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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to say something to cleaner leaving early and what do I say?

144 replies

Trioofprinces · 20/07/2012 15:55

New cleaner started about a month ago. We agreed she would do 3 hrs. She said that after getting used to it she thought it would take 2-2.5hrs, but we agreed to stick to 3hrs for the time being.

A couple of weeks ago she left after 2hrs 45mins so the following week I said something along the lines of "you seemed to be doing ok for time last week so if you have time could you please do x this week".

This week was the first time I left and let her lock up. I know she got here at 9.30 and the alarm shows her leaving at 11.50, so she stayed for 2hrs 20mins only. She took the money for the full 3hrs. (It would have been easy to take for 2.5hrs as she charges £8ph and I left £24, so she could have taken £20 and left a note).

Now, obviously if I didn't have the alarm I wouldn't have known when she left, and I doubt she knows that I can see the entry and exit time of her keyfob.

She came highly recommended so I don't want to naff her off but I also want to make the point that I am happy to pay for what she does, whether that be 2.5hrs or 3hrs but that I expect her to work the time I have paid.

We are also going on holiday next week and she is due to do 6hrs while we're away, now clearly if she thinks my house can be done in less than 2.5hrs, there is no way she is going to work all 6hrs we're away.

So, what do I say to make her realise I can see how long she's here without sounding like I'm monitoring her, and what do I do about the holiday time?

WWYD?

Thanks

OP posts:
pickledpenny · 20/07/2012 19:26

ROFL Ekidna Grin

LeanderBear · 20/07/2012 19:28

I don't think £8 is particularly cheap for a self employed cleaner. Cleaners working for cleaning companies generally earn minimum wage or just a tiny bit over. Ie less than £6.50. You would be very hard pressed to find a cleaning job with a cleaning company for £8 per hour. Check here for yourself
Cleaning companies, quite rightly, have to charge their customers much more than the minimum wage, they have all the costs of their business plus they have to make a profit.

Original poster
Trioofprinces · 20/07/2012 19:30

Thank you Leanderbear I am getting a bit narked at people making out I'm paying a really low rate when I know it is better than she gets elsewhere and more generous than most cleaning jobs around here. If she'd wanted more, she'd have asked for more surely?

OP posts:
ekidna · 20/07/2012 19:31

does she buff the cutlery in a properly shiny way or does she leave it all smeared?

DowagersHump · 20/07/2012 19:33

The tightarse comment was in reference to you suggesting you shouldn't pay her when you go on holiday. That's really not on.

I'm sure you can stretch to the extra £24 while you are soaking up the rays.

FrankieAndArthur · 20/07/2012 19:33

I often get paid cash but declare everything.
It is not the first time on MN that I have seen the assumption from people that Cash in hand = fiddling.

And what WhereYouLeftIt said about using initiative. If cleaning can have a perk, then having 20 mins at the end of a job to do something less routine then that is it.

I like doing something that my customer might be pleased to have had done unexpectedly.

MrsCampbellBlack · 20/07/2012 19:35

How big is your house because I've got a 4 bed house and it takes my cleaner 4.5 hours a week to do a really thorough clean - including all windows/skirting boards etc. But she is utterly brilliant and works incredibly hard.

Could you be there when she comes and see just what she does perhaps?

Its such a trusted position though that you have to have faith in the person who has access to your home when you're not there. And that works both ways my cleaner has sacked clients who don't treat her well because good cleaners are like gold dust around here. I've had the same one for 7 years and trust her implicitly and treat her very well - pay her when she's on holiday, christmas bonus etc because she cleans way better than I do.

And I'd have thought if your cleaner is being rather cheeky this early on in your relationship - well it doesn't bode well.

FrankieAndArthur · 20/07/2012 19:35

[ekidna] You buff everything surely? Shock

turbo1 · 20/07/2012 19:36

She took the money for the full 3hrs. (It would have been easy to take for 2.5hrs as she charges £8ph and I left £24, so she could have taken £20 and left a note).

That sounds like cash in hand to me.

You are lucky and if you do not think so then sack this poor woman instead of coming on here slagging her off.

I have a lot of experience in the cleaning trade and I have NEVER come across a domestic cleaner for less than £8ph

turbo1 · 20/07/2012 19:38

What I have come across in my business are people who look down their noses at cleaners and treat them like crap.

If you do not like her why don't you pick up the broom yourself?

ekidna · 20/07/2012 19:39

ha no I was clueless until my boss pointed out in my feedback form that the cutlerry looked teribel all smeery all the time. I thank her muchly to this day.

pickledpenny · 20/07/2012 19:40

Same here Frankie but unfortunately have seen repeatedly on Mumsnet the assumption that most cleaners are on the fiddle and not declaring tax, NI.

Original poster
Trioofprinces · 20/07/2012 19:46

MrsCampbellBlack - she does not do windows or skirtings. She cleans the kitchen, the bathrooms and hoovers throughout. She dusts upstairs or downstairs but not both. That is exactly what she does, it is not a 'thorough' clean and I wouldn't expect it to be in the time given. We have 5 bedrooms but only 3 are in 'proper use', she is not expected to clean the other 2 unless I am expecting guests in which case I would expect something else to drop off her list.

Dowagershump - fair dues, I had always agreed to pay her whilst on holiday but I can see why it may look otherwise as when others asked why she'd come when I was on holiday I did say maybe she should only come once. I did say later on though that I would just give her a list of jobs to do while I am away.

Turbo1 - yes you caught me out on this particualr occasion! I do normally pay her directly by bank but it is 3 days before payday and my bank did not have the money in it so I raided my purse and my husband's wallet. I am sorry you seem to have a grudge here, but try coming to East Anglia and you will find many cleaners for £8 or less ph.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trioofprinces · 20/07/2012 19:50

turbo1 - I do like her, where have I said otherwise?

I treat my cleaners with respect and I think treat them well, I pay the hourly rate they have asked for, they get a decent Christmas bonus and previous 2 cleaners (over 17 years) have only both left one because she retired altogether and the other because she got a full time job doing her first love career. If I treated people like shit, I wouldn't have kept anyone that long would I?

I have come on here, not to slag her off but to ask valid advice about what to day, nicely, about her leaving 40minutes early. I don't feel I deserve what seems to be your hate campaign for those who employ cleaners.

OP posts:
turbo1 · 20/07/2012 19:51

I have no grudge. I have lived in EA and actually employed a cleaner there for £10 ph. This was sometime back and that would equate to about £12 now.

Listen it is EASY to say to her your keyfob notes entering and leaving times and leave it at that. If you WANT you can go as far as telling her you will pay her hourly rate multiplied by time worked. I have had this exact issue with one of my cleaners and I just docked her pay to the time worked and passed on the saving in cost to the MD of the firm.

I also had one cleaner who was supposed to work for 2 hours and did 1 hr 20 on several occasions. I saw this as gross misconduct and he was dismissed.

If you are unhappy with her work-sack her. Simples.

LeanderBear · 20/07/2012 19:52

Hats of to you turbo1 if you are able to pay your cleaners more than minumin wage. I know contract cleaning is a cut-throat business.

Also turbo1 you have said yourself that you would discipline a cleaning employee if they knocked off more than 30 minutes early so I am not sure why you now seem at odds with the OP. She has said nothing to suggest she looks down on her cleaner.

Toughasoldboots · 20/07/2012 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LeanderBear · 20/07/2012 19:53

X posted with turbo.... Smile

turbo1 · 20/07/2012 19:57

I have just had a SHIT day dealing with one dick who will not cough up for work down and has treated my worker like a piece of crap. I have spent 3 hours prepping court documents and am really pissed off about some peoples' attitude towards cleaners. Sorry to the OP if I have seemed a bit too pissed but if I could legally throttle this man I would.

Going sitting down now with a brew and trying to calm down.

MsOnatopp · 20/07/2012 19:57

I think some people on this thread, like turbo1 for example, are missing the point. It's got nothing to do with what the OP agreed with her that her hourly rate would be.

She took money which she did not work for.

That is theft.

MrsJREwing · 20/07/2012 20:04

[Brew] for op and turbo.

Original poster
Trioofprinces · 20/07/2012 20:05

Thanks MrsJREwing - I feel like I need it now :)

OP posts:
Lucyellensmum99 · 20/07/2012 20:06

I should imagine a fair few cleaners don't pay tax as they work part time and fall below threshold id be happy with eight pound per hour but would also leave early if i finished

MrsJREwing · 20/07/2012 20:07

Op, what are you going to do then?

Original poster
Trioofprinces · 20/07/2012 20:10

I think go on one of the earlier suggestions, a list of jobs to do while I'm away then when I get back see how long she's taking and in a couple of weeks say something along the lines of "you seem to be doing ok for time now, shall we go down to 2.5hrs as you initially suggested or would you prefer me to add a few jobs to make your time up?"

OP posts: