To dismiss my cleaner

[Elly95]

I feel bad about this. I have a lovely lady who cleans for us, but that's the wrong word. Her passion is for reorganising and cleaning comes second. I have asked her not to do this, she still does. She also rearranges everything to the point that we have to phone to find things. Last week she rearranged some glass ornaments, the 20 month old got hold of, broke and carried on playing before I noticed. She rearranged matches in a kitchen drawer accessible to kids, we have not found a prescription left on shelf. We have 4 dc, including twin 20 month olds, older dd with sen and unsociable dd teen who refuses to come out of room until cleaner has left. Cleaner spends all day cleaning and reorganising when cleaning could be done in half the time if didn't do the OCD reorganising. Want to tell her not to come anymore just feel so guilty and worried about telling her.

Her behaviour sounds absolutely infuriating and I don't know why you're even giving it a second thought. Just tell her that because she is still rearranging your things, to the point where it actually causes difficulties for your family, you do not want her to come back again!

I'm annoyed on your behalf.

OP, what does this annoying woman say when you have told her not to rearrange things? Does she agree not to do it and to actually clean instead?

You are paying her to make your life more difficult?

Don't feel bad, just say you don't want her to come from next week. End of story. There is no employment, no final warnings, no pay till Christmas. You have already explained it to her several times and she has carried on regardless and made your family life more difficult and put your youngest at risk with her disregard for your childproofing.... She doesn't sound 'really nice' at all!

We had a cleaner who was very chatty and friendly, but week on week did less work and was unreliable, arriving late, cancelling last minute, leaving early etc. I hated having to monitor her arriving and leaving times as I often lost half an hour of her time. I ended it, she told me she was upset as we'd got along well, but really it was just a bit of chatting when she arrived- we weren't friends, she was there to do a job that she was choosing to not do, did she expect me to ignore that because she was friendly?! She seemed a nice person to have as a mate, but not as a cleaner.

I've since found another cleaner who is great, reliable, also a nice person. I would recommend finding someone else sharpish.

Agree with above that there is no legal obligation to give a final warning or to wait till after Xmas, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't give a warning or wait anyway.

All day? We have 4 beds, large downstairs/conservatory etc, cleaner does 2 hours a week, house is spotless and she does not move our stuff around. I would give notice, you've asked for things to be done your way and they're not being done. Having help is meant to make life easier not more stressful.

Charge her for the broken ornament.And tell her after Christmas her services are no longer required.

She put your kids in danger for that she deserves the chop.

Grunt - she respond back in writing saying she will not move things. She has had 2 written reminders and verbal reminders each week she comes in. Nothing works. I am very organised and every box etc is labelled do no need to interfere in my cupboards . The examples I have given are just a few. She is not interested in Christmas so giving notice at this time will not ruin anything. She was not due to come in now until after Xmas as we are away. She wanted keys to come in during this time and I refused. I can't give her anymore warnings as she is a liability following the meds and ornaments/ matches incidents, she can't change. I am prepared to give her the cash for 4 weeks but not prepared to have her in the house any longer, I'd rather just muddle through.

What the hell is the matter with the woman then? That she continues to move and "reorganise" despite having agreed in writing not to do it and constant reminders as well? Is she in fact, completely and utterly bonkers? Don't pay her for any work she hasn't done. Just sack her. You'll feel so relieved. She'd better not ask for references!

Why would you give her 4 weeks cash? YABU to pay her a severance pay when there is no need to! You have given her many opportunities to fix this but she has refused and put your DC in danger. I would be telling her that her services are no longer required and not be paying her anything. She is not entitled to it.

This is so bizarre I actually laughed. Except it's not funny in the slightest.

I wouldn't pay her for four weeks. You've more than laboured the point, she has to go. Now. The meds, the matches, the broken glass - dear me. Over. Finished. Goodbye.

Yes, tell her to go and never come back. Rearranging stuff is not acceptable especially as you have already told her not to.
I wouldn't pay her a penny more tbh.

Honestly, just get rid! You are paying this woman and she is supposed to make your life easier, not more difficult. She's been told, and she's unable to follow instructions. Don't have her back. Be brusque and professional. Do it by text if you want. This is a business relationship, not a friendship and you don't owe her anything.