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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell my cleaner not to come tomorrow?

85 replies

reddwarf · 03/01/2013 08:05

I've had a cleaner for a few months. Tomorrow is the last day of the school holidays. My dc are all still in bed and likely to be there for quite some time. As is dh. My cleaner normally comes at 7.45.

So not only are 5 people going to be in bed, but as everyone is here, the house is a tip.

I feel guilty for cancelling, but otoh, it#s not exactly ideal.

What to other people do re cleaners in school holidays, and AIBU to tell her not to come? ( WHich I did last week )

Should I just make it a blanket rule not to come during any school holiday?

OP posts:
PenguinBear · 03/01/2013 08:06

Could she come twice next week so you don't loose the cleaning hours?

SaraBellumHertz · 03/01/2013 08:07

You can tell her not to come whenever you want provided you still pay her.

Canceling and not paying with less than 24 hours is unreasonable

AmandaCooper · 03/01/2013 08:08

Cancel by all means but you'll have to pay her. If you don't want to lose her anyway, messing her about.

AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 03/01/2013 08:09

How much does a cleaned cost?

Original poster
reddwarf · 03/01/2013 08:13

Is it messing around?

She costs loads and I can't afford to pay her for nothing. I'd rather she didn't come at all, but dh wanted her (says a lot about my abilities I guess)

Does everybody who has a cleaner get them to come always during school holidays? So what are you supposed to do about the kids? Even if they weren't all in bed it'd be mad and trying to clean with 6 people in the house?

Thank you for responding. Do you all have cleaners?

OP posts:
Rangirl · 03/01/2013 08:14

You presumably are going to pay her ?if in doubt imagine how you would feel if your employer phoned and said you were not to come in the next day and would not be paid I have always paid my cleaners in these circa Often they will then do some extra hours to make it up I find if you are decent to people they return the favour Smile

Original poster
reddwarf · 03/01/2013 08:18

OK; so forget about tomorrow. Suppose she had 2 months notice. WHat's the score normally for cleaners during school holidays, cos frankly this is going to happen reasonably regularly and it's a pain in the bum.

OP posts:
StickEmWithThePointyEnd · 03/01/2013 08:18

If everyone is in bed she can do the downstairs can't she? Cancelling at short notice and not paying is definitely messing her around. Imagine if your employer did the same for you.

poshfrock · 03/01/2013 08:19

My cleaner didn't come last week at her own request due to Christmas. This week we have changed her day from Monday to Thursday by mutual agreement. This was all arranged about a month ago so we all know what's going on.
I would never cancel at such short notice. I have been known to ask her if she can change her day at short notice, but only if my husband has had to work a night shift ( also at short notice) and is therefore sleeping during the day. If she can't change then she comes on her normal day and works round him.
Why can't your family get up before she comes? My kids have been told they need to be up today because the cleaner is coming, as has my husband and he didn't get to bed until 3am( working late shift ).
We pay £10 per hour. Seems to be standard here.

ohfunnyhoneyface · 03/01/2013 08:19

Would it be reasonable for your boss to call, cancel and not pay you with less than 24hrs notice?

Can you not ask her to make up the time next week and plan ahead in future- the school holidays were always there; you couldn't have been surprised or shocked by their arrival!

LindyHemming · 03/01/2013 08:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HappyJazzy · 03/01/2013 08:21

I presume it's a cash in hand job? I would cancel and not pay. I work casual as a midwife and can be cancelled for my booked shift any where up to an hour before the shift starts and not get paid. I also can be sent home early if there is not enough work for me to do. If you feel that bad, give her a box of chocolates next week.

Pancakeflipper · 03/01/2013 08:22

Can you not give her an area to spring clean fully and not disturb you do much - bathrooms to blitz?

You'd have to pay her something cancelling at short notice for the reason it's too much faff. Unless she's ok in not getting paid - my cleaner didn't expect to be paid at late cancellation but she was a real one off. And we used to give half the money cos I felt that was fairer than paying nothing.

poshfrock · 03/01/2013 08:22

If she was not going to be needed during school holidays that should have been made clear to her from the start. You can't change it now. Not if you want to keep her. Seriously who wants a job that suddenly won't pay them for 13 weeks a year?

SantasENormaSnob · 03/01/2013 08:22

You need to pay her if you don't want her tomorrow.

It's mean and unfair to just cancel at such short notice.

Could you suggest in future she only does term time? Or maybe a change in hours during holidays?

nilbyname · 03/01/2013 08:23

happyjazzy that is an appalling way to be treated! I assume that it works for you though?

op YOu must pay her if you are cancelling at such short notice!

purplesunflower · 03/01/2013 08:26

My cleaner doesn't like coming when we're all around either. We tend to organise school holidays in advance- generally she comes every other week, sometimes later or on different days. As long as you arrange in advance changing should be fine

LindyHemming · 03/01/2013 08:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YoucanringmySleighBells · 03/01/2013 08:28

I have a cleaning job that is term time only as it works for me. However, I was cancelled a few weeks back and I was counting on the money that particular week. As it is an informal job I have I didn't argue but I do think you should pay her. You have effectively booked her services and now want to cancel and yet re-instate the hours for the following week? That is messing her about.

If you cannot afford it then you need to chat to her- she may be willing to take on a term time only position.

strumpetpumpkin · 03/01/2013 08:28

my cleaner and i have a fairly casual arrangement and cancelling the day before would be fine and has been done no problem. saying that, she is always overrun with work so she usually fits somebody else in or welcomes the rare opportunity to catch up with other stuff.

HappyJazzy · 03/01/2013 08:28

Nilby it's not ideal, but it means I can choose how many shifts a week I do, without being forced into a contract, and that I don't have to do night duty which does not work for our young family. I also can take holidays when ever I want, but I don't get paid for them, or if I'm sick. I suppose with every thing there is a trade off.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 03/01/2013 08:28

You would need to let her know at least 24 hours in advance. Why didn't you deal with it earlier so she could have a chance to rebook.

notengodinero · 03/01/2013 08:29

If you cancel tomo you need to rearrange so she gets the same hours over the next couple of weeks iyswim. I've cancelled at short notice but only with very good reason ( illness etc). As for the school holidays, you need to negotiate with here. Term-time only working is an option she may well not want.
Or, give her notice and do it all yourself? ( not meaning to sound sexist but if your DH wanted a cleaner he sounds like me, I hate cleaning, so if he cancelled her for no good reason I'd go on strikeGrin)!

Pooka · 03/01/2013 08:31

During the holidays I sometimes asked for the cleaner to come a little later, and I'd make sure we were either out, or at least up and corralled into one room while the rest cleaned, and then we could spread ut while that room being cleaned.

McPhee · 03/01/2013 08:32

You still need to pay her.

It's not her fault you don't want her. Imagine, your told not to come in to work, even though you are willing, then get told 'oh, and we're not paying you either'. You'd be cross no??

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