovely of you.The house I’m going to clean soon is full of enormous glass windows, like working in a green house.Sadly they haven’t contacted me so I’ll be sweating like a pig in an hour or so🥵

If I had a cleaner I’d like to think I’d do as you suggest and just let her have the day off and pay anyway. There is advice not to travel and who would want to clean a house in this. If she’s your long term cleaner the good will is worth it

Decent people would do this. She will appreciate it I'm sure.

Our cleaner is obsessively honest and won't take any benefit like this - it's wonderful but sometimes makes us feel uncomfortable like she is treating herself badly iyswim. I have said don't come tomorrow and we will pay you, but she will either not come and then refuse to take the money next week, or come and clean despite us saying no you shouldn't. It's a bit weird, more like having a relative who doesn't listen! She has worked with us for 25 years.

I very much agree with your decision and think its lovely. I hope she appreciates you and stays loyal for a long time!

Mine comes every fortnight and had moved her week due to a holiday so I suggested she doesn't come this week but next, puts us back onto normal schedule.

So the fuck what. If the OP is prepared to pay her for a a day off that's a nice thing to do.

It’s very kind.

I’m paying mine and have told her not to come. I think any decent person should. Likewise, we paid her in the Covid lockdown.

We've had our cleaner for over 10 years. I've told her not to come and paid her anyway.

It's not just hot, it's a danger to life.

40 people have already died in France due to the heatwave.

Hi, that’s what I did with mine when we had a really bad storm recently, told her not to come and paid her. She then came later that week instead!

Thats a good compromise. Just tell her to do a shorter clean and pay her the same. I wouldnt pay for no cleaning at all.

I need a new client. Mine wouldn't dream of doing this and they never so much as offer a cold drink.

Mine came today but it is only a 5 minute drive.
I have a portable air con unit in one room and I said if she felt too hot she could go and sit in there for a bit, I also asked if she wanted a cold drink a few times
I did consider asking her if she wanted to come but if I had and she said no I wouldn't have paid her

Mine came as normal today and told me not to worry she's polish and is used to the heat!

Tried to get to have a cold drink, ice pole, help her with her stuff, use our fans and she wasnt interested. Said all us Brits cant cope!

How lovely to hear someone actually being KIND to another person! ❤️

We have portable air con units so our house is cool. I did offer that she didn’t need to come and we’d still pay, but as she has a car with air con and we have air con she has been happy to come.

If we didn’t have air con, I think I’d insist she didn’t come. I wouldn’t be able to clean for hours in this weather so I wouldn’t expect anyone else to. 🥵

Is yours the only house - she may well have clients before and after you in which case there’s no point.

Otherwise I think your suggestion is exceptionally kind

I would.

So many people who don’t have air conditioned places to work are being given WFH or workplaces closing in emergency closures and pay won’t be deducted.

I think the employee - employer relationship is made stronger by these simple gestures and employees work harder for decent employers.