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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To pay my cleaner for a missed week?

46 replies

Dutch1e · 25/04/2015 08:11

We recently hired a cleaner (first time doing this and we love it, she's brilliant etc).

On Tuesday I had to cancel her normal visit at the last minute. We rescheduled for Friday. On Friday morning she had to cancel as she's ill and we agreed she will be just skip this week altogether and she'll pop over at her normal time next week.

To me it seems like she would have had her normal pay if I hadn't cancelled on Tuesday. So AIBU to give her double pay next week? I don't really know the etiquette but as a self-employed person myself i'd feel like this is fair.

Is that daft?

OP posts:

FenellaFellorick · 25/04/2015 08:15

no. It's not daft. If you want to, that's up to you. It's your money. It's nice of you. It makes you a thoughtful employer. It may mean she expects to be paid any time either of those two things happen but again, if you're happy with that, that's fair enough.

I don't think you have to. You didn't take her shift away, you rearranged it by mutual agreement, then she was unable to do the shift. It's not that the work wasn't there.

TheCatsMother99 · 25/04/2015 08:19

It's not daft but is a kind thing to do and IMO a good thing to do as you start this professional relationship.

PeachyPants · 25/04/2015 08:20

Well it's up to you but I don't think you should feel obliged to pay in these circumstances, so you have any agreement in place around missed sessions and how much notice you need to give before a cancellation?

yellowdaisies · 25/04/2015 08:23

I don't tend to pay for any weeks we cancel. Ii like you've done and suggest an alternative time instead of necessary. Cleaners are self employed, so I don't think expect to be paid for holidays, or any hours they don't work. But if she's been sick and missed work, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.

LindyHemming · 25/04/2015 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissDuke · 25/04/2015 08:26

I think that would be very kind. However (as above) it would be good to explain to her the reason why, so she knows she wouldn't usually get full sick pay, just in case she ends up sick again for a longer period?

Doubtfuldaphne · 25/04/2015 08:27

My Dh has a job where weeks have been missed in the past because of the person paying forgetting to be in and he doesn't get any money for it. (Apart from one lady)
I wish he did! I think it's lovely of the lady who pays anyway as she doesn't have to but she knows it's dh's income.
It's up to the individual really.

Littlef00t · 25/04/2015 08:29

Paying half would perhaps be a good gesture?

MrsPresley · 25/04/2015 08:31

Id pay her because you cancelled first. If you hadn't cancelled she would have worked on Tuesday and been paid so Her being I'll on Friday wouldn't have made any difference.

If I was a cleaner I would expect to be paid if my client cancelled just the same as I would expect to be paid if my office was closed for the day, not my fault why should I lose out?

If I cancel then no, I wouldn't expect to be paid.

Pico2 · 25/04/2015 08:31

I would pay. But my cleaner is paid by standing order, so I don't bother cancelling the payment for holidays etc.

Original poster

Dutch1e · 25/04/2015 08:35

PeachyPants no, we'very not discussed cancellation policies. It's a very informal arrangement and this hasn't come up before

OP posts:

Original poster

Dutch1e · 25/04/2015 08:40

MrsPresley that's my thinking too.

If she had cancelled the Tuesday there is a chance to reschedule later in the week or skip it. In that situation I wouldn't feel the need to pay. But as I took away her chance to work on Tuesday it seems like my responsibility to cover the cost.

OP posts:

googoodolly · 25/04/2015 08:40

I think paying her is a nice gesture and one she'll really appreciate, as if you hadn't cancelled, she had no reason not to work that day. Okay, it's not obligatory but I think nice gestures like that go a long way when it comes to working relationships.

Idefix · 25/04/2015 08:41

I would pay our cleaner in these circumstances. We also pay her when we don't use her over the Christmas holiday period too much hassle to get two teenagers and self out of the way we do ask her to come whilst we are away on holiday, she uses those times to do deeper cleaning.
It is her livelyhood and she would not have been able to do something else on the day that you cancel so for me it is right that you pay.
Many years ago as a childminder parents often would ask if they didn't have to pay if there child was off sick, they were going on holiday...um yes you do as I was there and ready to work

Micah · 25/04/2015 08:43

What I do is make a mental note of missed weeks. Then I put the missed pay (rounded up) into her Christmas card as a bonus.

blue42 · 25/04/2015 08:45

As others, I think you have no obligation to pay, and I'd be very surprised if she expected you to. But if you want to do it, then good for you - just do what feels right.

Of course, you need to be aware that you could be opening up some expectations on her part for the future.

trixymalixy · 25/04/2015 08:58

It's a nice thing to do. I have done the same for my cleaners, when they've gone to a funeral, when we're having work done in the house etc.

However I know my cleaners well, they've been with me for years and turn up every week without fail and I trust them.

I've had others that have totally taken the piss and were always full of excuses for not showing up. It may set a precedent.

Original poster

Dutch1e · 25/04/2015 09:06

I see what you mean about expectations and precedents. Wondering if that works both ways? Would you want to do a good job for someone who set a precedent of cancelling at the last minute and not bothering to address it?

And i don't want to put her in a position where she has to bring it up and (in her mind) potentially endanger a new job. Probably over thinking all this. I'm not running the United Bloody Nations here! ...

OP posts:

Bowlersarm · 25/04/2015 09:09

My cleaner and I've always worked on the basis that if I cancel I pay her, if she cancels I don't pay her. Had her for about 12 years now, she's fantastic.

Caboodle · 25/04/2015 09:11

I used to always pay if I cancelled, never pay if they did. I didn't pay for holidays but also didn't mind if cleaner had to cancel last minute either. Very informal, and this has worked with different cleaners over time, who often want the flexibility.
I would definitely pay in your circs, it just seems the honourable thing to do. Good cleaners are like gold dust and, done well, it is a bloody exhausting job.

Thymeout · 25/04/2015 09:28

Won't she have to do more work when she next comes in? The house won't have been cleaned for two weeks, and it was you who cancelled her usual day.

I'd pay her. She might not have been able to agree to reschedule in the first place. She was doing you a favour. If she hadn't initially agreed, you'd still be in this position, where it wouldn't have occurred to you not to pay her.

UncleT · 25/04/2015 09:30

If you value her and her work, and you're clear it's not a habit, do it. I would for mine - but I'd rapidly stop if it went on. One week in isolation is fine if you've had ongoing employment for a while.

Original poster

Dutch1e · 25/04/2015 10:03

Thymeout no, it won't be twice as much cleaning. Our weekend DIYing ran over time (chaos everywhere which is why I cancelled). When we packed down the projects we did a huge clear out and deep clean, so if anything there will be less to do.

But I agree with you (and with most on this thread). If a client of mine cancelled a small project at the last minute I would still charge the full amount. And it's the right thing to do.

So double pay it is.

OP posts:

VelvetRose · 25/04/2015 10:07

I think the suggestion that if you cancel you pay and if she cancels you don't is sensible.

Marynary · 25/04/2015 12:20

I think that I would pay because she is a good cleaner and you cancelled at the last minute. I wouldn't give the impression that it was sick pay as you would be setting a precedent which is probably not a good idea.

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