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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To mention to cleaner about leaving early?

45 replies

purpleteapig · 04/02/2015 16:22

We recently hired a cleaner to come by a couple of hours a week as I'm heavily pregnant and knackered! We pay her 20 for 2 hours.

As I'm now on maternity leave, I've been home on her last few visits and each time she leaves about 20 minutes early. I haven't mentioned anything so far as feel a bit uncomfortable about bringing it up, but we've said stuff like if she has time, can she also do certain additional chores. She's not the most thorough cleaner but is very nice.

WIBU to raise the leaving early thing? This is the first time we've had a cleaner so it's a new thing for me!

OP posts:

Johnogroats · 04/02/2015 16:26

I think you need to man up in the nicest possible way. Just tell her that you are paying her for 2 hours work and you expect her to stay for the full period.

SoonToBeMrsB · 04/02/2015 16:27

I definitely would, 20 minutes is taking the piss. I wouldn't go in all guns blazing but just mentioned that you'd noticed it and does she have issues with public transport times/childcare, etc. Combined with the fact that she doesn't do a fantastic job of cleaning, you can't let this slide.

mrsnoon · 04/02/2015 16:28

Of course you should say something! Would you pay full price for a manicure if they didn't bother with your thumbs???

AnnieLobeseder · 04/02/2015 16:29

You need to pull her up on this. If she works 20 mins less than contracted, don't pay her for those 20 mins. I would also be looking for a new cleaner.

flagnogbagnog · 04/02/2015 16:29

I would find someone else. I think you saying she's not the most thorough to begin with says it all.

I am a cleaner and I would say she is taking the nick really. Yes def pull her up in it. She is banking on you not saying anything. Another thing you can do is not pay her until the very end of the two hours (if you are around) that way she has to stay til the end.

Homepride1 · 04/02/2015 16:30

I cleaned self employees for 6 years and if your paying her by the hour then she should be there for the agreed amount if hours. I personally have a friendly word saying that 2 hours is more than she needs so you only want hour and half from now on and just pay for that

arethereanyleftatall · 04/02/2015 16:30

So, you're actually at home the whole time, and she knows this and still leaves 20 mins early?? That's odd.

RedSoloCup · 04/02/2015 16:31

YANBU, she is taking the pi$$, if anything I would be arriving 5mins early to start on time and then leaving 5mins later to stop on time and say bye etc!!

Homepride1 · 04/02/2015 16:31

Also if she is not doing a good job then I would get someone else, the point of a cleaner is to get your houses cleaned to a good standard

QTPie · 04/02/2015 16:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

shushpenfold · 04/02/2015 16:33

Absolutely you need to say something. We had a similar situation many years ago with a lady whom we inherited from the previous couple who lived there. I started to notice a pattern with her arrival and leaving times and her desire to make us food rather than clean! (v strange!) She was arriving a few minutes late on each occasion (which I could have let slide) but she didn't seem to get much actual cleaning done and one day when I was off work she said that she was leaving (25 mins early) I point blank asked her if she'd done her hours (2) and she said 'Oh yes, absolutely'. She hadn't as I'd noted her arrival time. If she had admitted to going early I could have worked with it, but she outright lied so I gave up after that.

ssd · 04/02/2015 16:33

she sees you as a soft touch op

leaving 20 mins early is bad enough, but knowing you are heavily pregnant and obviously not up for a lot of cleaning yourself makes it worse

shes not that nice.

ssd · 04/02/2015 16:34

so you are paying her £20 for an hour and forty mins cleaning??

I want a job like that!!

Original poster

purpleteapig · 04/02/2015 16:39

Thanks all - you're right, I need to stop being a wuss and speak to her about it to give her a chance to improve; otherwise we'll need to let her go. We asked her to do an additional chore this morning thinking this would take her to the 2 hours, but she still left 20 mins early and looking around the house, it looks like she's skimped on other bits.

Next week I will have a word!

OP posts:

wheresthelight · 04/02/2015 16:47

I would definitely have a word. does she have a time sheet where she signs in or out so you can prove she isnt adhering to the contracted times

Oldraver · 04/02/2015 16:56

Leaving 20 minutes early on a 2 hour job is a LOT, its like taking a day off a full time job.

How do you pay her ? I would pay her for the time she was there then find someone else. You have given her chance to remedy this and she still took the piss

arethereanyleftatall · 04/02/2015 17:15

£20 for a two hour job equates to £16.66 for 1hour 40min.
If you give her cash in hand, just give her that after she's finished next week.
Then if she queries tell her why.

lemisscared · 04/02/2015 17:20

Im a bit on the fence about this one. It all depends if she does everything on your list of requirements during that time.

I clean for a commercial property so its slightly different, I am paid for one and a half hours but on some nights i can do it in an hour depending on how dirty the place is (believe me, its minging sometimes!). On the nights i do it in an hour i leave the place sweating and out of breath and I have always finished everything on my list, my employers are very happy with the job that i do. They know that sometimes its quicker but am happy to pay for the 1.5 hours as I do a good job. (saying that i don't earn 10 an hour :( i should!) Sometimes there are extra bits to do (washing) or i'll do extra bits that i don't do every day because they don't need it but generally i think they are getting a good deal..

So you have to ask, does it matter how long it takes to do xy and z? so long as its done to a good standard and all the things are being done that you have outlined? If however the work isn't up to standard then by all means pull her up on it, but if she is simply being efficient then don't punish her for it. My employers have added little bits here and there but im still able to do them and leave a bit earlier, if it took me longer, damned straight i'd charge them - it is a bit different though being commercial and very clear what needs doing, i guess there is a bit more flexibility in domestic cleaning.

PtolemysNeedle · 04/02/2015 17:33

I wouldn't give her another chance. Having someone in your home doing a job that requires a lot of trust is something that people only get one chance on IMO.

She is massively taking the piss out of you, not doing a brilliant job in the time tact she is there, and you still want to have her in your home? Why?

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 04/02/2015 17:45

Do what Arethereanyleft said. Pay her the time she did and tell her not to come next week.

DurpDurp · 04/02/2015 17:55

I'd probably find a new cleaner as I wouldn't trust her. I've had my latest cleaner for five years. She is never arrives late or leaves early.

If she is paid by the hour she should work for the whole time.

I've always told cleaners if there is something I'm not happy with. I've very polite about it as I think it's unfair on them to be unhappy with them but not tell them.

When I interview cleaners I always mention that I want them to work their full hours.

Whippet81 · 04/02/2015 18:18

I think by 'having a word' and 'seeing if she improves' you are giving yourself work to do - the whole point of having the cleaner is to make your life easier. She knows she's leaving early.

Text her and say 'we no longer need you - thanks'. People will flame me but I just wouldn't invest anymore time - you're not her manager so you don't have to 'manage' her as such.

I do this with temps - if they start taking the piss - long lunches, lots of chatting I call the agency and tell them not to send them back the next day. Obviously I'm more understanding of them not knowing the work etc. That's what the agency are paid for - I have enough problems with the staff I do have to manage without any extra problems from temps who are meant to be reducing the workload (and I've also had some fantastic ones who have remained friends years later and that I have always recommended).

PaperPomPom · 04/02/2015 18:27

I'd mention it. I have a cleaner and they are paid by task, not hour - saves any argument about how long they stay, and it's all about whether the tasks are done or not. When thy weren't I mentioned it.

Original poster

purpleteapig · 04/02/2015 18:34

You have a point about her taking the mick - does make me wonder what time she left when nobody was around if she leaves 20 mins early when I'm here!

She's not particularly efficient - ie she tends to hoover the middle of the room (never the edges) and doesn't vacuum underneath anything; not that I'm expecting her to heft furniture around but for example she doesn't move the beanbag and toddler's mini toyboxes in the lounge. I didn't specify this sort of detail when we gave her the list as thought it was common sense but maybe I should have been clearer about our expectations.

I normally just leave the 20 on the side but next week I'll keep hold so she has to come and find me - less likely that she'll go early then.

OP posts:

AvonCallingBarksdale · 04/02/2015 18:37

If you were paying for a 2 hour driving lesson and your instructor finished 20 mins early, presumably you'd question that? This is the same. She is being paid to do a job for 2 hours, so she needs to work for 2 hours. If she feels she can do all the work in less time, she needs to either stretch it out that's what I would do or come and tell you that she could take on other work. I think people sometimes feel awkward because it's a cleaning job. Treat it like any other financial transaction. She's taking the P BTW

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