AIBU to be annoyed my cleaner has started leaving 10-15 mins early, and what to do?

[RuncibleSpoonandaRing]

I have a lovely cleaner who works hard and has been reliable for the last couple of years. Recently she has been arriving 10-15 minutes late but leaving at her usual time.

AIBU to be annoyed? Especially as she used to do a few shirts in that time, but any she doesn't get done she takes home to iron, paid extra per item...

It may be as simple as her car clock being out of sync with our clocks, but not sure how to raise this tactfully. Any ideas?

How do you know what time she arrives and leaves? If you're there, just say "oh, I thought you arrived at 1:45, it's only 2:30?" in a surprised tone, or whatever.

If it's happening regularly then you need to bite the bullet and point out that you've noticed it and wondered if there was a particular reason and see what can be done to help. There may be a genuine reason that's complicating her existence (though the bottom line is that it's not on when you pay her for the time) and some kind of adjustment might help. You need to talk to her - just don't be accusatory and focus on determining the cause and the solution.

You're just going to have to raise it directly. 'I've noticed you're starting later at the moment, is there a problem with the hours you're working for us?'

What about offering her an extra paid half hour's work to iron an agreed amount? A kind of give and take approach?

You just need to say "I've noticed you've been arriving later than you used to..is it awkward to get the hours in the allotted time? We can change your arrival and finish time if you'd prefer." and then see what she says.

Can you send a text

'Hi x, I know you have a really busy schedule and wondered if it would be easier to officially make your shift 1.45 mins? I'm really happy to go with what ever you prefer. Thanks'

YANBU - I'd send a text as suggested

I'd never do something like this by text. I'd hate it if my manager did that to me.

I had the same issue with my cleaner who cleaned when I was at work. I sent a text saying "was there a problem today?" "No why?" "I was expecting you to be at the house at 3:15". There was a bullshitty vague excuse, but then she's been lots better since.

I'm assuming she charges by the hour and not a flat rate per job, if this is the case then trading standards dictate that she needs to stay for the full time she 'sold' to you even if she has completed all the agreed tasks and has to have a cup of tea or something.

She must be on the premises for the time paid for.

If she is charging a flat rate per house then that is different, according to trading standards she then must complete all the tasks agreed to at the service level promised to you at the original quote. In this case you should get the service list in writing plus a price list for additional services such as windows, paintwork washed bedding changed, fridge cleaned out etc. She could leave whenever these tasks are completed.

It seems from your post she charges hourly so she must stay.

I have the reverse .... pay for 2 hrs as.ahw stays 2.5
She's adamant she only wants 2 hrs.pay as she has a.coffee and takes it easy ...
It's hard as I only want to pay for 2 hrs and would rather she did less Than charged more.
She works in my family's business too and I've also referred her on to a job so.
I think it's a.way of thanking me but it's awkward!

These are the reasons we charge out flat rate, you just cannot provide a quality service with time restrictions on you and it causes no end of confusion for both parties as to what is expected.

We just work through our service list and any additional items booked and then we move on to the next client. We don't allow our cleaners to clock watch we want them to concentrate on delivering the clean!

Hourly rates always seem to cause some sort of dissatisfaction to one party or another - that business model confuses me no end, just get the work done properly and charge what you need.

I had this with my cleaner - she started leaving 15 minutes earlier than usual. I spoke with her and mentioned that I had noticed she started leaving earlier than her time. I asked whether we needed to rearrange her day if she didn't have enough time before her next job or just adjust her pay. I wouldn't have been so bothered if she had managed to clean/do all the jobs she was suppoed to in that time but she was leaving stuff. Anyway, she got better after that!

My cleaner seemed shocked when I turned up at home one day as she was leaving an hour early... She was getting more and more slapdash, the day I found her stroppy teenage daughter doing the cleaning instead of her was the final straw. I think a good cleaner is valuable and worth hanging on to. The next one was fab. Made sure she got lovely pressies when we went on hols and always paid her if we had to cancel etc. I miss her, she was brilliant.
You must approach her or you'll end up resenting her.
You need perfect trust in her, she is in your home!

perhaps she has another cleaning job before she comes to you

Thanks for all the suggestions. I won't do it by text but I will ask her if she wants to change her hours. I'm usually there so see when she comes and goes - that's one reason I think it could simply be a clock issue and she hasn't realised, or she has morphed into thinking it is by task.

Would your boss accept that as a reason for you getting to work late, chocolatelife?

I've always paid by the hour and only ever had a problem with one cleaner. I've had my last cleaner for 5 years and she is almost always exactly on time. She works hard the whole time and leaves punctually too. I think she is brilliant.

I have always found it best to be honest and upfront with my cleaners. It's daft to be too embarrassed to say what you want. The simpler the better.

I would say 'I've noticed you have been arriving to work late recently. Can you please make sure you come on time. Thanks'.

It does seem Unlikely these days that people are using only their car clock and one in your house. If her car clock was 15m slow and she left yours on time when she got into her car it will be 15m earlier than she thought!
Sounds like trying to get more money if has time to take ironing home but not to iron there.
You could make sure she sees you when she arrives then check your watch and say oh is there bad traffic today and force her to see if has reason for being late.

My cleaner used to leave early - and it drove me bonkers, should have said something but it felt too awkward, then she started to arrive whenever it suited her schedule and refused to respect my time constraints - so I let her go! I'd love someone to help with the cleaning but the hassle that goes with it just wasn't worth it.

Scones, is there an agency near you that does it, like Molly Maid? If you have a problem with one person you get onto the boss and get someone else in their place.

If you look at it another way I think it's unfair on the cleaner not to say anything. In other jobs you would be told if you were doing something wrong and would get a chance to put it right.

I did let go 'sack' a cleaner for poor timekeeping (plus other things...) but I warned her three times beforehand.

How many hours does she do? If it's say 5, then she could reasonably expect a 15 min tea break - she may be thinking she can just take time off the beginning or end instead?

I had one experience of Molly maid and it was dreadful. 3 cleaners stayed in my kitchen doing things I didn't want them to do, after 2 hours they had still not managed to give my flat a sufficient clean and suggested they needed to come back to finish, I complained and got a 50% refund.
I agree you need to talk to your cleaner and I did talk to mine, I explained that she couldn't turn up to clean any time it suited her, but I was apparently being unreasonable....she wasn't very lovely either - constantly critiqued my parenting skills....first time mum with twins, it was the last thing I needed.