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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Firing my cleaning lady

21 replies

Dalaimama · 20/04/2014 12:43

Any tips on how to do this in a kind way? I hate confrontation. Basically she is not very good, her ironing is crap and I don't gel with her at all. I hate trying to make conversation with her. I have another girl (who is excellent) who cleans one day a week already and hopefully at some stage can get her a second day. Do I pay her an extra week and get the keys back next time she comes? What do I say? I don't need it done twice a week (even though I do and she knows it - 4 small kids large house) before I get flamed I know this is a first world problem.

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 20/04/2014 12:47

You are the employer so you can get rid of her. I got rid of a crap cleaner by saying that my circumstances had changed so I didn't need her. I waited fir her on the day she came and just told her there and then and asked for my key. I paid her for that day but told her she didn't have to stay and clean - that way no chance for revenge or key copying!!
Obviously if you have a contract you will have to abide by that.

Original poster

Dalaimama · 20/04/2014 12:52

No contract thankfully - thanks for the advice.

OP posts:

GreenPetal94 · 20/04/2014 12:56

I'd tell her, ask for the key and not expect her to clean that day. But I would probably pay her a few weeks in to the future even if you don't have a contract. I guess whether you do this depends on her circumstances, our cleaner is clearly living hand to mouth and so I wouldn't let her go with no notice.

Nennypops · 20/04/2014 12:59

You could just say something like "Sorry, it's not working for me" and do the deed then and there, or imply that you're about to lose your job or something similar. Either way, I'd say she's entitled to some pay in lieu of notice.

Original poster

Dalaimama · 20/04/2014 13:00

She is not exactly living hand to mouth but I was going to pay her the day she shows up (without expecting her to clean) and giving her an extra weeks money - should I give her an extra two weeks?

OP posts:

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 20/04/2014 13:00

Before she gets her coat off:

"Hello X thanks for coming over today. I've had to look at changing arrangements so I'm going to have to do things myself. So here's a payment in lieu of notice and please give me your key now please".

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 20/04/2014 13:19

Extra two weeks plus the day's money without having her do the cleaning. She may not be living hand to mouth but will be counting on that income.

Original poster

Dalaimama · 20/04/2014 13:29

Right - will do! Getting nervous already!

OP posts:

mardymustelid · 20/04/2014 15:42

Namaste. Why don't you engage with her? If you don't like her ironing, have you told her? As her employer, have you given her sufficient guidance as to what you expect from her? If you or your husband were getting sacked without warning, what sort of redundancy payment would you expect? Confrontation isn't nice, but you could frame the discussion in a different way. Your name indicates that you would wish for a peaceful resolution. Why not engage in an honest discussion? She can't live up to your expectations if she doesn't know what they are.

5Foot5 · 20/04/2014 16:37

My sister had this problem once when she had a lady who seemed very nice but was really not doing a very good job and they eventually came to suspect that all she did was play with the dog and drink the gin (BIL marked the bottle)

My sister eventually told a white lie and said that as she was going part time (she wasn't) she felt she could manage by herself in future. Trouble was it was ages before she could get anyone else to replace her because if she had advertised locally then the same lady would probably have applied again.

Marylou2 · 20/04/2014 16:55

I told my completely hopeless cleaner that we'd had a change in our financial circumstances. I apologized profusely and gave her an extra weeks money. Couldn't bring myself to say that my seven year old would have made a better job of cleaning the house than she did.

Original poster

Dalaimama · 20/04/2014 21:28

Mardy she even admits herself that her ironing is bad. I don't think I can point out things to her that she already knows herself. She stands talking to me for about 15 minutes and leaves before her time is up. I really think I've put up with it long enough.

OP posts:

JamInMyWellies · 20/04/2014 21:31

Eurgh I have had to fire 3 cleaners for rubbish cleaning. I just don't get it. If you are a cleaner then surely you clean.

The last one I did by text.

Gruntfuttock · 20/04/2014 21:38

Well if she's admitted that her ironing is bad, I really don't see why you can't cite that as one of the reasons for sacking her. She'll also know that she's talking when she should be working and that she leaves early, so I don't understand why you don't feel you can be completely straightforward in saying that's not good enough and that you feel that you've been paying for a service that you're not receiving and enough is enough.

lizzzyyliveson · 20/04/2014 21:38

You would only be putting it off if you did speak to her. It's better for her to find out now than to do a few more weeks and then get the sack when you finally lose patience. Be brave!

Original poster

Dalaimama · 20/04/2014 22:28

Thanks - I'll be brave!

OP posts:

sassysally · 21/04/2014 00:32

I would just say, as you suggest that you only need it doing once a week

Caitlin17 · 21/04/2014 00:40

Strictly speaking there is a contract since you are her employer and employment law will apply default terms of employment, including notice provisions. In the very unlikely case of her arguing that you would claim(possibly unsuccessfully she was self-employed)
She is unlikely to do anything as presumably she's paid cash in hand and not paying tax on it.

sassysally · 21/04/2014 16:55

Is she an em,ployee, though or self employed?iDo you give her paid holiday? Do you submit a return to the HMRC?

Original poster

Dalaimama · 21/04/2014 23:34

Thanks for all the advice - going to give her 3 weeks pay - hopefully it will go smoothly.

OP posts:

Wooodpecker · 21/04/2014 23:50

I have always considered cleaners to be self employed so therefore you don't pay them sick , holiday or a notice period unless you are generous. Is that not the case?

I had a cleaner once who I asked not to return as I didn't think she was up to scratch. I did it by text which was cowardly but we always communicated that way. I did tell her why though but I can be a bit, erm direct.

I didn't even to think to pay her notice partly as she was rubbish. If I had been stopping the arrangement for any other reason I would probably have said I only need you for x number of weeks.

Anyway I wont have a cleaner again. I found it odd and spent a ridiculous amount of time tidying up before she came .

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