To think she wants to be sacked?

[Edenviolet]

We have had a cleaner for a few years now, everything has gone well and she was till recently punctual and reliable and did a good job.

The last few months things have gone downhill, to the point where she is meant to do three hours work but even when I'm at home will only do 1.5-2 hours and still wants the usual amount of money??
I pay her for the time done and this has not gone down well.
Also, I have noticed that less and less is actually being done as well- beds barely made, just the duvet pulled up, no washing up done anymore, floors not cleaned and bags of rubbish just left around. Yesterday she didn't even bother to go in the front room at all?

I've noticed a few other things too, she seems irritated by me. If I'm having a cup of tea while she's here I get comments like "I don't get time to drink tea or coffee" (despite the fact I always offer her a drink if I'm having one) or if I'm sitting down there's a lot of tutting etc. if there's anything new in the house or we've had any work done she scowls and tells me she can't afford x,y,z.
Part of me wonders is she really unhappy and should I try and talk to her or is she just bitter and actually wants me to sack her. Yesterday after she had been it really didn't look like the house had been cleaned at all and I've had to do a fair bit myself today when it didn't use to be the case as she did the three hours and got a lot done and the house stayed nice for a few days as she was so thorough.

Btw servant is a rude and derogatory term for someone engaged in a perfectly valid and necessary occupation.

Do you also think nursery nurses are servants, as traditionally that job would have been a servant's job? Gardeners?

A lot of the angst on here over cleaners is due to,the fact that many really see cleaning as demeaning work - women's work in fact - that really should be fine by the woman of the house.

Unlike gardening which is a skilled trade, say.

Also inaccurate as a servant would normally be f/t or much of the week, live in or have other benefits.

I would get rid, you pay her to clean, not moan and make you feel bad.

I don't like all the talk of "getting rid" and "sacking" on this thread but despite that, it does sound as though your cleaner is not enjoying her job any more. Give her a couple of weeks notice, or offer her the chance to leave immediately if she wants to. I am sure cleaners get bored with going to the same old houses and doing the same old dusting every week. It's good to have shakeup and a freshen up every now and then.

Nursery nurse would have been the nanny and a gardener.. Well would have been the gardener.
A modern day cleaner would have been the maid or servant.
Obviously I was being a bit toungue in cheak but I hope to God I'd never have to make money as a cleaner to a mumsnetter.

"I'd just get rid of her"

That is so offensive!

Well yes minty if her work is below parr and her attitude is bad, of course op has every right to let her go. I would give her some notice.

Ok getting rid is not nice, but getting the sack is fine, a legitimate term IMHO.

Time to let her go. You're not her employer - no need for written warnings.

Discussion might help with hours and slack standards but can't undo the snarky comments.

As Mintyy so concisely says, just get rid of her.

Unless it's in any contract she gave you in the beginning you don't need to give her notice!

We are a cleaning company and we do not hold clients to sign a contract we tell them we will earn your lyalty, we are only as good as our last clean - this IMHO is what the client derserves but there is a lot of 'other' stuff going on within the industry which is exactly what lowers the perception of the job itself.

Our cleaners are treasured and valued by our clients! This lady is not earning any loyalty from her client whatsoever.

loyalty duh!

I totally agree balls, her work is below parr, her attitude is awful towards op, I would not want someone like that in my house.

I wouldn't be prepared to field sarky, critical comments from a cleaner in my house, so she would be gone.
The moments she said "I don't have time for a cup of tea" or tutted at me, it would be over for her.

maybe she just needs someone to talk to shes obviously upset about something most likely in her personal life, i know that isnt really your issue but it doesnt hurt to be nice, sometimes people just need someone to talk to.

I do suspect perhaps there's an element of her not knowing how to tell Me she doesn't want to clean for us anymore.

I will be speaking to her, I do feel bad as she's cleaned for us for a long time but its just not working now, instead of feeling relaxed that the housework is getting done I feel on edge and very aware that she possibly views me as lazy due to the tea comments and tutting.

NO, read the thread. I did NOT say "just get rid" ffs.

If the time has come for the parting of the ways then that is fine. But do it pleasantly and with some respect and notice.

Shark that's not op problem, op is paying her for work she is not doing, add to that, she is rude and unpleasant to op. I would be letting her go on Monday, tell her the truth, that she does not clean well and finishes under the time paid but still expects to be paid the full rate. Also she is rude and sarcastic.

Waiting - maybe she is going over to commercial cleaning which is serviced after hours, and is working double shifts so knackered - that would explain how she used to love working for you but is not into it any more!

I just quoted for a client who's last cleaner had gone down the commercial route and she hadn't staff to cover the accounts and had to work them herself so she had to stop her residential daytime clients in order to concentrate on the new direction her business was going. She simply couldn't do both and sustain it.

The difference is that this cleaner conducted herself professionally and had the good grace to serve her client well until she left! There was no passive aggressive grumpiness and non-cleaning.

I stand by my position - get rid without notice she is purely costing you now and, unhappy or not, she shouldn't be taking it out on clients who pay for a service level she can no longer deliver.