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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not pay my cleaner while I'm on holiday?

57 replies

KensingtonLou · 07/01/2016 09:19

More of an is DP BU. Going on holiday in just under a month for nearly 5 weeks - DP is suggesting for 3 of those weeks we don't have the cleaner come and don't pay her. She usually does 5-6 hours a week.

I'm a bit torn - on the one hand it's a not-insignificant amount of money for us but at the same time it feels unfair that she's losing out with no opportunity to recoup those hours

OP posts:

Original poster

KensingtonLou · 07/01/2016 09:58

Thank you so much for all the responses!

**Lynda - the nursery example actually sprang to mind when I was explaining things to DP.

She isn't through an agency, she was recommended to us by a friend (who incidentally used to give her a month's notice he wouldn't be paying her but that was only once a year at xmas and probably only for a week or two). There was no written agreement with her. It didn't even cross my mind to be honest

There aren't really any extra jobs to do as the time we have her is already very generous for the size of the place (German DP - wants it to look like a "hotel" ) She does all the stripping of beds and ironing when she's here.

DP going to speak to her tomorrow. I think we'll get her to come the first and last week we're away but still pay her for the rest of the time. It seems the fairest thing to do and it's going to play on my mind too much otherwise. As other posters have pointed out I also don't want to lose her!

OP posts:

Dotandethel · 07/01/2016 09:58

I'd be looking for another job if you didn't need me for 5weeks. I just couldn't afford to do otherwise. People aren't cleaning for fun. Someone suggesting she may enjoy the time off is living in cloud cuckoo land I'm sure she'd love some time off but i doubt her bills would allow that.

DanglyEarOrnaments · 07/01/2016 09:59

Ah now - there's a fair point the cleaner could be tempted to just fill your spot.

I wouldn't have done that when I worked alone as I was always a little over-booked and appreciated a break to be honest but other cleaners have and will do this in some circumstances.

I think communication is key here, ask her to remind you of her terms on this and if she says there's no cancellation charges then ask her if she's willing to hold your spot open. She would not be keen to go back on her word after such a discussion.

DanglyEarOrnaments · 07/01/2016 10:00

Sorry OP - x-post

reni2 · 07/01/2016 10:01

Get her to do other stuff? It is a lot of hours to fill though, windows, oven garden? Next year's Christmas card list, bar the closest friends and family? I'd loathe losing our cleaner, but we never go away for more than 3 weeks.

shazzarooney99 · 07/01/2016 10:01

She could be doing things like cleaning the skirting boards ect jobs that she may not neccasarily get done on a normal clean?

chillycurtains · 07/01/2016 10:02

I think you are too late to cancel her now with regards to being fair to her. If you had given her maybe 3 months notice then it would be ok as she would know that she would be earning less that month. She has bills to pay like the rest of us and 15-18 hours is a lot of money to be losing with short notice. I would go with the deep clean option on these weeks.

Alligatorpie · 07/01/2016 10:02

I always pay my cleaner when I am away. I think that if I were her and I wasn't getting my salary for 5 weeks, I would probably look elsewhere for work.

reni2 · 07/01/2016 10:07

What else might she be good at?

I could employ our cleaner for 3 weeks going through the "mend/alter" pile. School trousers to be turned into next year's shorts, coat buttons... File the tax return? Make dress up costumes for the kids, batch cook and freeze dinners for the first week back.

Seeyounearertime · 07/01/2016 10:08

OP, I assume you work?
If you were paid hourly and your employer decided to shut for 5 weeks break would you expect wages? I'd imagine most would, can't just not pay rent and council tax etc.

whois · 07/01/2016 10:09

Five weeks of no pay... She would look to replace that I think and you risk loosing her.

I would pay her, can do loads of deep clean tasks and maybe a weeks holiday as well.

m0therofdragons · 07/01/2016 10:11

I think for the sake of a good relationship I'd pay. Could she clean out the fridge etc? Or just give her a few weeks off but paid. A good cleaner is like gold dust!

ifonly4 · 07/01/2016 10:19

If this sort of arrangement wasn't discussed when you took her on, then I think it's only fair to give her a lot more notice. She's probably relying on having that money come in for food/bills/treats family treats in the next month or two - . Also, if she knew well in advance she wasn't working, she may have been able to get a little more work somewhere else or would have planned to go away herself.

I think I'd see if she was willing to do other jobs. The week before your return she might even get a few groceries in for you if you haven't got enough work for the five weeks.

After you've been away, then perhaps DP could discuss with cleaner your requirements while on holiday in the future.

OfaFrenchmind2 · 07/01/2016 10:22

You could always lend her to friends if they want to try her out? This way she get paid, expand her pool of customers, and you don't have to pay for no work.
We used to do it with our cleaner back home, and as she was excellent and with many skills, she found new customers that required other things from her, like cooking. That gave her the opportunity of advertising on skills she actually liked, and saved my mother the lost hours money.
(The cleaner is now a caterer :) )

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 07/01/2016 10:36

I think you're doing the right thing.

For me, it would probably depend on how much holiday she takes herself throughout the year - and whether you pay her for those weeks.

For example, if she took, say 8 weeks off for her own holidays throughout the year without pay then I would feel more comfortable informing her that your holidays would be between X & Y dates so she wouldn't be needed during that time.

If, however, she very rarely takes any holiday unless you do, then I would be much more inclined to keep paying her while you're away and see it as 3 weeks worth of paid holiday for her as she rarely takes one.

If she is a good & reliable cleaner then I'd think it's worth paying for 'your' time to retain her services, like you would keep paying to retain your place at a good nursery if you were absent for 5 weeks. Which, of course, is what you've decided to do .

Have a lovely holiday!

ArcheryAnnie · 07/01/2016 10:37

Do you and your DP get paid leave from your workplaces?

Paid leave is a pretty basic part of reasonable 21st century work practices, especially for people on lower wages who don't have a financial cushion. You are very lucky to be going on such a lovely long holiday, and I would suggest you don't make someone else pay the price of it by depriving them of their regular income.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 07/01/2016 10:43

I always thought cleaner takes time off = no pay. But if it's you that doesnt want the cleaner to come for some reason = pay.

Elendon · 07/01/2016 10:45

I would definitely keep the cleaner working during this time. She (I presume) will be checking out your house during your absence and keeping it free from dust. She can turn the heating on for the hour(s) she is there and upkeep and maintain the property.

Certainly when the upper classes went on to their retreats, the household staff were not dismissed at that time. I'm aghast at some of the attitudes on this thread, with the exception of a few. Having a clean house is something you either put the hours in or pay someone else to do. Paying someone to do that part of housekeeping is to be cherished and well paid.

The house will be fresh as a daisy on your return, and not stale and un-lived in. As your employee she will feel needed and essential.

Artandco · 07/01/2016 10:46

I would pay still and do

Our cleaner recent came 3 times when we were still away. 1st day she did house as usual ( Hoover/ clean/ bedding etc), 2nd she cleaned all windows including inside the frames and glass, 3rd she did all roof terrace like leaves/ washing garden furniture etc.

In your situation I would do similar
Week 1 : as usual
Week 2 : deep clean oven/ fridge/ inside washing machine
week 3 : Windows
Week 4: outside. Garden swept/ furniture cleaned/ steps etc
Week 5: last tidy of some cupboards and maybe she will agree to go get you some basic groceries for your return.

You can also time any deliveries for those days and she can collect post and move out the way. Plus lights on and off etc will all help the house not seem like it's empty for that long.

ItsANewDayToday · 07/01/2016 10:46

I always pay our cleaner. She does about 6 or 7 hours a week and it would be unfair if she dropped her income because of our holiday. That would be mean. If she goes away I don't exactly pay her but I'm very flexible about her making up the hours at other times or I give her about half the money for holiday pay.

I also pay for bank holidays or if she want to work I pay her 1 1/2 pay.

AppleSetsSail · 07/01/2016 11:16

Sounds like a great compromise, OP.

I think if you take on a cleaner, you owe them some stability and holiday pay.

DyslexicScientist · 07/01/2016 11:34

I'd pay. A good cleaner is like gold dust.

Original poster

KensingtonLou · 07/01/2016 11:39

Lots of very valid points - thanks all.

With the benefit of hindsight we should have sorted all this out up front so there were no grey areas. Have agreed with DP that paying her as usual is the right thing to do.

OP posts:

hmcReborn · 07/01/2016 11:43

I've never paid the cleaner whilst I am on holiday....but then, I suppose she does often house sit for us which provides alternative funds. If she didn't house sit for us would I pay her whilst I was away? - no, I don't think I would

hmcReborn · 07/01/2016 11:45

But then, I pay her cash and I very much doubt she declares this

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