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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to sack my cleaner?

20 replies

Lavitabellissima · 01/05/2011 20:43

Lovely young polish girl, early 20's, has done 3/4 hours 1 day a week for the last 4/5 months. Always been friendly, polite and I've always felt very comfortable around her

Today I received a handwritten letter through the door telling me she's been accused of stealing in her other job and not to tell her about the letter as her husband has a violent history and the writer fears for her family [cshock]

WWYD?

OP posts:

FabbyChic · 01/05/2011 20:47

So long as she is not stealing from you and you are happy why would you sack her? Could be someone trying to cause trouble.

rosie1979 · 01/05/2011 20:47

Is it anonymous? Could be someone wanting to make trouble...would probably ignore and lock any valuables away.

mumblechum1 · 01/05/2011 20:48

Blimey. Other than not leaving things obviously out for temptation, which hopefully you'd have the sense not to do anyway (ie large amounts of cash), I'd take her as I find her & ignore the letter. could be someone just being v nasty.

280169 · 01/05/2011 20:49

i would not sack her, let your own mind be the judge.We had a similar thing at work our emplyee was totally innocent.

IloveJudgeJudy · 01/05/2011 20:53

I would not sack her if you have had no reason to worry about her. it sounds like someone is trying to make trouble for her, particulary if the note is anonymous.

ItsCHEEKYTime · 01/05/2011 20:54

was it anonymous?

fedupofnamechanging · 01/05/2011 20:54

I would tell her about the letter. I think she deserves to know that someone is saying these things about her. I presume the letter was anonymous? I think that if a person has something to say, they should do it openly and not hide behind an anonymous note, as that is cowardly and underhand and gives neither you or her any power to challenge it and demand proof.

If it is true, then you being aware of these accusations and your cleaner knowing that you know, may stop her from doing this to you.

I like to think that I'd continue to trust her and judge her on how she'd behaved with me, but in truth, I'd be wary, just in case and would not leave jewellery/money lying around.

Original poster

Lavitabellissima · 01/05/2011 20:58

The letter is from the woman who I originally called asking for a cleaner, she said she knew someone near me and would get them to call me. X the cleaner called and has been with me ever since.

My first thought was that they'd fallen out and and the letter was a bit malicious. She states that she worries that if x my cleaner is stealing (although she doesn't know if the accusation is true) that it's bad for her business.

I feel like I should ask my cleaner about it, but feel a bit stuck due to the letter writer asking me not to [cconfused] and saying her husband is violent.

OP posts:

fivegomadindorset · 01/05/2011 21:00

Do you feel uncomfortable with her in your house? Have you had any concerns up unitl now? Have you noticed anything missing? Are you happy with her work?

I think YABU

Hassled · 01/05/2011 21:00

I'd just ignore completely and carry on regardless. Maybe be a bit more careful re cash/jewellery kicking around.

bubblecoral · 01/05/2011 21:01

Is she really that good at cleaning that it's worth the risk? I think I'd find someone else.

fedupofnamechanging · 01/05/2011 21:03

In that case, I'd lock away valuables, but if she hasn't stolen from you thus far, then it's unlikely that she will. It's possible that she has fallen out with a former client who's made the accusation. It's also possible that a client has lost something and unfairly blamed the cleaner.

If you know the cleaners full name and address, then she'd be daft to steal from you and someone else, because she would be the common link to any missing goods. I don't think you can sack her unless someone else goes to police and formally accuses her.

Original poster

Lavitabellissima · 01/05/2011 21:04

No concerns at all, but DP says I'm far too trusting and always believe the best in people.
I always chat to her and think she seems lovely, determined to make a good future for herself, she works 3 jobs because she wants to buy a house.

Do you think I should just tell her about the letter?

OP posts:

PigletJohn · 01/05/2011 21:05

I reckon that if you receive an allegation, it is your duty to contact the person making the allegation to find out what evidence there is to support it.

Otherwise you are just guessing.

Like everyone on here.

FabbyChic · 01/05/2011 21:07

So the person who recommended your cleaner has written to you to tell you this as they heard it from someone else. There is no evidence to support it, it is clearly in my mind someone trying to cause trouble for the cleaner.

Why not mention the letter to your employee then and tell her that you won't be asking her to leave but thought she should know that someone is making these allegations against her.

Original poster

Lavitabellissima · 01/05/2011 21:09

Karma I don't know her full name and address, I'd never thought of it! talking now, it seems silly not to have these basic details [cshock]
The stealing is from her other job at Primark according to the letter. I know she works there, but thought the cleaning as a kind of cash in hand thing, not that the lady I phoned took some commision of her and declared it [cconfused]

OP posts:

firstsupermum · 01/05/2011 21:12

i think if she is that good and friendly, no need to sack her, if you can still get in contact with her, just return her back to her job, she didnt do nothing wrong, and you're not sure about this information, it sound like the women just went to get her out of job, even if her husband is violant, i dont think he will do something to you, but she has to know about what's happening behind her back, she need to know about the lettre, even if this was true, as fare as she didnt still from you, this will make her more carefull about what she is doing in your house, because she knows you know now.

fedupofnamechanging · 01/05/2011 21:20

Well, you do need to get that basic information, because otherwise you have a total stranger in your house, being trusted with all your belongings.

At the risk of sounding as though I have hazy morals, there is a difference between stealing from a shop and stealing from someone's home (I hasten to add that I wouldn't do either), so even if she did take something from Primark, it doesn't mean she'd steal from you.

I think the advice you got up thread, to check this out with the other employer is a good idea.

Original poster

Lavitabellissima · 01/05/2011 21:30

You are right, she did say at the bottom of the letter to contact her for further information so I think I'll call her tomorrow.
Depending on what she says I'll get my cleaners contact info off her and tell her about the letter, I still have an underlying feeling that the letter is malicious, if the writer was so scared that my cleaners husband is violent she wouldn't have written the letter.

OP posts:

springbokdoc · 01/05/2011 21:32

I think YABU. Poor woman - has been by the sounds of it working hard for you with no complaints and because of some rumour she is now in danger of losing her job?

If nothing has gone missing then I wouldn't worry and certainly wouldn't do anything. Don't tell her - if it was me I'd be mortified and it would be really uncomfortable.

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