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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to have sacked the cleaner?

112 replies

ladylily29 · 05/02/2015 18:27

*Disclaimer: I'm quite possibly suffering from pregnancy hormones and therefore perfectly willing to hear IABU.

Got back from a mental day at work today to note from cleaner. It said she was shocked at the state of the house, that she didn't expect to pick up clothes (there were three socks and a pair of pants on the bedroom floor that had fallen out of a drawer...) and that the state of my house had cost her the clients after me because she had to stay so long. To be fair, it was a bit messy, but I'm pregnant, sick, and have had a manic week at work, so it's not been my priority.

I never asked her to stay more than her hours (and actually she usually cops off early!), and to be honest, I've come home early a couple of times to find her partner or kids here, which has made me really uncomfortable. And there have been quite a few broken items that have turned up... Also, I pay her 30% more than she asks for, so she gets a nice tip every time she comes here.

Was IBU to send her a text to apologise that she'd felt so unhappy about the state of the house, and to say that as we both now felt uncomfortable, it was probably best to call it a day? It's done now, but I feel a bit guilty.

OP posts:
JustWantToBeDorisAgain · 05/02/2015 18:29

Hell no! I think inviting the family round would have been enough for me!

Bowlersarm · 05/02/2015 18:29

YANBU. That was really rude of her.

olaflikeswarmhugs · 05/02/2015 18:31

I don't think you were being you reasonable at all , I think you've done the right thing . Hope you feel better soonThanks

olaflikeswarmhugs · 05/02/2015 18:34

That should say you weren't being unreasonable , not "you reasonable" BlushGrin

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 05/02/2015 18:34

YANBU. I used to have a cleaner who knocked off early all the time. Drove me crazy but I was too much of a coward to say anything. At least this one has given you a way out.

Nomama · 05/02/2015 18:35

Write that reply. You could push it further and include all you have said here, and ask her if she thought she somehow had gained an upper hand?

Silly mare!

balletgirlmum · 05/02/2015 18:36

I thought the whole point of having a cleaner was so that you didn't have to clean & tidy yourself.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 05/02/2015 18:39

You did the right thing , she sounds arsey and who needs that when you're paying her to do a job.

Original poster
ladylily29 · 05/02/2015 18:40

Ooh, thanks ladies, I feel a bit less unreasonable now.

I don't do conflict at all, so didn't want to cause a fuss, but the note was too much and I'm hormonal

OP posts:
confusedandemployed · 05/02/2015 18:40

Christ on a bike she sounds a peach! YABU for being so nice to her!!

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 05/02/2015 18:44

Never mind being hormonal, if I returned home to a cleaner telling me I was causing her to lose money because my house was a tip she'd have had a text saying 'that's fine, don't come back'.

sosix · 05/02/2015 18:44

You did the right thing.

Hillingdon · 05/02/2015 18:44

We dont have a cleaner - a good one is worth their weight in gold but there are just too many rubbish ones. We don't have one anymore, got fed up with them bringing their kids, came home once to find their child with their feet up watching our TV eating some Pringles they had clearly found in our cupboard. Why do cleaners think that is ok to do?

Nolim · 05/02/2015 18:45

Seems to be the best solution

wowfudge · 05/02/2015 18:46

She's clearly forgotten she works for you. She'll be asking you to hoover before she comes again.

You've been way too nice and she's taken your good nature for granted.

Hillingdon · 05/02/2015 18:46

Why do you pay her more? If the rate is £10 per hour why pay £13 unless she is so fab that you feel you have to pay this to keep her!

Original poster
ladylily29 · 05/02/2015 18:48

I paid more because £7 an hour where we live is ridiculous, so I made it up to £10. Actually, that's not a 30% tip, is it!

OP posts:
betweenmarchandmay · 05/02/2015 18:48

Definitely not being unreasonable!

Linskibinski · 05/02/2015 18:48

Another vote for YADNBU. I bow to your swift decisive response. Well done. GrinFlowers

CupidStuntSurvivor · 05/02/2015 18:49

She's a cleaner who's complaining about having to do cleaning, usually clocks off early and has people in your home without asking, despite getting a very nice tip? The only bit I think you're being unreasonable about is not sending a much worse message.

Sounds to me like she wanted to be sacked to be honest.

Has she replied?

HandMini · 05/02/2015 18:51

3£ an hour on top of £7 an hour is more like a 40-45% increase. And she knocks off early. And she brings her family to your house without permission. Y would BU not to end this arrangement.

Original poster
ladylily29 · 05/02/2015 18:52

She sent a polite reply. I'm glad I was polite to her, actually, because I hate, hate, hate conflict. To send the text at all was very brave for me!

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 05/02/2015 18:58

What was her reply?!?

Original poster
ladylily29 · 05/02/2015 19:00

Basically, good luck and sorry if I was offended by her note.

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 05/02/2015 19:07

Right!

Well, good riddance to her.

There are better cleaners who go the extra mile, don't appear to judge anything and who stay their hours. I'm sure you will find one!