To feel bad that I lost the cleaner work?

[Summerbreezer]

I use an app on my iphone to book a cleaner. It is quick, easy and I can use it as and when rather than committing to a certain time.

Anyway, I ordered a cleaner for 8am last Saturday. I know it is early, but I had to go out. She was 25 minutes late and didn't provide an explanation.

I was asked for feedback by the company. Because of the way the app works, you have to provide feedback on your previous cleaner before booking another one.

I dithered for a while before deciding I would alert them to the fact she hadn't been on time. I have just had a message saying she has been removed from their register as their cleaners need to be punctual.

AIBU to feel a bit guilty? I didn't mean for her to lose her place entirely, but felt it was legitimate to raise it with the company! Should I email them and ask that she is given another chance?

PM me later (I'm just off out too) and I'd be happy to talk you through it. It might just be that we're saying broadly the same thing but have our wires crossed.

Anyone thinking of using Handy should check out their online reviews first. Someone on another community posted about them and how they had three no shoes in a row. I doubt they actually fired the cleaner. Check out the reviews and you'll see what I mean.

This is all interesting stuff. I was lead to believe by Handy that the cleaners get £9ph - would be upset to hear it is less than this because I think that is a fair wage for the work.

I should say I have not had a bad experience of them before.

This is how HMRC explain it to us within the cleaning industry however if there are any loopholes you know about whereby you can control self-employed staff to fit your service level

Surely it is by a simple contract? I am a lawyer (not an employment one) but surely it just works in the same way as any other contractor?

I don't know Summer, in my trade association we discuss this problem until the cows come home and although it is a model for the lower end companies (not that I mean that disrespectfully, they is a huge market for these too!) it is generally agreed that it would not be legal for me to do given the service level expected by our clients.

I am desperate to find out this is wrong though, simply because it's just so damn expensive to actually employ people and pay for all their statutory benefits, it means you have to charge double what you pay them and even then the margins are notoriously (and in my own experience) so very tight and you cannot get the higher end staff we need for less than £7.50 per hour!

It's a conundrum for us private cleaning companies for sure! Its just a good job there are so many clients willing to pay what we need but if we could do it cheaper AND make more profit I would not be going so grey!

I am going to PM attticus now!

PMd you Balls.

In summary though you can certainly dictate the way in which self employed workers perform a contract. The issue is whether they are truly self employed in the first place.