To think my cleaner is being cheeky?

[Babysittingdilemma]

We have a cleaner 2 hours per fortnight. She lives next door to us, and started after I had my daughter and had a third degree tear, so wasn't able to do much for a while (just thought I would explain this before being told IABU to have a cleaner!)

She initially did a good job, but recently I have suspected that she isn't staying for the 2 hours she is paid for.

This morning, I left the house with DS and DD at 10am almost exactly. I knocked on her door to give her the keys but there was no answer so I put the keys through her door so she could let herself in when she got back (she works mornings elsewhere).

I returned home at 11.55am. She had been in, cleaned the house, and taken the money I left out. She must have left at 11.50am at the absolute latest because we live on quite a long hill (so our house is visible from the top) and I didn't see her come out.

So, the absolute maximum she spent at the house would have been 1h 45m. I suspect it is less, because although the job she has done is ok, it's not that thorough (she hasn't mopped under the kitchen table, or in the hallway for example).

I think this is cheeky and am going to tell her that I don't need her to clean for us anymore. AIBU?

Well you could always ask her about it before you pull the plug and give her a chance to pull her socks up.

p.s it does sound like she's cutting corners. depends whether you still need her or not I suppose.

Depends how happy you are with the job. I am never at home when my cleaner comes so have no idea how long she stays but if she's done the job, I'm happy.

Gosh, you're brave employing a neighbour. I can imagine how awkward that could become if you have to let her go.

Personally, I don't think it matters how long she is taking, as long as she is cleaning to a standard you are happy with. If she isn't you need to talk to her about it, ie 'please could you ensure that you mop under the table every week'.

when I had a cleaner she kept finishing earlier and earlier each week. In the end I told her that i paid her for 2 hours and that if she finished the main cleaning within that time then I wanted her to do other jobs such as clean windows or clean the oven.

I think paying for particular tasks is better than time. as sometimes what Hex describes can backfire as the minimum work just gets dragged out to fill the time.

my cleaner does less, but as she is good I dont mind

I think get rd and go via references a better cleaner TBH

I think pretty much ALL cleaners will do less than the time they're paid for.

As long as they're doing a good job i don't thinkit matters too much but yours isn't....so, yes, she is being cheeky

I think it does matter if they do less than the time they are paid for actually.

You wouldn't, say, work in an office and go home as soon as your work was done if you were being paid hourly would you? Someone working in a shop doesn't just clock off an hour early because they fancy it.

If I'm paying someone an hourly rate for 2 hours then I expect 2 hours work!

Yes exactly Hex, she is paid for 2 hours (at £10 per hour, so a reasonable wage for the area) so she should do 2 hours, not take shortcuts so that she can go home after an hour and a half or whatever.

Ironically, we did have an agency cleaner who was taking shortcuts and not staying for the paid for period, and it was our neighbour/cleaner who told us about this! And was offered the job by DH...

Thanks for all your views. I think I am going to chicken out though, and tell her that we can't afford to have a cleaner now that my SMP has run out (sort of true!) And if there is a next time, compile a list of tasks to be done...

I'm with hex - they're paid by the hour, not the job. I'd look for a new cleaner, if you don't think it will cause issues.

Can you not come back early one day and see if she has left or about to.I think you are very6 brave to hire your neighbour imagine if it goes tits up.You still have to face her.

Not great. My cleaner always does the hours that we pay her for. If she gets through the house quickly she will do little extras like clean the oven or fridge or hang up the washing. BTW I never asked her to do all this. She is just amazing....and she doesn't mind when my 2 year old follows her round 'helping'. I try and be VERY nice to her because she is a better employee than I am!

Ask her to do an hour instead and see if she can get it all done in less time, could say you can't afford 2 hours anymore...?

she is being very cheeky. working for a neighbour is never a good idea, as you cant exactly leave each other and forget about it.
Dont pull the plug on her. speak to her first.

yanbu to have a cleaner. If you can afford to pay someone to do it, then there is no point in doing it yourself, unless you love mopping floors etc.

I want SlipperyNipple's cleaner!

I hd this recently. I came back half an hour early, she was clearly about to leave, so we had a discussion about whether 2 hours was too much time for my little house

I employ mine through an agency so I got them to sack her off in the end.

Ask her to do some extra bits? Or puck her up on the corners she has cut.

I think saying you can't afford it anymore is a good idea. If in a few months you want to restart, use someone else. If you are paying for 2 hours, you could get 2 hours.

My cleaner used to weed the garden if she finished early. I miss her. :(

I don't think I have ever had a cleaner who didn't do this and it infuriates me. I pay for 3 hours and usually a new cleaner will need the first two weeks for the main cleaning job but after that it cuts down to about 2hrs - 2.15. I make it clear at the start that after a few weeks they can add extra things in for the last 45 minutes or so i.e. deep clean kitchen, clean sofas, give the blinds a better clean, deep clean the showers etc etc however they hardly ever do this. I am here when they come so they know I know but each and everyone tries to duck out early and usually I have to say what about doing the windows today or can you do the sofas if you have extra time... winds me up no end

wow lots of cleaner related threads today

as i have already mentioned a few times today i am a cleaner....AND i would never leave that early, maybe 5 minutes if i really have done EVERYTHING. but if i finish earlier then i find extra things to do. ie, clean windows, dust skirting boards, clean the fridge / microwave etc. or ask the client if there is anything else they want me to do.